Local or nearby attractions to Grand Junction, Palisade, Fruita, Orchard Mesa, Clifton, Loma, Mack, Mesa and all of Mesa County.

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Grand Junction Area Spotlight

Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!
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There are lots of cool places in and around the Grand Junction area that I wanted to share. In this post I put the spotlight on a few of our favorite places or experiences, in no particular order. The main image on this post was taken on the Waterfowl Trail in the Connected Lakes State Park near downtown Grand Junction. I have a video about it on my Live Your Vacation Facebook Page.

Send me an email if you have any suggestions of places you think we should check out or you are curious about.

Parade of Lights (December)

Parade of Lights in Fruita CO - Xcel Energy truck covered in lights

Parade of Lights in Fruita

Our first Parade of Lights was officially in Fruita when we were staying there for 3 weeks during our Living in Grand Junction Experiment. It’s way too cold in Minnesota to attend a parade like this so it’s something we look forward to each December. Before the Grand Junction Parade of Lights starts, we head over to Mainstreet Bagels to get some authentic hot chocolate. Typically, we are joined by our daughter and son-in-law to enjoy the floats. It’s not too cold but you do want to wear a hat and gloves. Hot cocoa helps too!

Fruita Visitor Center

There is a Visitor Center in Grand Junction off Horizon Drive near the airport, but it’s just not as good as the Fruita Visitor Center. The GJ location went through a transition recently so they didn’t have as many brochures during that time. But the Fruita Visitor Center is always well stocked with information and volunteers to share their experiences. On one visit, we met a gentleman who lived just a couple of miles from where we grew up in Deephaven, MN. I sometimes stop in there to pick up guides, maps, and brochures for my visiting clients. I encourage you to go there yourself. We discover something new every time. They have information about all of Colorado, not just the Grand Junction area.

Colorado River Bridge

We often find ourselves visiting the bridge over the Colorado River in Las Colonias near Camp Eddy. We visit in the spring to see the rush of the winter snow melt. We go in the summer and fall to check on the water levels and watch the people float by. Sometimes we walk around the nearby Butterfly Pond. Michelle’s sister and brother-in-law stayed at Camp Eddy for 3 weeks in October. They loved being so close to the river and the Colorado Riverfront Trail. Read my post about the cons of living in the Grand Junction area where I mention the goat heads on the Riverfront Trail and how to avoid a flat tire on our bike.

Downtown Grand Junction

Realty ONE Group office on Colorado Ave in downtown Grand Junction

Realty ONE Group Western Slope office on Colorado Ave in Grand Junction

We enjoy walking downtown Grand Junction from end to end. We have many favorite shops and restaurants downtown and would be happy to meet you in any location downtown! Sometimes when we are running errands, we just drive through downtown to see what’s going on. We like the Sunday Farmers Market in Palisade the best, but we attend the Thursday evening Farmers Market in Grand Junction several times a year. Parking is easy, drive to Colorado Avenue, just a block off main street. We primarily park in the lot behind the Rockslide Brewery. The lot is free after 4pm and on weekends. Keep a couple of quarters in your vehicle in case you need to pay for parking. It’s very reasonable. My Realty One Group Western Slope Real Estate Office is on Colorado Avenue, and I frequently pay to park in the area. Let me know if you have question about the parking apps.

Mesa County Libraries

We are constantly researching the area and we read business and marketing books as a hobby. We’ve been to the Fruita, Grand Junction, Clifton, Orchard Mesa, and Palisade Libraries. Libraries are a great resource for the community. Read my post about Mesa County Libraries and the Friends of the Mesa County Libraries. I even started a Little Free Library in Las Colonias. We visit it often to make sure it’s still filled with books, and Michelle usually finds one for herself.

Colorado National Monument Favorite Stops

Paul Aspelin standing near the top of the Serpent’s Trail in the Monument

Take the Fruita (west) entrance into the Colorado National Monument. Just before the Visitor Center, turn left at the Saddlehorn Campground. At the “Y” in the road, veer left and follow the loop around to the parking spaces in front of the Book Cliffs View. Walk out about 50 feet for some incredible views. There are a few short trails nearby, one leads to the Visitor Center. It’s one of our favorite spots to bring guests and it’s typically not crowded.

Another favorite is Otto’s Trail. It gives visitors a chance to stretch their legs and get emersed in the canyons of the Monument. A stop at the top of Serpent’s Trail is another great spot but there are only 4 parking spaces so it’s not always available when you drive by. If you can stop, walk for about 50 yards down the trail and enjoy the view! Serpents Trail is the original road to get to the top of the Monument. It’s a great hike, but a lot of elevation gain. Watch for big horn sheep, mostly along the western side of Rimrock Drive through the Monument.

Palisade Sweet Spots

Clark’s Distillery at Sunset looking at Mt. Garfield

Outside of Grand Junction, we visit Palisade the most. We always enjoy the Sunday Farmers Market, and we have some favorite restaurants if you are looking for recommendations. One of our favorite spots is to sit outside in the Adirondack chairs at Clark’s Distillery and watch the sun set over the Colorado River. The setting sun makes the Book Cliffs glow. They have great food and a variety of beverages. Another spot to sit and soak up the view is at the Colterris Winery. The winery is at the far eastern edge of Palisade on N. River Road. You are at the base of the Book Cliffs and the Grand Mesa, peering into the De Beque Canyon. Most days there is a gentle breeze due to the micro-climate of this area. It’s very peaceful.

I’ve got a few more favorite spots. I usually mention them when I give clients a tour. If they are interested, I add them to the itinerary. Some are quick stops, overlooks, high points, special views, and unique features to point out. As a CMU alumni parent, we always enjoy pulling into the parking lot at the Outdoor Program building and watching the students walk about campus. You can get breakfast at the CMU Library building nearby. I have a post with some tips for CMU parents if your child is considering attending this fabulous Western Slope University.

Do you have a favorite spot in Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisade? Send me an email and we will check it out!

Move to Grand Junction and Live Your Vacation Every Day!

Text/Call 612-306-9558 with your questions about living in Grand Junction.

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Learn more about me and how I serve my clients.
Serving Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and all of Mesa County.
Licensed in Colorado.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com. Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved.

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Silverton Day Trip from Grand Junction

Silverton Day Trip from Grand Junction

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

It was late October when we took our most recent Silverton day trip from Grand Junction. We have been there two other times and always enjoyed this calm, scenic mountain town.

Our first experience in Silverton CO was in 2021 when we drove from Arizona to Grand Junction to see our daughter on our way back to Minnesota. From Grand Junction we drove south along Hwy 550 to Durango. We hit many small towns in Colorado before turning north to Minnesota. That trip included our first experience on the Million Dollar Highway.

The Million Dollar Highway

We didn’t do much research about the Million Dollar Highway our first time to Silverton. I thought it was all about the “million-dollar views”. Boy, were we surprised! Paul drove with white knuckles while I could barely look out the side window down the 1000’ cliff. We both watched the road as we twisted and turned along the side of the mountain and the cliff. No guardrails. Speed limit gets down to 15 mph because of the tight curves. Once we made it safely to Durango, I looked it up online and the first website to pop up was “Most Dangerous Roads” … gulp! I texted our daughter’s boyfriend at the time, Josh, and asked him about people dying on that road. And his reply, I remember to this day, “Yeah, about a dozen people die each year on that road but it’s mostly during the winter so you don’t really need to worry.”  What?!?!?!

