The GMUG National Forest extends over 2.9 million acres and is managed by five ranger districts with the forest headquarters (Supervisor's Office) located in Delta, Colorado. Each ranger district covers large areas which generally include several communities of varying size and characteristics from ski resort towns, to farming and ranching communities. The following information provides a brief overview of the area where each forest service office is located. For more detail information, please contact the chamber of commerce for these communities.

Supervisor's Office - DELTA AREA INFORMATON

ELEVATION: 4,980 feet

POPULATION: 4,000 in the City Limits, within a 5 mile radius of Delta there are 8,500.

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Grand Junction 41 miles away with a population of 97,000, Montrose 21 miles away with a population of 12,000.

CLIMATE: Mild in the winter and in the summer.

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 94.5 AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: 22.2

 

Gunnison Ranger District - GUNNISON AREA INFORMATION

ELEVATION: 7,703 feet

POPULATION: 6,468

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Montrose 65 miles away with a population of 12,000.

CLIMATE: Cool, comfortable summers, snowy winters with sub-zero temperatures.

AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 10.36 inches AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 54.0 inches.

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 70, AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: -8

 

Grand Valley Ranger District - GRAND JUNCTION AREA INFORMATION

ELEVATION: 4,586 feet

POPULATION: Within the City of Grand Junction 40,000. Including the surrounding valley 97,000.

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Denver 248 miles away with a population of 500,000.

CLIMATE: AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 8.0 inches AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 25.4 inches

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 95 AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: 14.5

 

Norwood Ranger District - NORWOOD AREA INFORMATION

ELEVATION: 7,014 feet

POPULATION: 500

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Montrose 65 miles away with a population of 12,000.

CLIMATE: AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: Moderate. AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: Moderate

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 80 AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: 21

 

Ouray Ranger District - MONTROSE AREA INFORMATION

WORK HEADQUARTERS: Montrose, Colorado.

ELEVATION: 5,794 feet

POPULATION: 12,000

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Grand Junction 60 miles away with a population of 97,000.

CLIMATE: Mild. AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 9.5 inches AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 31 inches

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 73 AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: 24

Paonia Ranger District - PAONIA AREA INFORMATION

ELEVATION: 5,645 feet

POPULATION: 1,529 incorporated; 5,000 in surrounding rural areas.

NEAREST LARGER TOWN: Grand Junction 60 miles away with a population of 97,000. Delta is 30 miles away with a population of 4,000.

CLIMATE: Mild.

AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 14.01 inches AVERAGE ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 50.1 inches

AVERAGE SUMMER HIGH TEMPERATURE: 72 AVERAGE WINTER LOW TEMPERATURE: 24