Gunnison County Real Estate and Homes For Sale
Real estate in Gunnison County is bountiful and in many cases, relatively affordable. The rural area on Colorado's Western Slope offers ski homes and condos near Crested Butte, beautiful established homes in Gunnison National Forest, and ideal lots in the north part of the county near Marble.
Gunnison County is one of the largest counties in western Colorado, with more than 3,260 square miles of land, but it only has a population of approximately 17,000 residents. The county includes several communities, including Marble just northwest of Mount Baldy, Crested Butte in the middle of the county, and the city of Gunnison to the south. Gunnison, the county seat, is situated in a broad valley between the Gunnison River and Tomichi Creek confluence. The county has a census-designated spot, Somerset, along with several unincorporated communities, like Almont, Doyleville, Ohio City, Parlin, Powderhorn, Sapinero, and Tincup. Ghost towns in Gunnison County include Aberdeen, Baldwin, Crystal, Iola, Pittsburgh, and Vulcan.
Most residents of Gunnison County live near Crested Butte and Mount Crested Butte for easy access to the Crested Butte ski area. Numerous ski-in and ski-out condos and homes at the resort are directly on the slopes. An acre lot along Prospect Drive lists for just over $1 million and is perfect for a second home or vacation home.
There are also more significant, sweeping private homes on the twisting streets of the mountainside to the west of the resort. There are empty lots for sale where you can design and build your dream home. A three-bedroom condo less than five minutes from the resort lists for $875,000 to over $1 million, depending on age, location, and amenities. Larger estates are available from $2 million and up. Further west, you can find more bang for your buck along Road 811 and Meridian Lake Drive. Four-bedroom homes there list from $1.72 million to $2.6 million.
Private homes for sale in Gunnison are available for under $750,000. The Gunnison core offers several well-established homes, and quality remodels starting at around $400,000. Nicer homes in the heart of town can hit $775,000 or $800,000, depending on amenities, location, and the size of the lot.
Neighborhood highlights:
In the southwest part of the county, near Cimarron, you can purchase an acre of land for under $100,000. You can buy sprawling homes in the area for under $1 million.
The county is bounded by the Gunnison Basin formed by the Continental Divide to the east, the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness to the northeast, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and White River National Forest to the north, and the West Elk Wilderness Delta to the west of the county, with Montrose County on its western slopes.
Uncompahgre Wilderness is in the southwestern part of the county, Powderhorn Wilderness is in the eastern part of the county, and Saguache County is south of Gunnison County, east across the Marshall Pass to the southeastern part of the county.
In the 1830s, mountain men came to the area to hunt beavers. An old cottage found by Sidney Jocknick at Cochetopa Creek was likely built between 1830 and 1840. An original fort showing signs of conflict was located on a tributary of Tomichi Creek.
The county is named for John W. Gunnison, a U.S. Army officer and Captain of the Army Topographical Engineer who surveyed the region for the Transcontinental Railroad in 1853.