The second time we drove it was to give our relatives a chance to see Silverton and the Road while they were visiting. I sat behind the driver vs in the passenger seat, and it went much smoother. The most recent time was in October 2025 and this time we stopped along the way and really took in the experience. We are more comfortable driving on the mountain roads now. It was much more enjoyable. We went on a Sunday when the Broncos were playing, so there was hardly any traffic on the road which made a huge difference. The first time we drove it a semi carrying logging timber came around the corner and Paul practically came to a stop in his lane (we were only going about 15 mph anyway) until the semi passed and we both gave a sigh of relief.

The Million Dollar Highway is officially the stretch of Hwy 550 between Ouray and Silverton, part of the larger San Juan Skyway that makes a big loop in SW Colorado. About halfway, you go over Red Mountain Pass (10,899 ft. elevation). It’s very beautiful. There are only parts of the road with the steep drop-offs and absolutely no shoulder. Other times it flattens out and gets wide as you go through a valley closer to Silverton. I think it’s something everyone should experience once. Just go slowly and only go in good weather without snow on the ground or rain so you can enjoy it. I feel like every day trip we take is like a mini vacation. We get so lost in the experience of it all, it’s a great break.

Red Mountain Pass and Yankee Girl Mine

This is a stunning part of Hwy 550. There are actually 3 Red Mountains, named 1, 2 and 3 that stand out against the deep blue sky. There is a pullout near the top, on the north side of the pass that explains the multitude of mines in this area. It is there that we learned that the Yankee Girl Mine was one of the most profitable silver mines in the United States.

The Yankee Girl mine went nearly straight down to a depth of 1200 vertical feet. The remaining structure serves as a relic of the area’s rich mining history, and it was fun to photograph it. It was in operation from 1882 to 1890. The Yankee Girl Mine helped bring attention to the Red Mountain Mining District, which eventually became a significant mining area known around the world.

Silverton Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad

Another way to get to Silverton is to take the train north from Durango. The train drops passengers off in the downtown business district. There was a train at the station when we last visited. You can start your adventure when the train drops you off and visit the many shops, galleries, and restaurants. They offer a round trip from Durango with a 2-hour layover in Silverton or trips with an overnight stay in Silverton. There’s a special Polar Express experience during the holiday season. Get your tickets and more information at https://www.durangotrain.com.

Silverton Mountain Backcountry Ski Area

Paul gets asked a lot by clients coming in from out of state about the closest place to downhill ski. We tell them about Powderhorn Mountain Resort on the Grand Mesa or Telluride Ski Resort. But did you know that Silverton has a chairlift? It’s at Silverton Mountain about 6 miles out of town. This is no ordinary resort, in fact, there is no resort at all. Just a chairlift.

Silverton Mountain describes the experience like this. “Imagine a place where the average total snowfall of over 400 inches exceeds the amount of daily visitors. Advanced and expert only riding, no groomers, no clearcut runs and a real mountain experience with plenty of adventure on tap. All thrills, no frills.” That’s right, we saw the chairlift but no clearcut ski runs through the trees. They offer heliskiing where a helicopter drops you off, up to six times in one day, to ski Silverton’s backcountry. Be sure to bring your own food and water. They rent ski and snowboard equipment suitable for the area. It’s open to the public Thursday-Sundays during the winter and spring ski season. Private heliskiing is available 7 days a week, including Monday through Wednesday when mountain operations are closed. Learn more at https://silvertonmountain.com.

The Town of Silverton, Colorado

Ok, enough about getting to Silverton, let’s talk about what you can do while you are there for your Silverton day trip from Grand Junction. Silverton is a tiny, historic mountain town with a little over 700 residents. There are miles of ruggedly beautiful mountains surrounding the town that serve as their playground with great jeeping, hiking, biking, mountaineering, fishing, ATVing, and river running. It’s an official Colorado Creative District offering a vibrant arts community. They have outdoor music and many festivals and events during the summer months, including a farmers market in July, August and September.

The buildings are mostly classic Victorian era including the notorious Blair Street, home to bars, brothels and bunkhouses for the miners. It’s now home to shops, art galleries and restaurants, some with funky names.  The main street is called Greene Street, and I think it’s the only paved road through town. It’s small but charming and welcoming. We ate at a saloon on Greene Street that still had a bullet in the wall behind the bar from the “wild west” days. The Silverton Cemetery attracts visitors during the day and even at night to experience some paranormal activities. Some buildings are said to be haunted as well. There are museums and mine tours to learn about the rich mining history.

We saw a small grocery store. There are hotels and RV Parks with cabin rentals if you want to stay the night and continue your adventure. Maybe rent an ATV and do the Alpine Loop? There are loads of small creeks that lead into the Cement Creek, Animas River and Mineral Creek. The scenery is stunning everywhere you look, just like most of Colorado.

Access the Alpine Loop

You can stay in Silverton and access the 63-mile Alpine Loop. From Silverton, the Alpine Loop connects with Lake City and there’s another access from Hwy 550 on the Million Dollar Highway that takes you to Ouray. ATVs are no longer allowed to drive through town, so you’ll need to trailer them up to a staging area or have someone drop you off for your adventure. Plan on a full day, or more, to drive the loop. The Alpine Loop is demanding, and you need to be prepared. The two 12,000-foot passes (Cinnamon and Engineer) require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, but the well-prepared traveler reaps the rewards: pristine mountain views, abundant wildflowers, hiking and biking trails, great camping opportunities, and ample solitude in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

These rocky roads were first used by 19th-century miners, who carted their ore to Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City in mule-drawn wagons. They weren’t built for automobiles. There are seven ghost towns along the loop. We’d like to see Animas Forks Ghost Town someday. Make sure someone knows your travel plans and do your homework before you start your trip. Be sure you have a full tank of gas and ample food and water supplies as there are no services along the Alpine Loop itself. Oh, and it’s closed in winter. We haven’t driven the loop, we just drove a small portion from Silverton and we went a few miles on it from Lake City.  Someday we will rent ATVs and experience the full loop.

In Silverton, you can rent ATVs, golf carts, e-bikes, mountain bikes, go horseback riding and participate in guided hikes. There are all sorts of outdoor adventures you can take advantage of on a Silverton day trip from Grand Junction. I really enjoyed strolling the main street and going into the shops and galleries.

Book Recommendation

If you want to experience the 4×4 and jeeping backcountry roads in Colorado, I highly recommend the book by Charles A. Wells called “Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails” and there is a “Northern” version for roads north of I-70. I was able to snag the book at a Friends of the Library book sale, and I purchased the northern version, a spiral bound book, but we haven’t ventured north of I-70 yet. The San Juans keep pulling us south.

The books categorize the trails by easy, moderate, or difficult. They include photos, detailed maps, and descriptions about what to expect at what mile point along the trail. It helps keep us out of trouble. We stick to the “easy” roads. However, we took one 4×4 only trail in our Tacoma, Washington Gulch, to get us to Emerald Lake from Crested Butte. THAT was amazing but we got lucky. That particular road wasn’t in the book, and I think it was definitely a moderate trail. Not good for our first experience! Ask Paul to tell you the story about our trip and what the lady at the Visitor Center advised us to do! Lesson learned, do your own homework first and know your limits.

There are so many day trips from Grand Junction you can enjoy. There are so many places to go within 2-3 hours of here. And it’s always scenic along the way. I hope you enjoyed this post about a Silverton day trip. If you want us to write about others, let Paul know. There is so much to see and do in Grand Junction and the surrounding mountain and desert communities. Paul has lots of stories he can share.

Red Mountain Pass mining district overlook

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, Paul will give you a tour when you first come for a visit. Learn more About Paul and how he’s been serving his clients since 2001.

