Grand Junction
A western Colorado plateau city surrounded by the red-rock canyons of Colorado National Monument, Palisade's wineries and orchards, and the alpine lakes of Grand Mesa.
Grand Junction lies in western Colorado where the Colorado and Gunnison rivers meet. It is the seat of Mesa County and the largest city on the northern edge of the Colorado Plateau, at an elevation of about 1,400 m. Right on the city's southwest edge, Colorado National Monument is the signature attraction, with red sandstone canyons, freestanding rock monoliths and Rim Rock Drive; 20 minutes east, Palisade is Colorado's wine country and "Peach Capital," with wineries and orchards spread along the river valley; about an hour farther east rises Grand Mesa, billed as the world's largest flat-topped mountain, whose plateau holds more than 300 lakes — a cool summer escape, a place for aspen color in fall and skiing in winter. To the west, Fruita is a nationally known mountain-bike town, with the 18 Road trails, the Kokopelli Trail and the Dinosaur Journey Museum nearby, while McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area holds one of the greatest concentrations of natural arches in the U.S. outside Utah's Arches. North of the city, below the Book Cliffs, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range is a place to look for wild horse herds. The climate is semi-arid high desert: spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) are the most pleasant; July–August daytime highs often top 35°C, so hike in the early morning or head up to Grand Mesa; in winter the city sees little snow while the high country is deep in it. Getting there: Grand Junction Regional Airport has flights from Denver, Dallas, Phoenix and elsewhere; Amtrak's California Zephyr stops here; via I-70 it's about 4 hours from Denver and about 1.5 hours to Moab, Utah. Sights are spread out, so you'll need a car. Plan on 2–3 days, and consider combining it with Arches in Moab, Black Canyon and Glenwood Springs on a road-trip loop. The high-altitude sun is intense and trails offer little shade, so be sure to carry plenty of water.
Top sights
- Colorado National Monument – A high-desert landscape of deep red sandstone canyons, freestanding rock pillars and a scenic rim road. It's the top attraction in Grand Ju…
- Palisade Wine Country – Colorado's main wine region and the home of its famous peaches. Wineries and orchards line the river valley, ideal for cycling between tast…
- Grand Mesa – Said to be the world's largest flat-topped mountain. Hundreds of lakes and aspen forests sit on a plateau above 3,000 m.
- Powderhorn Mountain Resort – A local ski area on the north slope of Grand Mesa, with mostly tree-lined runs, fewer crowds and lower prices. In summer it is also good fo…
- Dinosaur Journey Museum – A dinosaur fossil museum in Fruita with animatronic dinosaurs, a fossil preparation lab and Jurassic skeletons excavated locally.
- Dinosaur Hill – The original fossil site where an Apatosaurus skeleton was excavated in 1901. A loop trail around the hill has interpretive signs, and ther…
- 18 Road Trails, Fruita – A mountain biking mecca beneath the Book Cliffs. Its flowing single-track trails are famous across the United States, which has made Fruita…
- Kokopelli Loops (Mary's Loop) – A classic mountain bike loop along the edge of the Colorado River canyon near Loma. The Mary's Loop offers views of red rock over the river…
- McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area – Red rock wilderness along the Colorado River, where Rattlesnake Canyon has dozens of natural sandstone arches and the Ruby and Horsethief c…
- Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area – One of the few wild horse reserves in the United States, where about 150 wild horses roam freely in the Book Cliffs canyons.
- Mount Garfield – The iconic peak of the Book Cliffs behind Palisade. A steep trail to the summit offers views over the entire Grand Valley and its wine coun…
- Lunch Loop Trails (Tabeguache) – A network of mountain bike and hiking trails just five minutes from downtown, with many rocky technical sections and views of the National…
- Downtown Grand Junction (Main Street) – A tree-lined main street with more than a hundred outdoor sculptures, where restaurants, bars and boutiques cluster. It is ideal for an eve…
- Museum of the West – A regional history museum in the city center that tells the stories of Native peoples, pioneers, uranium mining and the cowboys of the Amer…
- Colorado Riverfront Trail – A paved trail along the Colorado River connecting Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade, linking several state park river sections.
- Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area – A red rock wilderness in the Gunnison River canyon. The Big Dominguez Canyon trail offers ancient rock art, seasonal waterfalls and sandsto…
- Unaweep Canyon (Unaweep-Tabeguache Byway) – A geological curiosity in which a river flows out at each end of the canyon. Scenic Byway 141 runs through the canyon to the red rock town…
- Highline Lake State Park – A reservoir state park beneath the Book Cliffs, offering swimming, boating and fishing in summer, and serving as a stopover for migratory b…
- Cross Orchards Historic Site – A historic farm from the early 20th century, once a large apple orchard, with a barn, worker housing, and displays of antique farm machiner…
Where to eat
- Bin 707 Foodbar – Local-ingredient foodbar on Main Street, named to The New York Times' list of best restaurants in America.
- Pablo's Pizza – Homegrown creative thin-crust pizzeria in a historic Main Street building, with wildly inventive toppings and plenty of…
- Dream Cafe – The hottest brunch spot in the historic downtown, famous for its cinnamon roll French toast and giant cinnamon roll.
- Devil's Kitchen – Rooftop restaurant on the fourth floor of the Hotel Maverick, with views of Colorado National Monument and a focus on l…
Itineraries
- Colorado's Four National Parks: 13-Day Grand Loop – A clockwise grand loop from Denver, linking Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Rocky Mount…