unorganized sporting activities all over the valley.

Organized Sports

• The Gunnison Park and Recreation Department offers many summer sports to children including baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, rollerblading, and basketball. Their summer schedule can be obtained by calling 970-641-8060, or visit www.myrecdept/co/gunnison.
• The Crested Butte Park and Recreation Department offers baseball, soccer, tennis, gymnastics, skateboard lessons, flag football, and more. For information on ages, registration and fees, contact the Crested Butte Recreation Department at 970-349-5338 or visit their website at www.myrecdept/co/crestedbutte.
  The websites look like a "national chain" for recreation department websites, so you may be better off giving them a call.
• Junior Golf Clinics - Dos Rios Golf Course in Gunnison offers Junior Golf Clinics throughout the month of June. Please call 970-641-1482 for more information. The Crested Butte Country Club is offering Jr. Golf and Jr. Tennis throughout the summer. Please call 970-349-6869 for updated information on fees, dates, and times.
• SooBahk Do - Several children who are enrolled in this program have competed at the national level and have come home champions. In Crested Butte, kids classes will be held Monday and Wednesday from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 3:50 to 4:30p.m. Juniors classes are Monday through Thursday 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and there is an all ages class on Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. In Gunnison all levels classes take place Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. All aspects of SooBahkDoMooDuk Kwan are included in the curriculum with examples of how the underlying principles and philosophies relate to everyday life situations. For more information on location and fees, visit www.westelksoobahkdo.org or call 970-349-7752 or 970-209-5081.

Unorganized Sports

Crested Butte Mountain Resort has two chairlifts open in the summer. The Silver Queen Chairlift will take you high atop Mt. Crested Butte. You can hike around on trails, hike to the peak, or hike back down to the base area following a dirt road. The Red Lady Express chairlift is also open. You can take your bikes on this lift and ride the many trails from the top of the lift. Family friendly rides are in the Gold Link area. Maps are available in the lift ticket office. For more information call 970-349-2262 or visit their website at www.skicb.com. Also keep in mind that bikes can be transported from town to the mountain on the town bus.

There are also several beginner trails for mountain biking in the valley including some rides at Hartman Rocks, The Lower Loop, and the lower part of The Upper Loop from the town of Crested Butte to Skyland Residential Area. Bikes for Mom, Dad, and the kids, tag-alongs, and bike trailers can be rented or purchased from sporting good stores such as the Tune Up in Gunnison 970-641-0285 and Big Al's Bicycle Heaven 970-349-0515 in Crested Butte. "Townies" are also available for rental for just cruising around town.

Monkey Business. Inflatable Rentals are now available in the Gunnison Valley - Bring the fun to your next event! Call (970) 596-4841 or (970) 390-0599 for rates and coupons!

The town parks in Gunnison and Crested Butte offer soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic tables, pavilions, and more. Please refer to our maps that have the locations of all the parks in Gunnison and Crested Butte.

The Skateboard Park in Crested Butte is another place to go, to be a part of the fun or just to watch. Just make sure your little rippers come equipped with a helmet and pads.

Teller Street Miniature Golf, located at Teller St. and Virginia Ave. in Gunnison offers 18 fun and challenging holes to adults ($5) and children ($3). Also offered are additional rounds for $1.00, tournaments, and refreshments. Large groups, parties, and fundraisers are welcome. Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Children 3 and under are free.

Check out the Frisbee disc golf courses. In Gunnison, there is a course at Western State College near the water storage tank, and another by the Middle School. Stop by All Sports Replay at 115 W. Georgia Ave. or call them at 970-641-1893 for current information on pick-up tournaments, discs, and directions to each of the courses. In Crested Butte, there is a course at Big Mine Park. Pick up a map at the Nordic Center's Warming House to navigate your way around this super fun 9-hole course. There is also a course on Mt. Crested Butte at the ski area. Most sporting good stores can give directions.

There is a newly formed disc golf club called High Mountain Flyers. They will be hosting disc golf tournaments across the valley throughout the summer. For more information regarding the club and tournaments, contact Chris Brown at
Gunnison-disc@yahoo.com.

Hot day? Go swimming! If you're staying at a hotel, chances are you have a pool right there. Otherwise, Rocky's Gym in Gunnison offers open swim for a fee. For information call 970-641-3751. The Crested Butte Country Club members and their guests can enjoy the indoor pool at the clubhouse.

Rather be chlorine free? Natural rivers and lakes have cool to cold water. If your kids are big enough to handle a short hike, take them to Long Lake. Parking is about 1.5 miles up Washington Gulch Road. There are tennis courts next to the parking lot. Cross the road (Pristine Point Dr.) that goes over the dam. Keep left until the road ends. Take this switchback up the hill to Long Lake and enjoy!

Another popular day excursion is Blue Mesa Reservoir off of Hwy. 50 west of Gunnison. It is the largest body of water in the State of Colorado. Hang out on one of the many beaches. For information on locations of picnic areas and beaches, call the Elk Creek Visitor's Center at 970-641-2337.

Want to just get your feet wet? Go to Totem Pole Park in Crested Butte (3rd & Maroon St.) or to Gunsight Pass (down Slate River Road) and splash around or toss pebbles into the shallow water (once the spring melt off has died down, of course!) Check out Whitewater Park in Gunnison. They have man-made hydraulics that are ideal for kayakers, boogey boarders, and other types of watercrafts to surf and play in. This play boating area is for intermediate and advanced kayakers to enhance their skills. Lessons for all levels are available through Three Rivers Resort in Almont. Duckie trips (inflatable kayaks) are also a popular option. They do not require that you are enclosed or have a "roll." All trips and instruction are led by their ACA certified instructors. Their full-service kayak store has everything you may need from boats to booties. Call 970-641-1303 or visit their website at www.3riversoutfitting.com for more information.

Fishing Ponds for Kids

Three Rivers Resort also features a Kid's Fishing Pond. This is a no-license-necessary for kids fishing pond ages 5 to 12. The rate is $5.00 for kids to catch and release or catch and keep up to two fish in a two-hour limit. The pond will run 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information, call 970-641-1303 or visit www.3riversoutfitting.com

There is also a fishing pond at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery just north of Almont on Hwy. 135. Pull into the grounds and a sign will direct you to the fishing pond. Bring your own pole and bait. There are no supplies there.

Horseback Riding

Taking a guided horseback ride through the mountains is a great way for your family to experience the beautiful outdoors! To make reservations give Fantasy Ranch a call at 970-349-5425 or visit their website at www.fantasyranchoutfitters.com. If you own your own horse, training and riding lessons are available through Stephanie Reinhardt. Call 970-641-4321 for more information. If you would like to learn to ride but do not own a horse, riding lessons are available at the Messner Ranch up Ohio Creek in Gunnison. They will provide you with a horse, or you can bring your own. For more information on rates and availability, call 970-641-1838.