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Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin
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© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com and Michelle Aspelin. Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved.

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Leaf Peeping from Grand Junction

See my leaf peeping videos on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/LiveYourVacationinGrandJunction

When fall comes and you want to go leaf peeping from Grand Junction, you have a huge advantage over people who live on the Front Range. Here on the Western Slope, we can easily get to Telluride, Ouray, Crested Butte, and of course, the Grand Mesa. We don’t need to sit in traffic for long hours due to congestion on I-70. In fact, we don’t have to get on I-70 at all! If you are not from Colorado and you have never driven our East/West Interstate, please read my post called “I-70: What it’s really like to drive it.” And be prepared to be entertained!

Crested Butte Leaf Peeping

We took at day trip the last weekend in September to go leaf peeping from Grand Junction to Crested Butte. We took Kebler Pass, it’s only open during the summer months. It was stunning. We stopped at our favorite spot for tea/coffee, Rumors, and ate at McGill’s Restaurant. Both are located on the main drag, Elk Ave. Supposedly the largest Aspen grove is found along Kebler Pass. The leaves were amazing, and while the pass was popular, there wasn’t any “traffic” to contend with.

We left Grand Junction and drove to Paonia, then the Kebler Pass to and from Crested Butte. On our way back, we drove through Redstone and had a picnic dinner along the river, then to Glenwood Springs and came back I-70 to Grand Junction. But we could have come back via Paonia and stayed off I-70 if we wanted to. But we like making a loop to see different things vs coming back the same way.

Fall leaves from Kebler Pass with ferns and aspen trees with yellow leaves

Kebler Pass on the way to Crested Butte

Fall leaves along Kebler Pass with mountains and blue sky

Kebler Pass view while driving to Crested Butte

bright orange and yellow fall leaves and Michelle and Paul Aspelin

Crested Butte last week of September

Eating picnic dinner along the river in Redstone showing mountains and park

We sat at a marble picnic table and ate dinner along the river in Redstone

Grand Mesa Leaf Peeping

We took another day trip the very next day. This time we went leaf peeping from Grand Junction to the Grand Mesa. We did that day trip twice this fall. The second trip was the last weekend of September, the leaves were in their peak colors. We drove up to Powderhorn Mountain Resort during their special “Color Day” celebration and took the chairlift up to the top of the mountain. That was Michelle’s first time on a chairlift. We hiked a part of the West Bench Trail at the top of the mountain and came back to the resort for a snack and listened to the music on the outdoor deck.

Yellow and green aspen leaves viewed from the chairlift at Powderhorn Mountain Resort

View from the chairlift at Powderhorn Mountain Resort

walking the West Bench Trail among the yellow aspens at the top of Powderhorn

Walking the West Bench Trail among the yellow aspens at the top of Powderhorn

View of the mountain biking trail below the chairlift at Powderhorn

View of the mountain biking trail below the chairlift at Powderhorn

On a different trip up to the Mesa, we kept going on Hwy 65 and stopped at Mesa Lakes Lodge for lunch. We went to the Grand Mesa Visitor Center, then hiked Ward Lake. It has a great section that goes through a beautiful forest. After that, we hiked Land O’ Lakes, a short .5 mile out and back with the best views! It’s a paved trail that’s very high. We could see Craigs Crest, tons of lakes, of course, and even the Elk Mountains and the San Juans in the distance. We put that on the list for the next time we have friends or family in town. We took Michelle’s sisters there in mid October and it was still stunning. Easily one of the best viewpoints on the Mesa!

map showing the dirt road we took along Hwy 65 on the Grand Mesa

This map shows the dirt road we took along Hwy 65 on the Grand Mesa

View from the Land o' Lakes trail overlook showing mountains, aspen leaves, and Indian Lake

View from the Land O’ Lakes trail overlook

Dirt road through the woods showing bright yellow aspen leaves on our leaf peeping from Grand Junction trip up the Grand Mesa

View from the dirt road – the aspen trees were glowing!

Hiking trail around Ward Lake on the Grand Mesa showing rocks, green and red ground cover and the lake

Hiking around Ward Lake

We relaxed and had drinks outside on the deck at nearby Grand Mesa Lodge. We were enjoying ourselves so much we ended up eating dinner there too. On our way back, we took a small bypass down a gravel road and past a campground, then back onto Hwy 65. THAT was amazing! The beautiful aspen leaves covered the road like a tunnel. Again, the Mesa was busy this time of year, but there was no traffic, no waiting in line, just great views!

Facebook post showing traffic congestion for leaf peeping from the front range

We saw several news reports of vehicles being so backed up on I-70 for leaf peeping from the Front Range that they actually had to close an exit near Georgetown. That’s not fun. Last year we stayed overnight in Denver with friends who were in town from Wisconsin to attend a concert at Red Rocks.

On our way back to GJ, we drove west to Evergreen, then to Fairplay and up to Breckenridge. We went past The Colorado Trail near Kenosha Pass. It was so backed up it took us an hour to go just a few miles. We vowed to never get stuck like that again! However, we did see a moose and her baby, that was cool!

When you go leaf peeping from Grand Junction, you can plan your day as you’d like. You can live like you are on vacation every day with access to the mountains and all its glory. And after the leaves peek in the higher elevations in September, you can enjoy fall again when they peek in Grand Junction around mid to end of October.

I posted some leaf peeping videos on my Facebook page called Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction.

Paul Aspelin on the chairlift at Powderhorn showing the yellow aspen leaves

Paul Aspelin on the chairlift at Powderhorn Mountain Resort

Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!

PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley in Colorado.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

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Telluride: Last Dollar Road Day Trip

The Day of the Last Dollar and Telluride

What an amazing day trip to Telluride! What started out as just a Last Dollar Road day trip also included discovering where Last Dollar Ranch was, the house in the John Wayne movie True Grit, Ralph Lauren’s Double R Ranch, Last Dollar Pass, Tom Cruise’s old neighborhood, the Telluride one runway regional airport and drinks on the roof of the Last Dollar Saloon. Oh yes, and an indescribable experience of a Mushroom Parade down the main street in Telluride! So unexpected, it left us speechless.

Why do a Last Dollar Road Day Trip?

Last Dollar Road Day Trip map showing 4x4 roadsFirst, let’s start with why we planned a Last Dollar Road day trip to begin with. Michelle has this book called Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails and the first trail in the book is Last Dollar Road. It’s rated as an “easy” trail vs moderate or hard. We prefer to only do the easy trails in our Toyota Tacoma since we are new at this. The book describes the trail as…

“This scenic ranchland and forest backroad is a great alternative to the paved drive between Ridgway and Telluride. Enjoy abundant wildflowers through early summer, great fall color and stunning mountain views.”

It is a rutted dirt road suitable for high-clearance, 2-wheel-drive vehicles when dry. Slick clay makes it impassable when wet, even for 4-wheel-drive vehicles. We wanted to see the stunning views of this mining supply road built in the 1800’s so we added it to our list of places to see. Because the road is only open in the summer, we went in August.

Where is Last Dollar Road?

Double RL Ranch overlook with view of the San Juan Mountains

Overlook at Double RL Ranch near Ridgway, CO

From Grand Junction, drive South on Hwy 50/550 to Ridgway, CO and turned right, or west. About 9 miles outside of Ridgway there is a scenic overlook we have stopped at many times to take photos of Mount Snuffles and Mount Wilson. It’s on Google Maps as “San Juan Mountains Scenic View”. See our most recent photo in this post.

