The Crystal River Valley is among the top tourism attractions in the State of Colorado, located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, just a few miles south from the I-70 Hwy 82 exit at Glenwood Springs. This picturesque valley extends along Hwy 133, part of the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway, from Carbondale to Redstone, then County Road 3 to Marble and Crystal City.
Amenities and attractions in the Crystal River Valley include rooms, rental cabins, restaurants, RV parks, National Forest Campgrounds, jeep and ATV and mountain biking trails, horseback riding, hiking, tent camping, hunting, fishing, photography, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling and shopping. And not to be forgotten, Penny Hot Springs, Redstone Castle, the Marble Museum, Crystal City and the Crystal Mill.
Throughout the valley you see the evidence of its mining background. The white marble debris along the banks of the Crystal River, the coke ovens at Redstone where they once processed coal, the old coal mine at Placita, the Mill Site Park and the working Yule Marble Quarry in Marble, and the rich mining history of the area surrounding Crystal City.
