Destination Grand Junction

Visit Grand Junction

OFFERING a host of amazing outdoor recreation opportunities as well as being right in the middle of Colorado’s main wine region, Grand Junction is the Colorado experience you never knew you needed.

Colorado can be all things to all people thanks to its wide range of landscapes and lifestyle options, but Grand Junction sits in an area that is perhaps more representative of the state as a whole than anywhere else.

With a National Monument on its doorstep, a National Forest and two National Conservation Areas to the east, west and south respectively, a ski resort on top of the world’s largest flat-top mountain a short drive away, desert canyons and plateaus in the immediate vicinity and expansive areas of sagebrush shrubland and rangeland to the north, Grand Junction, unexpectedly, just might be as Colorado as it gets.

Of course Grand Junction has always had all of this and it has long been very popular with lovers of the outdoors, indeed some of the best mountain biking in the country can be had in the area, but as a destination for visitors it has long been a well-kept secret.

Rob McGovern

If You Build it They Will Come - Eventually

For towns like Grand Junction to go through the transformation into a “destination” there has to be a sort of perfect storm of marketing savvy, “pioneers” looking for something new, amazing recreational opportunities and exorbitant rents elsewhere - check, check and check.

If there is one sure fire sign that a town is on the up it is the arrival of an increasing number of innovative, upmarket or elevated drinking and dining establishments.

One of Grand Junction’s best restaurants is Bin 707 Foodbar. Opened by Josh Niernberg in 2007, the upmarket eatery tries hard to serve exclusively local produce, but when that isn’t possible Niernberg looks to the region and then finally the wider state for what he needs. The food is as good as it is inventive and, as you would expect from a certified sommelier, the wine is excellent and is also made up exclusively of Colorado wines. Many first time visitors to Colorado or even visitors to western Colorado may not be overly familiar with many of the wines, but you will be won over.

Fast forward to 2017 and Grand Junction’s ascent had begun. Perhaps sensing that change was in the air, Niernberg opened Taco party not far from Bin 707. With a diner-like lunch counter and open kitchen, Taco Party has a very laid-back vibe, but that vibe doesn’t extend to the kitchen, at least not in terms of the food. The tacos are seriously good, and offer something for everyone - whether you’re vegetarian, pescatarian or carnivore. The Margarita rimmed with hibiscus salt was as delicious as it was beautiful. Soon after Taco Party opened, Niernberg opened Dinner Party, a private dining and event space, next door.

Dream Cafe

Elsewhere on Main Street, Dream Cafe is a very popular spot and on any given Saturday morning the place is typically reaching capacity not long after opening at 7 am. Similarly, Cafe Sol, a few doors down from Dream Cafe is also very popular and serves up delicious and healthy dishes - think quinoa breakfast bowls, smoothies with hemp protein and

kale salads. The menu also contains a few options that more than nod to the area’s country western heritage, the Garth Brooks salad for example. Organic, natural and local ingredients are again paramount to the philosophy here and the menu changes regularly to take advantage of the abundance of produce in the region.

For a sweet treat, local candy manufacturer Enstrom Candies has a range of products, but their traditional almond toffee, which is still made by hand, is hard to beat.

It wouldn’t be Colorado without beer and local institution Rockslide brewery and restaurant (which is under the same ownership as Dream Cafe) has been slinging pints for a quarter of a century, in fact it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Their beer is good and their food is classic pub grub - sandwiches, salads, tacos and burgers among other things. What’s not to like?

More local beer is available at Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s two outlets, one in town and the other, Edgewater Brewery, on the Colorado River next to

Grand Junction’s Las Colonias Park Amphitheater, which is itself a major component of Junction’s 130-acre restored property on the banks of the river.

Highlands Distillery

A newer offering in town is Highlands Distillery. Celebrating their one-year anniversary this spring, the distillery offers gin and vodka tastings, a selection of cocktails, and bottles to purchase. Popular cocktails include the Garden Party Mule, the Maverick, and the Blood, Sweat and Steers (their take on the Bloody Mary). Located right next to Belli Fiori lavender farm, spring is the perfect time to enjoy a drink on the patio and take in the intoxicating views. For a more hands-on experience, book a tour and tasting. Offered on Fridays and Saturdays, the intimate tours teach you about the distilling process and end in a spirit tasting.

Visit Grand Junction

Do, See, Stay

Another signifier of Grand Junction’s changing status is its growing arts scene. Although the city has long supported artists and the arts, its designation last year as a statecertified creative district is yet another sign that Grand Junction is moving on up. The quaint and historic downtown area offers numerous art galleries that hold First Friday Art Walks. Then there is Art on the Corner, a year-round outdoor sculpture exhibit made up of more than 100 sculptures in a variety of mediums and styles. Established in 1984, it offers a great reason to stroll around downtown. The permanent sculptures are joined by a temporary exhibit every year. Elsewhere there are the Museums of Western Colorado, a multi-disciplinary museum complex that includes three museum facilities, three outdoor paleontology sites and a research library. The three museums in the area are Museum of the West, the Cross Orchards Historic Site and, in nearby Fruita, Dinosaur Journey.