What we didn’t realize until our return trip, is that fence you see, it goes on for about 20 miles, is the fence line for the Double RL Ranch, a rustic haven owned by American fashion designer Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky. They own 17,000 acres and there’s an article online where Oprah describes her visit to the Double RL Ranch that includes some photos of his Americana themed ranch. Oprah also visited Tom Cruise’s old house in Telluride, which I will tell you about later, when we talk about the Telluride Airport. Plus, she has a home in Mountain Village!

The Amazing Drive Itself

House and Ranch in the John Wayne Movie True Grit near Ridgway, shows mountains and historic wood homeAfter the scenic overlook near Ridgway, we took a left onto CR-58P. There’s a sign for Last Dollar Road. The road is closed from January to May due to snow. This is where our Last Dollar Road day trip officially begins. The unpaved county road was wide and well maintained. Our first photo op was at Mattie Ross’ Ranch from the True Grit movie with John Wayne. True Grit was filmed in 1969 and begins and ends at the family ranch of young Mattie Ross (Kim Darby), which was filmed at a historic home on Last Dollar Road above Ridgway. In the final scene, John Wayne jumps his horse over a fence and rides off into the distance. The ranch house has been restored and remains private property. The scenery around it hasn’t changed much and is as gorgeous as it was then.

Last Dollar Road Caution SignWe left the county road and that’s where it got narrower, steeper, and rockier. We chuckled when we saw this warning sign. Luckily, we chose to drive the Last Dollar Road during dry conditions in August. It was amazing. We went through aspen groves, spruce-fir forests and open meadows with sweeping views. The road is very rutted due to snowmelt run-off down the mountain side. We drove about 5-10 miles per hour, sometimes using 4-wheel-drive Low to climb some steep slopes. We waited for cows to move off the road once. Didn’t pass any cars on the way up, up, up to Last Dollar Pass. Each bend in the road delivers jaw-dropping scenery.

At the top of the pass, we stopped at the popular overlook. I’m not sure what the spot is officially called but it was stunning. The views are unreal. There is a ramp where the road literally goes off a cliff. I saw a video of this and so we parked the Taco there too and took some photos! This is where we finally crossed paths with a Jeep and a couple of motorized dirt bikes.

Last Dollar Pass

Last Dollar Road shelf, narrow spot with drop-off on one sideAfter this we started our decent into Telluride. We hit a narrow stretch, wide enough for just one vehicle on this two-way shelf road. A few minutes later we passed a Jeep, and they rolled down their window to ask, “What road is this?” I answered the Last Dollar Road. The 75-year-old driver smirked and said, “I’m glad to hear you say that. We weren’t sure we were on the right road!” He drove off with his lovely wife. We smiled. They were more clueless that we were, but they were “doing it” at their age. That is why we take these trips while we can. While we are healthy and able to appreciate this beautiful state.

Telluride Airport

Parked near the Telluride airport with Mountain Village in the backgroundWe continued our decent and popped out right at the Telluride Regional Airport (TEX). It’s a one-runway regional airport and the end of the runway drops off into a deep canyon. We have seen the airport from the free Telluride Gondola that takes you from downtown Telluride up and over to Mountain Village. We joked at how short the runway is. Now, seeing it up close, it looks even shorter. It does curve upward at the end of the runway to give pilots a “lift” for takeoff. You can see Mountain Village behind the Taco in the photo we took at the airport entrance.

The Telluride Regional Airport is open year-round to commercial flights from Denver and Phoenix via United and American Airlines. However, I bet most of the traffic is from private jets and charter services. There was construction going on when we were there. They might be adding another taxiway and more hangars for all those private jets. Their website has a page about Do’s and Don’ts for high altitude mountain flying and warnings about weather, wind events, and the potential to be rerouted to other airports, like the Montrose/Telluride Regional Airport located an hour and a half north of Telluride.

Telluride Regional Airport

A Few Famous People

Near Telluride Airport is the residential community called Aldasoro Ranch. In 1913, the Aldasoro family moved to this area from Northern Spain to raise sheep and provide lamb and wool to the nearby mining camps. Eventually they subdivided their land into individual home sites. The family still lives here and now runs Telluride Sleights and Wagons, which offers sleigh rides and an event space with spectacular views.

I have joked with my friends about Tom Cruise living in Telluride. Here’s a link to Tom Cruise’s old 298-acre mountain retreat. I say old because he sold it in 2021. Here’s a unique tidbit we also discovered while on our Last Dollar road day trip. When Tom Cruise was dating Penelope Cruz back in the early 2000’s, she would take a short trail called the Breckenridge Trail near his estate. It’s a 2-mile route above the Telluride Airport near the Aldasoro community. However, locals call the trail Penelope’s or Penelope’s Cruise. I assume she was spotted using the trail when she visited.

I mentioned Oprah Winfrey earlier when I was talking about the Double RL Ranch. You may or may not know that Oprah has a house here too. Oprah Winfrey’s Telluride House.

Downtown Telluride

Last Dollar Saloon view of Telluride box canyon mountainside

View from the roof of the Telluride box canyon

As you approach downtown, you drive in on Colorado Ave, the main street. Telluride is in a box canyon with steep slopes and rugged mountains surrounding the laid-back and unforgettable town. We drove to the end of the street before we found the last on-street parking spot. We paid for 2 hours of parking ($5) and started exploring the downtown area. As expected, there are many unique shops and boutiques, restaurants and breweries, adventure guide outfitters, museums and galleries. We spotted the historic Last Dollar Saloon and decided to go in, given the theme of the day! We had drinks on the roof with great views of the Gondola, downtown, and the picturesque mountainside. Their website touts that they were named “#1 Best Skier Dive Bar in the World”, it seems fitting.

Michelle noticed people gathering below on the street. We did notice a banner for the Mushroom Festival when we came into town and folks gathered at Telluride Town Park. That’s why we got the last parking spot.

Mush Fest, formally known as the Mushroom Festival

Last Dollar Saloon roof looking down to Colorado AvenueThe Mushroom Festival was unexpected and eye-opening. People were dressed up as mushrooms, wearing mushroom hats and other unique costumes. It’s a weekend festival described on their website as “A weekend of mushroom love, community connection and fungi everything. You can expect expert hosted forays to ID mushrooms in the great San Juan Wilderness, talks from world renown mycologists, a foundation of the fest rooted off psychedelics and its current resurgence, large community gatherings, culinary delights, dozens of mushroom vendors and of course the world renown Telluride Mushroom Festival parade. Every year the festival attracts 1000’s of fungi fans from across the world.”

They sell tickets for their main event in the park. We just happened to witness the parade of mushroom lovers down Colorado Ave. Some looked, well, high on shrooms, and others just strolled down the street in their fancy costumes. The town of Telluride quite literally shuts down to 1000’s of mushroom people marching down Main Street to music, dancers, drummers and some pushed a mushroom vehicle known as Amanita-mobile down the street.

After the Mushroom Parade “experience” we got dinner at Steamies Burger Bar. While we didn’t have their specialty steamed burgers, we definitely enjoyed our food. Michelle had a cup of the Truffle Herb Mac-n-Cheese and I had a great chicken wrap sandwich. The Visit Telluride website has a list of events by season and a lot more.

