GET WET Whether your idea of fun is a refreshing float down the Colorado on SUPs right through town or an exhilarating whitewater run through nearby Westwater Canyon, area rivers serve up plenty of places to float leisurely and safely on countless sunny days. Playboaters can hop into the standing waves at Las Colonias River Park near the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, hence the name Grand Junction. WINTER FUN The Grand Mesa averages 250 inches of light, dry powder each year and has some of the best glade skiing in the state. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is affordable, approachable, and only a short 45-minute drive from Grand Junction. The Mesa also offers backcountry skiing and 31 miles of groomed trails for Nordic and skate skiing. If speed is more your thing, there is access to over 180 miles of backcountry snowmobiling trails to shred. TEE TIMES Enjoy a great day on the links with immaculately groomed greens and red-rock canyons rising in the distance at some of Grand Junction’s unique golf courses. Tiara Rado and Redlands Mesa (rated the No. 1 course in Colorado by Golfweek) afford golfers stunning vistas of Colorado National Monument. Spectacular views of the sandstone Book Cliffs and other surrounding mountain ranges can be found at Chipeta and Lincoln Park golf courses. INTO THE WILD The diverse ecosystems of the area are home to a variety of Colorado fauna. Bighorn sheep, elk, deer, lynx and moose ply the high country. Just across the Colorado River from Downtown, the Riverfront Trail traverses a 1.5-mile paved Audubon path providing delightful opportunities to spot over 200 bird species, including blue heron, osprey, hawks and eagles. As one of only three wild horse sanctuaries designated to protect wild horses in the country, be sure to check out the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range to see the protected bands of wild mustangs who roam freely here. It’s a life-changing experience! ANCIENT ARTIFACTS & DINOSAURS Tap into your inner paleontologist and step back 600 million years in time at Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The rugged canyons are etched with petroglyphs, bridging the chasm between past and present, serving as silent storytellers. Other ancient mysteries are preserved in Rabbit Valley along an interpretive trail through a working fossil quarry, where the remains of 140-million-year-old dinosaurs can be viewed. STAY A WHILE Grand Junction hosts the most affordable lodging in Colorado, with easy access from the airport. Choose from 31 hotels as well as inns, B&Bs and hundreds of vacation homes. With many Colorado attractions located within just minutes of the city, it’s the perfect hub to base out of. And with fewer crowds than other mountain towns, Grand Junction is the Colorado you expect. The number one comment from guests who visit is – “the locals are so friendly and welcoming!” So come play with us, we look forward to meeting you! So come play with us, we look forward to meeting you! VisitGrandJunction.com
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2024: Page 104D