Downtown also offers the chance to get creative with places like Funky Junk, an open studio where you can bring Pinterest creations to life. That is literally their thing - if you see something you like on Pinterest they

will help you make it. There are also plenty of more traditional galleries where you can pick up a unique piece to take home.

If you love rummaging around for hidden treasure, stop by A Robin’s Nest of Antiques and Treasures, a veritable mall that is packed to the rafters with dozens of small stalls selling everything you could possibly imagine.

For the restless, Grand Junction and the surrounding area has a wealth of outdoor activity options. Taking pride of place is Colorado National Monument. Staggeringly beautiful, Monument, as it is called locally, preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. The monoliths and red rock canyons are home to an incredible array of wildlife and, weather permitting, a colorful selection of cyclists (read more in our cycling story on page 26). Surely a national park in the making, Monument was essentially created by conservationist John Otto who dedicated himself to protecting and promoting the land and working with the communities of Grand Junction and Fruita to advocate for the creation of a national park to protect the extraordinary geology of ancient canyons and towering monoliths. On May 24, 1911, President Taft established Colorado National Monument under the authority of the Antiquities Act. Otto was hired as the Monument’s first custodian, earning one dollar per month until leaving the post in 1929. Otto is remembered every Fourth of July when Old Glory is planted atop the 450- foot tall Independence Monument in a reenactment of Otto’s own flag planing back in 1911.

Colorado National Monument is heaven for hikers and cyclists in particular. To really get a feel for why John Otto loved this place so much try Monument Canyon Trail, a 5.8-mile trek that can be combined with the 2.2-mile Wedding Canyon Trail (Otto loved the area so much he got married at the base of Independence Monument) to make a loop that takes you back to the Monument Trail Parking Area. If you’re in the area around sunset, head to Book Cliffs View. Other areas of outstanding natural beauty in the area include McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The 120,000 plus acres of BLMadministered land includes the secondlargest concentration of natural arches in North America. McInnis Canyons also has world-class mountain biking and the Colorado River (well 25 miles of it) winds its way through the stunning landscape attracting boaters who value straightforward floating through spectacular multi-hued sandstone canyons. There are also two state parks very close to Junction (James M Robb Colorado River and Highline Lake) as well as orchards and lavender farms. And Grand Mesa, the largest flattopped mountain in the world with an area of around 500 square miles, is not far away either. Home to Powderhorn Ski Resort and 300 lakes, Grand Mesa offers amazing recreation opportunities year round.

Rob McGovern

If you really want to get your heart racing look no further than a Polaris RZR tour with Adrenaline Driven Adventures. Minutes from downtown Grand Junction, the BLM’s Grand Valley Open OHV Area is a huge expanse of desert terrain with so many trails you never have to do the same one twice. If you don’t feel comfortable driving yourself, you can always ask owner Lewis Baker to take you out and whip you around on a ride that is like a roller coaster without the predetermined course.

Visit Grand Junction

And finally, for those who like to putter around at a more sedate speed and wear funky trousers, there are several golf courses in the area including Redlands Mesa Golf Course (above), Tiara Rado Golf Course and Lincoln Park Golf Course.

Where to stay

Springhill Suites on Main Street isn’t a particularly new addition to downtown, but you might be forgiven for thinking it is.

With modern decor throughout, comfortable, bright rooms and amenities including a business center, an indoor pool, a 24-hour market and a fitness center, the hotel will suit most people’s needs.

Events

March 1 - 10 Downtown Restaurant Week is a celebration of drinking and dining in downtown Grand Junction.

May 3 - 5 Fat Tire Festival is the state’s premier mountain biking event held in Fruita.

May 17 - 19 Grand Junction Off-Road & Four Peaks Downtown Music Festival brings together off-roading and music for a block party-style celebration.

Visit Grand Junction

Fruita

Fruita is just 12 miles northwest of Grand Junction, which means that the town offers the same amazing outdoor recreational opportunities as Grand Junction but is a tad closer to McInnis Canyons NCA and the west entrance to Colorado National Monument which is just three miles away.

Fruita also has a quaint downtown with boutiques, shops and eateries to explore as well as Dinosaur Journey, a paleontological and geological museum that covers the history of life in surrounding areas. You can explore real fossils, cast skeletons and see robotic reconstructions of dinosaurs.