Wrapping It Up

Last Dollar Road sign on the Telluride sideWe sure loved our Last Dollar Road day trip. I think we will be talking about everything we experienced for years to come. We loved the gorgeous aspen forest with unobstructed views of Sneffels Mountain Range and Wilson Peak. The range of colors from brown, green, and red against the bright blue sky was so beautiful. I forgot to mention that we noticed some forest service road camp sites on the Telluride side of the pass. There were no bathrooms, water or other services along the trail. It’s as rustic as it gets. We loved seeing the large ranches on the Ridgway side and the views from the Last Dollar Pass at an elevation of 10,663 feet. If we had family or friends in town, we might drive to Telluride on the highway and just go up to the Last Dollar Pass from Telluride and back down again. That would take less time and still offer spectacular views. Until next time!

I mention Telluride and Mountain Village in my post called Top Day Trips from Grand Junction with additional photos. This was the first time we visited Telluride without taking the Gondola up to Mountain Village.

Move to Grand Junction and Do Day Trips Like This One!

Paul Aspelin standing at the Double RL Ranch fence overlooking the San Juan Mountains

Double RL Ranch fence overlooking the San Juan Mountains

Text/Call 612-306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients 

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

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Day Trip to Ouray CO

A Beautiful Mountain Town

There are so many good things to say about a day trip to Ouray CO I don’t even know where to begin. We have gone there numerous times over the past couple of years and we are always discovering something new. What’s not to like about a mountain town nicknamed the “Switzerland of America”? It lives up to the hype!Ouray Perimeter Trail Map

Hiking in Ouray

“Ouray’s Perimeter Trail is a unique 5.6-mile hiking experience that features remarkably varied terrain, unmatched scenery, four waterfalls, six bridges, up-close geology, a hidden troll, and a rocktopus. Hiking it involves approximately 1,800 feet of elevation gain and loss and will typically take 4-5 hours to complete. Good footwear and trekking poles are highly recommended.”

We started at the beautiful Cascade Falls. The trailhead is just .3 miles from town, accessed via 8th Avenue. We went up, up, up to the falls and then up, up, up again along the Perimeter Trail clockwise. Amazing views of the town below the whole time. The trail was in good shape, but lots of loose rocks and gravel made it sometimes feel a bit slippery. We bought our new trekking poles, and we were glad to have them because they helped us keep our balance and gave us a boost when going uphill.

Ouray Perimeter Trail

Ouray Perimeter Trail just after Cascade Falls going clockwise

We only went about 3 miles and came back to town using the 5th Avenue connecting trail. We walked through town, got some lunch, and walked back to the car parked at Cascade Falls. That’s the nice thing about the Perimeter Trail, there are several connecting trails from town so you can hop on or off to make the hike as long or as short as you want. We really enjoyed it and plan to do a different segment next time we are in town or driving through.

Another great hike is Box Canyon Falls. We did that one when we had family visiting from Minnesota. Very impressive! The water goes so fast, and it’s loud. Everyone should experience this short hike. Bring water and go slow as there are a lot of steps to climb. You might experience a little spray too so be prepared. There is a small fee for parking and access because it’s on private property.

Dining and Shopping in Ouray

Goldbelt Bar and Grill in Ouray featuring outdoor patio dining

Goldbelt Bar & Grill outdoor patio dining

We ate on the outdoor patio at Goldbelt Bar & Grill. Excellent service. Good food. Great views, of course. It’s a family-friendly place with burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads and locally brewed beer.

We enjoyed the Ouray Brewery with its fantastic, covered roof-top deck for outdoor dining. They serve typical pub-style American cuisine. I’m sure other places are great two, but those are the two we have been to. We also had excellent food at Mi Mexico, a family restaurant a couple blocks off Main Street. Large portions!

It’s fun to walk along Main Street and go into the many boutiques, shops, and galleries. We have bought a few things along the way for ourselves or as gifts for others. You can mosey along at a slow pace and just soak in all the beauty that surrounds you.

There are other in-town experiences like entertainment venues including the historic Wright Opera House, museums and art and culture.

Ouray Hot Springs

A day trip to Ouray CO should really include a soak in the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. There are sections with a water slide and obstacle course that attracts the kids. Adults 18+ have their own Overlook Pool to relax in a more peaceful setting too. The natural minerals in the sulfur-free water are beneficial for your body and your soul. We were there in summer and winter, during the day and after dark. Each experience is different and treasured. The Overlook Pool is about 102° – 106°. There are lockers in the changing rooms, but we just brought a bag for our stuff and set it next to the pool. Be sure to bring water shoes and a towel. Check out their website for rates and more information. Ouray Hot Spring Pool.

Adventure Trips

If you are looking for something a little more adventuresome here are several options:

  • Ouray Via Ferrata (climbing experience). There are more than 1500 Via Ferrata routes in the world, but currently less than 10 in North America!
  • Ouray Ice Park (winter ice climbing)
  • World renowned jeep/OHV trails allow you to experience the 4×4 only trails/roads through the scenic San Juan Mountains
  • Horseback riding
  • Backpacking
  • Camping
  • Mine Tours

Day trip to Ouray CO view from Perimeter Trail

Million Dollar Highway

Map of Ouray, Silverton, Telluride area and Million Dollar HighwayYou can’t talk about a day trip to Ouray CO without mentioning the Million Dollar Highway. It’s part of the San Juan Skyway Colorado Scenic Byway. The Million Dollar Highway is the stretch of Hwy 550 that runs south out of Ouray, over Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018), and into Silverton. It is one of the most spectacular, scenic, and treacherous, drives in the US. Much of the time the speed limit is 15 or 20 miles per hour because of the sharp curves and drop-offs to the gorges below. The shoulder is pretty much non-existent, and you won’t find standard guard rails either. Because of the steep slopes, this section gets a lot of avalanches that destroy the guard rails. They just stopped repairing them and removed them. It makes plowing easier because they can push the snow over the edge vs needing to blow it over a guard rail. I would never drive it in the height of winter.

Our first time driving the Million Dollar Highway we went south from Grand Junction to Durango. We had no prior knowledge of what to expect. We thought it was called that because of the “million dollar views”. We knew it would be scenic, but we didn’t realize it was a white-knuckle kind of drive. Michelle could hardly look over the side as the passenger. As the driver I had to be laser focused on the road and could only glance over for a second. And when there wasn’t oncoming traffic, I drove right down the middle of the two-lane road!

The worst was when we were approaching a sharp curve. We were in the “outside” lane with a steep 1000’ drop just about 10 inches from the white line. As we approached the curve, a section of the asphalt was sunk in, like it might give way, a semi-truck carrying logs comes around the corner barreling towards us. I pretty much came to a stop and held my breath! After he passed, we continued, thanking our lucky stars. As a first timer, it was incredible. We have been on the road two other times and had a calmer experience. We just wanted to get over the pass and to Durango. I guess there are pullouts along the road but obviously I didn’t see any because my eyes were glued to the road.

A bit of History

Michelle has read many books about the history of western Colorado. The most recent one was called “The Road that Silver Built: The Million Dollar Highway” by P. David Smith. Let me know if you want to borrow it. When Ouray was first becoming a mining town, you got there from a wagon road from Lake City. There was no north/south road from Ouray to Silverton. Roads came from the east. The book explains how each segment was built and describes the numerous 4×4 only roads that were the first roads to access Ouray and Silverton. The great Otto Mears built many of the first roads in the 1880s for wagons and carriages that eventually became roads for automobiles. Some were so steep, 14 percent grade, that they still remain as trails but never became part of Hwy 550. Mears also made the trails in the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction.

Of course, it was silver and gold that brought the prospectors to Ouray in the 1870’s. Some of the most profitable mines are in Ouray. Camp Bird Mine was the second largest gold producer in Colorado. It’s located in the Imogene basin on the way to Telluride. There are dozens of mines in Ouray County and lots of back country roads to get to them and the ghost towns that remain.

