SIDETRIPS North of Montrose, the towns of Cedaredge , Crawford , Delta , Hotchkiss , Orchard City and Paonia are a growing organic-food and wine region with winery and farm tours, wine tastings and farm dinners. Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford are a Certified Colorado Creative District, where artists’ studios, musicians, writers and other creative folk mix among the mesas. For active diversions, Sweitzer Lake State Park near Delta is a relaxing place for boating and bird-watching. Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is popular with hikers, backpackers and trout fishers on Gold Medal waters; the area’s Sidewinder Trail is a challenging new singletrack luring serious mountain bikers to the area. Delta County has a few little known attractions that are worth adding to your list: Three new dinosaur-tracksite discoveries in the Escalante and Gunnison Gorge national conservation areas and the Uncompahgre Plateau, 12,980-year-old rock art at the Eagle Rock Shelter Site, the challenging Delta Drop O mountain-bike trail, the charming Cirque de Cycler combo juice bar/ bike repair/bike rental (including e-bikes)/boutique all in one, and a handful of new wineries and cideries. NEAR HOTCHKISS, LISA SEAMAN. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cedaredge , Crawford (page 200), Delta (page 201), Hotchkiss , Montrose (page 209), Orchard City , Ouray (page 210), Paonia (page 211), Ridgway (page 211), Somerset (page 212), Telluride (page 213) COLORADO.COM / 149
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2017: Page 149