There are also some great places to refuel after a day exploring the nearby recreational options. Try Copper Club Brewing Company for a pint and Hot Tomato Pizza for an authentic New York-style pie. If the pizzeria is too crowded, you’re more than welcome to order your meal to-go and enjoy it at Copper Club alongside your pint.

As for festivals and events, don’t miss the unique Mike the Headless Chicken Festival which takes place in late spring along with the aforementioned Fat Tire Festival in May.

Visit Grand Junction

Palisade

Home to wineries, cideries and a quaint downtown, Palisade is a must-visit on any trip to Grand Junction.

A major reason many people visit Palisade is to visit the wineries, and the best way to do this in spring is by e-bike. Hire a bike from Rapid Creek Cycles & Paddleboards on Main Street and effortlessly glide around town enjoying the fruits of the region - literally.

Visit Grand Junction

Colterris Winery is a short ride down a frontage road. Scott and Theresa have some truly good wines and the tasting room is where you get to try them all. Be sure to take a few of their “can-terris” cans of wine with you for a post-dinner quaff.

There are several other wineries within the range of your e-bike, including Plum Creek, as well as Talbot’s cider, Peach Street Distillery and Palisade Brewing. Meadery of the Rockies is also nearby as is Graystone Winery who specializes in port.

For food, Palisade Cafe 11.0 is a delicious option. Owner John Sabal is not only personable, but he has a story and he can cook. John and his wife have Spanish heritage which is why you will see variously sized paella pans hanging around the restaurant. Otherwise, the menu is eclectic with a combination of things you will probably know and a few you might not be so familiar with. The cocktails here are excellent, too.

If you do spend the night in Palisade, the Wine Country Inn is a good choice. Surrounded by 21 acres of vines, the Victorian-style hotel will get your Colorado wine country excursion off to a good start. Minutes from two wineries and a few minutes more from downtown and the rest of what Palisade has to offer, Wine Country Inn is a good base.

There is also Spoke and Vine Motel, a boutique offering slated to open soon.

Gateway Canyons

Gateway Canyons

A bit further afield, Gateway is an unincorporated town that these days is essentially synonymous with Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa.

Built by John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, Gateway Canyons offers amazing opportunities to interact with the surrounding area, an area the property was built to blend in with. And for a fivestar, award-winning resort, it has done an admirable job.

Gateway is just an hour’s drive from downtown Grand Junction but it is a world away.

Options abound for both the energetic and the those who want a more leisurely day. There is horseback riding, from beginners and guided tours to those who want to learn to cattle drive, and guided tours of local dinosaur tracks for those who want a more leisurely but still active excursion. To truly relax, there is a full-service spa at your disposal and an on-site helicopter that offers aerial tours of the canyons and surrounds.

Read more about stay at Gateway in the haven section in our autumn issue here.

365 - Grand Junction year round

Summer

Once summer hits, the valley can be stifling. Temperatures soar and afternoons outdoors can be pretty intolerable. If you are going to plan on a hike, ride or any other exerting activity, schedule it for the morning or evening. Now would be a great time to head to the water. There are plenty of water-based activity opportunities between the Colorado River, Connected Lakes and Highline Lakes. And amazingly, Grand Mesa boasts 300 lakes (but of course not all of them are fit for activities).

Don’t miss: Fans of country music will already know that the area hosts Country Jam. Held in mid-June, this country music festival brings some of the most popular acts in the genre to town. There are camping and VIP opportunities available

Autumn

Color change hits the Grand Valley pretty late in the year, with the possibility of seeing leaves changing well into October and possibly November. The fall climate in the area is usually warm and dry meaning this is an amazing time to get out and explore (even better than spring as the wind is usually not as strong). Hike the National Monument, stroll the quaint downtown art district or hop on a bike to explore the wineries in Palisade, plenty of them have patios to take in the glorious Colorado weather. This would also be an amazing time to explore the luxurious Gateway Canyons, as the foliage peaks and daytime temperatures are very tolerable.

Don’t miss: Colorado Mountain Winefest. From Sept. 19 - 22 the area is a celebration of all things wine along with live music, a grape stomp, chef demonstrations and seminars.

Rob McGovern

Winter

Grand Junction typically doesn’t get that much snow, but it’s a different story less than an hour away on Grand Mesa. The largest flat top mountain in the world gets more than its fair share of winter precipitation which means a whole range of winter outdoor opportunities await. From skiing the slopes at Powderhorn to snowshoeing and Nordic skiing the many trails on the mesa, you can go from a relatively mild day in the valley to a winter wonderland in a short drive. Mild weather in the valley means you’ll likely be able to find biking, hiking and other outdoor pursuits which are only available in summer in the high mountains.

Don’t miss: Grand Mesa Nordic Council hosts a range of events throughout the winter months, including a classic 10k race and freestyle 10k.