The town of Ouray was founded in 1875 along the Uncompahgre River where it runs north out of the stunning San Juan Mountains. Ouray County, CO, is known for several 14ers, including Mount Sneffels, Wilson Peak, Mount Wilson, and El Diente Peak. Plus, numerous more in the “Ouray, Lake City, Silverton triangle” which refers to the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, a 65-mile system of unpaved roads connecting the three mountain towns. It’s a popular area for off-road and backcountry recreation, offering stunning scenery and access to historic mining areas.

If you’d like to take a day trip to Ouray CO, book it today! It is a unique mountain town with so much to offer. It’s about 90 miles south of Grand Junction, an hour and 45-minute drive. Read my post about Ridgway State Park because you might want to stop there along the way too!  And maybe take Owl Creek Pass on the way back.

If you are looking for a mild climate with all four seasons, consider moving to Grand Junction, CO. We are in the high desert (low humidity) with quick access to the Rocky Mountains. When it’s 95 degrees in GJ in August, we can go to Ouray and it’s in the low 80’s. Perfect for outdoor activities! Read my post about Grand Junction weather to learn more.

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Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!

Ouray Cascade Falls Michelle and Paul Aspelin

Michelle and Paul Aspelin at Cascade Falls in Ouray, CO.

Text/Call 612-306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients 

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

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Candle Kitchen GJ

Candle Kitchen GJ 5th and Main Street

Candle Kitchen GJ 5th and Main Street

We were walking down the sidewalk on Main Street in downtown Grand Junction when we saw a wood board with and arrow pointing to “Candle Kitchen GJ”. I had heard about it but had never been inside so we turned onto 5th Street to check it out. It was amazing!

At Candle Kitchen GJ you can buy soy candles on the spot. They have other related products as well, like car fresheners and wax cubes. A great place to shop for a gift for someone or yourself! They opened in 2018 and offer over 160 scents! Here’s their website. https://www.candlekitchengj.com

Here’s how they describe it.

“Our candles are all Soy Wax with Cotton wick and our fragrances are either a high quality, skin safe fragrance oil or essential oils! Even our 8 oz candles burn for over 60 hours, and the scent is evenly blended through top to bottom!”

We sniffed a lot of scents that day and decided I would come back to create some custom scented candles of my own. I have a family event coming up and I thought it would be fun to make small candles for everyone. They sell pretty glass containers at the store, or you can bring in our own glass or ceramic containers for your custom candles.

 

Candle Making Preparation

I wanted to make small candles, so I went to Goodwill and bought a variety of small drink glasses for about $1.12 or $1.59 each. We also had some small fruit mason jars on hand. I took all 13 to Candle Kitchen GJ on a Saturday morning and made candles for my mom, sisters, nieces and nephews, my kids, and, of course, a couple for myself. It was a blast!

I brought in my box of jars. They cleaned them and measured how much wax would go into each one. When you bring your own jar, you pay for wax by the ounce. You don’t make a reservation. It’s first come, first served. They do have a private room if you have a group who want to make candles.

I made a list of about a dozen scents I wanted to use, and they brought over the bottles of essential oils plus little sniffing tins so I could experience what it might smell like if I combined scents.

Making Custom Candles

I started with the Margarita scent because it seemed like a great candle scent. From there I made candles with mountain smells like juniper, fir, spruce, pine, and sage. I made some with Palisade peach, pear, mango, eucalyptus, goji berry, jasmine, lavender, and lavender fields (slightly different). I used some unique scents like green tea too.

A women near me mentioned tobacco and I thought, humm, tobacco? I paired that with brandy and it made one of my favorite candles! For most of them I just blended two scents, like lavender and sage, others I added three or four. I added coconut to one that needed a hint of sweet. They have floral, fruits, spices, summer scents, the great outdoors, and spirits. So many unique ones, like desert, earth, and morning dew! And many more masculine scents too. Candles are great for all people! They list all the scents on their website.

Nikki and Teagan were working that day and both were absolutely terrific. Helping me determine what might make a good blend. Nikki instructed me on the process, how I measure out my essential oils, checking the smell as I went along, then adding it to the hot wax in my jar and stirring it for a minute to make sure it blends with the wax.

It was busy that morning with several small groups coming in while I was there, but I never felt like I was waiting on them. They were masters at keeping everyone moving through the creative process.

Pickup Later

I came back two and a half hours later to pick up my hardened candles. They had cleaned the edges to make them look nice, straighten the wicks, and put a final glaze on the top to finish them off. Nikki applied the handwritten labels I had made to the bottom of each candle.

I am so excited to take these to my family event in Michigan and let everyone smell them and pick their favorite! And, when my candles are done, I can bring my jars back and refill them!

Make your own candles at Candle Kitchen GJ!

I would highly recommend doing this with a small group of friends or just yourself. I had a great time just me. Whether you live in Grand Junction or are just visiting, I would add this to your list. You can purchase pre-done candles too in some very cool scents that you probably won’t find elsewhere. What a great memento of your experience in Grand Junction.

Written by Michelle Aspelin

We have other posts about things to do in Grand Junction and local or nearby attractions. Use the search box to find something specific. If you have questions or topic suggestions, contact Paul.

Move to Grand Junction, we’ve been waiting for you!

Are you considering buying a home in Colorado? How about moving to Grand Junction? Give Paul Aspelin a call to learn more about the area and how he serves his clients differently than traditional agents.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® and Michelle Aspelin. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

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Dos Rios Grand Junction

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Ridgway State Park: Day Trip from Grand Junction

Day Trips from Grand Junction: Ridgway State Park, Ridgway Reservoir, and a surprise drive over Owl Creek Pass

We have driven from Grand Junction to Ridgway multiple times and have always admired Ridgway State Park and the Ridgway Reservoir from the road. We decided to make a point to go to the park for the day, visit the town of Ridgway, then drive back. Ridgway State Park is about 1.5 hours south of Grand Junction, 86 miles. It’s at the base of the San Juan Mountains.

Our day didn’t exactly go as planned but our surprise drive over Owl Creek Pass made the day trip even more memorable! I will explain the mistake we made in changing our plans, so keep reading!

Get notifications about new posts and watch my short videos on my Facebook page called Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction.

Ridgway Reservoir

The 1,000-acre reservoir is so beautiful, a real haven for recreational activities year-round. Cars can drive right down the beach to the water’s edge and park for the day. There is a quite bay area for swimming, and, of course, a dam that makes it all possible. All kinds of boats on the water, including sailboats and paddle boards. There are over 15 miles of hiking trails and three campground areas. We mainly visited the Dutch Charlie section with the Marina, Elk Ridge Campground and Dakota Terraces Campground. Then the Dallas Creek section.

Michelle scoped out a few hiking options for us before we left. Our first stop is always at the Visitor Center to pick up a paper map. Yes, maps on phones are nice but there’s still something special about looking at a map to determine your plans. Our plan was to hike the Forest Discovery Nature Trail, a short .6 mile loop, and the .1 mile Scenic Overlook Trail, then drive down to the beach and water itself.

Ridgway State Park Map

Ridgway State Park Map, click to enlarge

Hiking to the Scenic Overlook

We chose to start with the Scenic Overlook Trail. We were very excited to see the view from the top.  A fairly short trail led us right there, photos below. It was beautiful. The pinyon/juniper forest smelled so good! Hiking in the mountains is different than hiking in the desert.

