Rico lies in the upper Dolores River watershed. Its connection to the river, trails, and historic buildings offer different ways to focus your stay: outdoor activities center on the RGS River Trail and the surrounding trail network, while railroad and mining traces tell the story of the town. You can weigh whether to shape your trip primarily around outdoor activity or Rico’s history.
Trails, River, and Road Route
The RGS River Trail follows the abandoned Rio Grande Southern rail line through the Dolores River corridor. The route runs 4.7 miles south from Rico to the boundary between Montezuma County and Dolores County. Related bridges and northern sections remain part of an ongoing project.
The trail network around Rico offers opportunities for hiking, running, biking, and winter sports. Choosing based on your preferred activity gives you several distinct options, rather than just one way to explore the area. Fishing in the Dolores River is also an activity visitors can enjoy around Rico. The river is therefore both part of the described trail corridor and a focal point for this recreational opportunity.
For a road route, the San Juan Skyway offers another point of reference: it follows Colorado Highway 145 through Rico and then continues along the Dolores River. Its route differs from the RGS line, which follows an abandoned railroad through the river corridor. When choosing a focus for your stay, you can consider the road route, the trail network, and the trail as distinct geographic references without combining them into a single route.
Railroad and Mining History
The water tower in Rico is one of only three surviving water towers of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. The round tower held 50,000 gallons of water, stood on heavy wooden beams, and was built when the railroad reached Rico. Its shape, large capacity, and supporting timber structure give this building a distinct technical character. At the same time, it connects the town’s history to a railroad whose abandoned line now also defines the route of the RGS River Trail.
Two neighboring buildings were built in 1940–1941 and operated by the Rico Argentine Mining Company as part of the VanWinkle mine complex until 1949. Copper, lead, and zinc were mined at the complex. These dates outline a later phase of mining in Rico and distinguish it chronologically from the history of the Rio Grande Southern. The Atlantic Cable Mine is also part of the town’s mining history: dating to 1878, it is among the earliest mines in the Rico Mining District and is considered one of the richest. One building served this mine.
Local history also includes an early church building: a church built in 1890 as the “People’s Church” was the first church building in Rico. Together with the water tower and mining stories, it shows different aspects of the town’s history rather than reducing everything to a single phase of industry. If historic buildings and their different dates influence your travel decision, Rico offers several specific points of interest. Those looking for outdoor activities can instead focus on the trails, the river, and the recreational opportunities mentioned above.
Discover more destinations: Dove Creek.
Return to the main travel overview: Dolores County.
