Missouri Heights

Here, on these high mesas and in these wide valleys, is the big view of life.

A massive profile of Mt. Sopris. Green ranchlands. Unending Colorado sky. Forty minutes from Aspen, and we've entered another world. The highlands of Missouri Heights overlook Carbondale and the mid-valley with majesty.

Yes, this is God's country. And where many horse lovers have planted roots.

Here, you'll find a working ranch that holds an annual National Sheep Dog Competition, equestrian centers showcasing the best in Hunter Jumper, luxurious country estates, even a hangar-size art museum that houses enormous sculptures of an artist whose works are in the collections of such major museums as the Smithsonian and the Museum of Modern Art.

For the residents who have opted for the Missouri Heights community on top of the bluff, they came for the sense of remove from the bustle of the lower valley, while still being within reach of Whole Foods and the amenities of El Jebel and Carbondale.

If time hasn't quite stopped here, it certainly paused to catch its breath.

OUR TOWN

Local's Tradition: First Fridays, just down the hill in Carbondale. Locals turn out en masse, making the rounds down Main Street to art openings, wine tastings, and unique restaurants. Where to Meet Them: Cross-country skiing at Spring Gulch. Over breakfast at The Village Smithy. Favorite Evening Diversion: Twilight golf at River Valley Ranch. Concerts at the Old Thompson Barn. Thunder River Theatre Company. For Body and Soul: True Nature Healing Arts. Avalanche Ranch Hot Springs. Mountain biking all the many side roads in Missouri Heights. Place to Walk Your Dog: Virtually anywhere, other than primary roads. Take your pick. Lasting Impression: The sun-kissed sweetness of life in the shadow of Mt. Sopris.

Missouri Heights Details

Elevation: 7,400 ft. on average.

Climate: Positively mild, with far less snowfall than Aspen or Snowmass, and a growing season that starts well before Memorial Day and continues on into December.

Population: 6,800 in Carbondale and another 2,500 in the surrounding hills and valleys, including Missouri Heights.

Schools: Missouri Heights kids attend Carbondale schools, part of the Roaring Fork School's (RE-1) District, or include the innovative and acclaimed Colorado Rocky Mountain School-private day school or boarding for grades 9-12.

Transportation: Roaring Fork Transportation Authority-frequent bus service to Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, and Glenwood Springs.

Recreation: Kayaking. Rafting. Fly Fishing. Endless hiking and bicycling. Ice climbing. Cross-country skiing at Spring Gulch, downhill at Sunlight Mountain Resort or any of the four Aspen areas, golf at River Valley Ranch and Ranch at the Roaring Fork (both open to the public), and Aspen Glen (private).

Nearby Carbondale: Named one of America's best small towns ( Outside Magazine; Men's Journal, Travel + Leisure), a quaint town on the valley floor just a few minutes' drive from Missouri Heights and 30 miles from Aspen, Carbondale gazes directly upon the awe-inspiring Mt. Sopris at 12,966 ft. The surrounding topography is gentle and lush, watered by the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers.

The multi-generational scene in Carbondale is a testament to the exceptional quality of life that some call the "banana belt" because of its warmer climate. With its annual Mountain Fair, an independent movie theater that shows Sundance award-winning films, a summer rodeo series featuring working cowboys, live theatre productions of classic plays, and all the sports facilities every soccer and baseball parent could dream of, Carbondale continues to flourish as a vibrant and wonderfully down-home community.