Instead of going back to the Visitor Center and doing the Forest Discovery Trail, I saw a sign for another route called the Wapiti Trail that led to the Skyline Loop, which sounded fun. Michelle admitted she didn’t have the Wapiti Trail “saved” in her All Trails app as a route for us to take but we did it anyway. The first “change of plans” for the day turned out to be a strenuous one! The Wapiti Trail is only .6 miles but has an elevation change of 150 feet. That’s like climbing 15 flights of stairs, at 7,000’ elevation! We took it slow, rested and cursed a few times until we reached the top. We quickly understood why Michelle hadn’t bookmarked that one, so steep! Luckily, we had plenty of water and some electrolyte chews to keep us going.

We eventually did part of the Skyline Loop and headed back to the truck. We took much more time hiking than we planned, and we really wanted to get into the water. But first, we had to check out the Marina before we went to the Dallas Creek section with the big beach for cars.

Ridgway State Park View from the Overlook with the San Juan Mountains

Ridgway State Park View from the Overlook including the San Juan Mountains

Ridgway State Park Marina

There is a very large swimming beach and picnic area next to the Marina. We were there on a Saturday in early June and it wasn’t very busy at all. I bet it’s more popular during the height of summer. There are bathroom facilities. We stopped at the Marina to get information about boat rentals. There are pontoons available for half or full day rentals and the price seemed reasonable. Afterall, it’s much easier to rent a boat for a day than to own one! You can also rent stand-up paddle boards as well.

Ridgway State Park Swimming Beach near Marina

Ridgway State Park Swimming Beach near Marina

Ridgway Marina Ridgway State Park showing boats for rent at the end of the dock

Ridgway Marina Ridgway State Park

 

Dallas Creek

The Dallas Creek entrance to Ridgway State Park provides the ability to drive onto the beach and park right next to the water. You can see the cars on the beach from the road. We found a spot and parked. We got in the water up to our ankles. It was somewhat chilly but not as bad as we expected for a body of water at 7,000’ elevation made from snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. Others were gleefully swimming and lots of people on SUPs (stand up paddle boards).

Ridgway Reservoir cars on the beach

Ridgway Reservoir cars on the beach

We got a good feel for Ridgway State Park and now it was time to go into the town of Ridgway. As we approached the main stop light where you turn right to go into Ridgway, I said, “How can we be this close and not go to Ouray?” Ridgway was the focus of the day, but we “changed plans” and headed to Ouray. We always love driving through Ouray and taking a portion of the Million Dollar Highway to reach the Bear Creek Waterfall Overlook.

Taking the Scenic Route

Ouray was great, as expected. The waterfall was really flowing, and Michelle was able to capture a rainbow that appeared in the mist for a brief moment.

On Hwy. 550, just after the state park, and before the turn to the town of Ridgway, we saw a brown sign for Owl Creek Pass. Most of the reports Michelle read online from the area said that many of the upper mountain passes have been cleared of snow. She verified and this one was open. She did some quick investigation and learned cars can handle the road, you don’t need to have a high clearance 4×4. We were in our Toyota Tacoma, so we decided to make another “change of plans” and take the scenic road home. We make a lot of spontaneous decisions. And this is one we will remember for a long time.

View of Ouray, CO

Bear Creek Waterfall Overlook in Ouray

Owl Creek Pass

After Ouray, we took Owl Creek Pass east from Ridgway as a scenic way to get back to Grand Junction. THAT was amazing! It was an incredible drive. Just to give you an idea of driving a mountain pass vs the main roads, it only added 39 miles to our trip but took us an extra 2 hours because you drive so slow on high mountain pass roads.

The road was in pretty good condition, it was wide, no sharp drop-offs. Just a few piles of snow we had to drive through, but otherwise the road was mainly dry. We could see this one high mountain peak from the start, and it was cool because we kept getting closer and closer to it as we climbed higher and higher. Looking at maps afterwards we think it was Chimney Rock in the Courthouse Mountains. There is a scene in the 1969 movie True Grit with John Wayne that shows this view too. See my post about our day trip on Last Dollar Road to Telluride. It shows the house and ranch featured at the beginning and end of the True Grit movie.

Spot featured in movie True Grit

 

 

Why you should plan ahead

On this trip we learned we really should plan ahead. When we were near the top without cell service or a downloaded map we hesitated. There was a fork in the Forest Service Road and we had to guess which way to go. The road was not marked at all. Not good in the middle of the backcountry. Oops! We had maybe 3 cars pass us in the upper section of this road. We thought about turning around after about an hour into the drive because we were afraid we might get lost or be heading in the completely wrong direction.

We were supposed to go east, then north to hook up with Hwy 50. When we were heading south and southeast for a while, we doubted we were on the right Forest Road. After discussing it, we continued a bit further because we know that no mountain pass is a direct route. After about 10-20 more minutes we reached the summit of the pass. We laughed and exclaimed “We made it! We did it!”

We immediately hopped out of the car to take a picture of the pass sign and the beautiful scenery. There was a one-lane bridge over Owl Creek. We went in June just after the snow had melted, well mostly melted! I stepped in a snowbank along the creek. The water was rushing fast and the sound of the water in the otherwise quiet forest was so peaceful!

We soaked it all in. The air smells so fresh in the mountains, everyone should experience it at some time in their lives. Our mistake was not planning our route in more detail before we left. Next time, we will research a scenic way home ahead of time, should we decide to take it!

Wildlife near Owl Creek Pass

Elk on Owl Creek Pass

While on the pass we saw about 6-8 mule deer. After the creek, on the east side, we saw a sign saying we would be driving through private land for the next 7 miles. It was spectacular. Lots of cattle and lush green grass. We saw a couple dozen elk grazing in pastures and were able to stop and take pictures. There are always birds singing in the mountains too. We like to roll our windows down on drives like this to take in the sounds and the smells. Seeing the elk was like icing on the cake for this trip.

We loved Ridgway State Park and we will go back and rent a pontoon for an afternoon with family and friends. We will probably never go over Owl Creek Pass again given it’s not really “on the way” to other spots we want to see on our adventures but it sure was a memorable scenic way home! Even though we got home several hours after we expected to. It was a great day trip from Grand Junction.

Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction Every Day When You Move to Grand Junction!

Ridgway Reservoir at Ridgway State Park

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, please give me a call. I’d love to show you round Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade and talk mountain passes with you!

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PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Text/Call (612) 306-9558

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley of Colorado.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

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North Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Day Trips from Grand Junction: North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

I’ve read a few places that claim the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is the least visited National Park. It’s not because it lacks facilities and features like camping and hiking and an astounding 2000’ deep canyon. I think it’s because it’s located a little off the beaten path. Not along a major Interstate highway. To go to the main South Rim Visitor Center, you enter from Montrose and get access to the west side of the river.

Get notifications about new posts and watch my short videos on my Facebook page called Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction.

Drive to the North Rim Ranger Station

West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Map

click to enlarge

To access the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, like we did for this post, you take a different route to reach the north and east side of the canyon. From Grand Junction, it’s about a 2-hour drive to the North Rim. From town, go south on CR-50 to Delta, east on 92 to Hotchkiss. Continue on CR-92 south to Crawford. This is part of the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway.

Use your mapping software to get you to the North Rim Ranger Station. The paved road turns into gravel for the last 6 miles or so, but it’s very manageable in any vehicle. Download any hiking trail maps because you most likely will not have cell service in this area.

Exclamation Point Hike

We parked at the Ranger Station and took the Vista Trail to Exclamation Point and back. The hike took us through an open meadow with so many flowers, then patches of trees that offered us some shade. We continue to the end, a cliffside overlook that looks down on the Gunnison River 2700’ feet below us. It was absolutely amazing. One of my top 5 best hikes so far.

We went in mid-May so the wildflowers were in bloom. The temperature was comfortable in the 70’s. The trail is listed as easy but there are a couple challenges where you need to pay close attention to your footing. Mostly sandy or gravel trails, sometimes rocky, but not much. Wear hiking boots/shoes if you have them. Hiking poles may come in handy, but we don’t have any and did just fine.

We hike at a leisurely pace and stop frequently to just look around and soak it all in. We typically stop at the end for a snack before heading back. This trail is 2.9 miles out and back with a 344 ft elevation gain and it took us about an hour and 45 minutes to complete it. The All Trails apps says average time is one hour 10 minutes.

Vista Trail flowers and meadow in the North Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Vista Trail flowers and meadow

North Rim Exclamation Point view to Gunnison River

Vista Trail to Exclamation Point

Vista Trail to Exclamation Point

Me at the Overlook before we reached Exclamation Point

More to see

From the North Rim Ranger Station you can drive south along the canyon rim for more overlooks and hiking trails. There is a campground on the North Rim.

You need a permit to hike down to the river’s edge and some extreme skills to handle the elevation change and steep slopes.

You can read more about the main Visitor Center and the South Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison on my Top Day Trips from Grand Junction post.

Amazing Views on CR-92 South of Crawford, CO

Because we first stopped at the Crawford State Park Visitor Center, we got some excellent advice from the volunteers working that day. They recommended, instead of driving back to GJ the way we came, to continue south on CR-92 following the Gunnison River canyon and take Hwy 50 west into Montrose and back to Grand Junction. Because we have a decorative sign in our home that says, “always take the scenic route”, we did just that! Boy was that stunning! So many overlooks along the road, even some rumble strips to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road. You can read my post about the Crawford State Park.

There were so many aspen trees. We plan to go back in the fall because we anticipate this to be a great place to see the fall colors. At their suggestion, we also stopped at Hermits Rest Vista. So thankful we did. More amazing views of the nearby mountains and the Gunnison River far below. We will bring friends to this spot when they come for a visit!

Gunnison River from Hwy 92 near Hermits Rest

Gunnison River from Hwy 92 near Hermits Rest Vista

Live Your Vacation Every Day… Move to Grand Junction!

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, please give me a call. I’d love to explain your housing options and show you round Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade.

Watch my short videos on my Facebook page called Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction.

PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Text/Call (612) 306-9558

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley of Colorado.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

 

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Crawford State Park: Day Trip from Grand Junction

Day Trips from Grand Junction: Crawford State Park

I highly recommend you take a day trip to explore Crawford State Park. It’s about 75 miles SE of Grand Junction. Crawford is on the West Elk Loop, a Scenic and Historic Byway. (See map at the end of this post.) It takes about 1.5 hours to get there via Delta and Hotchkiss. It sits at 6600’ elevation so it’s a great place to escape to when Grand Junction summers get hot. We will definitely go back and do some fishing. Maybe rent a boat or jet ski too!

Toyota Tacoma showing the red sleeve holding our vehicle registration card with our Colorado State Park pass inside itWe have a Colorado State Park Pass. We got our pass when we renewed our license tabs for our Toyota Tacoma. It’s less expensive to get your state park pass with your car tabs.

We learned something new that day too. When we entered, the Visitor Center Park Ranger gave us a red sleeve to put our Vehicle Registration Card into and we were told to place it on the dashboard, Registration side face down to protect our privacy. This lets the Rangers know we have paid for a pass. They can also look up our license plate number. There is not a “park pass” to display in your car window or sticker for your vehicle.

Crawford Reservoir Boat Ramp near Visitor Center shows rocky shoreline and floating dock

Visitor Center

There are three campgrounds in Crawford State Park along the north and east sides of Crawford Reservoir and three boat launches. We toured the North Shore Day Use section and then went to the Visitor Center. We sat in the picnic area to watch the people boating and fishing. Tubers were being towed behind ski boats, we saw some wake borders and others using stand up paddle boards (SUPs). We went in May just to see what the park has to offer. I am sure this is a very popular spot as the weather warms up. An excellent recreational and boating area for the locals in the area and everyone with a Colorado State Park Pass! Crawford Reservoir is the main attraction of the Crawford State Park. Scuba divers are welcome here too!

Fishing Crawford Reservoir

Crawford State Park shoreline of Crawford Reservoir

Crawford State Park shoreline of Crawford Reservoir near the Visitor Center

There were lots of people fishing from shore or fishing from kayaks and boats. While at the picnic area an older couple came down to fish from the shore near us. We asked what he was fishing for, and he said he catches some very large perch from the lake. Best he’s ever had. He doesn’t like fishing for trout here because they are farm raised (stocked) vs wild trout. The meat is white and not as good as wild trout’s red meat. Good to know! I haven’t gotten my Colorado Fishing License yet.

A winter visit to the park would provide opportunities for ice fishing and Nordic (cross-country) skiing. This would be a great spot for waterfowl hunting as well.

Trails at Crawford State Park

There are a limited number of trails along the 400-acre reservoir. We drove to Iron Creek Campground and had a picnic lunch near the boat launch. From here you can take a trail to the west side of the lake that leads to another overlook and day use area. You can take Black Canyon Road to the west side. This is the road we took to get to the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Lodging

If you want more than a day trip, there are several unique lodges, a hotel and an inn in the town of Crawford in addition to the three campgrounds in Crawford State Park. The Last Frontier Lodge sites up high on the north side of the lake and I imagine would have some spectacular views of the Elk Mountains to the east.

It’s a small state park, 337 acres, but offers some excellent options and, of course, exceptional views. I bet it’s a popular place come elk hunting season too.

An Amazing Stretch of Road South of Crawford, CO

Gunnison River view from CR-92 south of Crawford State Park

Gunnison River view from CR-92 south of Crawford State Park

We got some excellent advice from the volunteers working that day at the Visitor Center. Instead of driving back to GJ the way we came, we drove south on CR-92 following the Gunnison River canyon. It was stunning! You can read more about this section of our trip on my post about the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Taking this route, you drive along the top of the Blue Mesa Dam to cross the Gunnison River. This is in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. It also gives access to the very popular Blue Mesa Reservoir. Once over the river, you take CR-50 West through Cimarron and over the Cerro Summit at 8042’ and on to Montrose, then Grand Junction. Very pretty scenery, but then again, all of Colorado is scenic!

I have several other posts about day trips from Grand Junction, check them out! Grand Junction makes an exceptional base camp for you to experience this amazing region of the country. We love living in Grand Junction!

Take the Scenic Route and to Move to Grand Junction!

Paul Aspelin sitting on a bench in Crawford State Park in front of the Crawford Reservoir

Paul Aspelin in Crawford State Park in front of the Crawford Reservoir.

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, please give me a call. I’d love show you round Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade.

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PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Text/Call (612) 306-9558

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Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley of Colorado.

 

West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Map

West Elk Loop Brochure Cover

We have referenced this map for several trips. We have been to Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Aspen, Redstone, Marble, over the stunning McClure Pass (ask to see one of my favorite pictures from the pass), Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford, and Gunnison. We took Kebler Pass in August (gravel road not open in winter) to Crested Butte and stayed in Mount Crested Butte. We have also been to the North and South rims of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

The Fruita Visitor Center has the best selection of brochures and information for things to do in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Mesa County and the entire state of Colorado and eastern Utah. We picked this one up there and have had it in the car with us on several trips. See cover on the right.

 

West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Map

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