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Overlanding from Grand Junction: Our Visit to Overland Expo Mtn West

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

Experience the Overland Expo Mountain West in CO

One thing we haven’t really covered on this blog yet is overlanding from Grand Junction. And what’s a better way to introduce the subject than to talk about our experience attending the Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, CO for the first time in August 2026. We aren’t overlanders, but now that we have a Toyota 4Runner, we’ve become much more interested in the vehicles, gear, and adventures that make up the overlanding community. We think living in Grand Junction is the perfect place for an overlanding lifestyle.

Tickets for Overland Expo Mtn West

We chose to attend the expo in Loveland, CO because that location and the dates fit our schedule. We went on a Friday because we thought it would be less busy than the weekend. It was easy to move around, not too crowded.

We bought our tickets online ahead of time. The fee in 2026 was $32/person for a day pass. You can camp or get weekend passes as well. There are happy hours and evening activities. Since we were staying in a hotel, the day pass worked for us. But if you have a camper, I would consider staying at the venue location for access to more fun and activities.

Overland Expo 2027 Schedule

Overland Expo SoCal Dates: March 13–14, 2027
Location: OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California (11 hours/778 miles from GJ)

Overland Expo West Dates: May 14–16, 2027
Location: Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, Arizona (7 hours/440 miles from GJ)

Overland Expo Pacific Northwest (PNW) Dates: June 25–27, 2027
Location: Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon (15 hours/940 miles from GJ)

Overland Expo Mountain West Dates: August 20–22, 2027
Location: Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton, Colorado (4.5 hours/258 miles from GJ)

Driving to Loveland via Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the best things about living in Colorado is that no matter where you drive to, it’s guaranteed to be scenic, and an adventure in and of itself. We planned our route from Grand Junction to Loveland, CO through Rocky Mountain National Park. We have been wanting to drive Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous road in the US, and go to the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest in the US. On our way back, we took the amazing Old Fall River Road from East to West (it’s a one-way gravel road). It was the original road to get over the Continental Divide in that rocky region. Read our post about that experience!

Stats about the Overland Expo Mtn West 2026

Here’s the recap of the event as written by Rick Stowe of Overland Expo. Full article link.

“The overlanding community brought the HEAT this weekend, and we’re not talking about the weather. Overland Expo Mountain West just wrapped up in Loveland, Colorado, and it was one to remember. 335 exhibitors filled The Ranch with everything from full-size expedition builds and adventure motorcycles to camping equipment and the latest overland accessories, while nearly 300 classes, demonstrations, and activities gave attendees plenty of opportunities to sharpen their skills. Add in two unique Ride & Drive experiences, evening gatherings, live entertainment, and the Overland Expo Foundation Charity Raffle, and Mountain West delivered another packed weekend for the overland and outdoor community. By the time the gates closed Sunday afternoon, 18,500 attendees from all 50 states and 14 countries had made their way to Colorado for another excellent Overland Expo. It was a great mix of attendees, including those who have never missed an Overland Expo Mountain West and over 9,000 first-time attendees who were welcomed to the community this weekend.”

Our Experience

Paul sitting inside the Outpost 8.0 truck camper

Yeah, we were two of those 9,000 newbies! Overland Expo Mountain West brings a larger number of new products, rigs, and vehicle platforms debuting at an event. Lots of NEW at the Expo. In fact, we made a beeline to see the brand-new Outpost 8.0 truck camper when the gates opened at 9am. We saw the original Outpost 6.5 at the Adventure Van Expo in Winter Park in July. Outpost Campers is based in Bayfield, CO, down near Durango.

With 282 session hours presented by 79 instructors, there were tons of options about dozens of topics, from foraging wild ingredients for camp cocktails to traveling as a couple, and working full time while living on the road. We attended 2 overlanding educational sessions about content creation and working from your vehicle/camper. They were both very informative and we got quite a few ideas on how we can best help our readers understand, and take advantage of, the Live Your Vacation lifestyle in Grand Junction.

We stopped at a few product booths to learn more about air compressors for airing up and down our tires (when we drive on rocky 4×4 roads), overlanding gear, organizers, and tools.

We stopped at the Subaru booth to pet the puppies up for adoption, so cute! Lots of dogs were in attendance with their owners (they reported seeing 700!).

We made our way to the Toyota booth, one of the title sponsors of the Expo, and got 2 free dry bags! We use them to keep our stuff dry when kayaking down the Colorado River. That was a bonus.

There were a variety of food trucks for lunch and snacks, even a full bar! It was hot so we stuck to lemonade. Chewed a few electrolyte tablets too since it was hot and we were at about 5,000’ elevation. Drank lots of water, they had refill stations.

We spent most of the time going into truck campers, campervans, and the huge, and often luxurious, expedition vehicles. Another favorite was the new Paragon built by Supertramp. They are based in Golden, CO. It was cool to watch people test drive trucks, Jeeps, and campers on two different outdoor tracks.

It was very entertaining. We saw starter vehicles, mini campers, and options up to very expensive, long term, off-grid machines! We went through some of the DYI campers for sale. We spent some time at the Timberleaf Trailers booth. They are based right here in Grand Junction. They make teardrop-style towable campers for overlanding and camping.

What Surprised Us

expedition rig at Overland Expo Mtn West with Paul Aspelin standing in front

These huge expedition rigs were fun to walk through

What surprised us was that we fit right in. Many attendees appeared to be in our age demographic. It wasn’t all about the younger crowd. We saw many retirees living the overland lifestyle.

Some manufacturers are so creative and innovative in their designs, and a few are really stuck in the past.

It was a very large event, much larger than the 2 Adventure Van Expos we have attended here in Colorado.

Grand Junction as Your Basecamp

People want to live in Grand Junction because it’s a wonderful basecamp for overlanding experiences. We live the outdoor lifestyle every day, every week. We are close to trails, Moab, mountains, lakes and rivers, tons of camping in campgrounds or disbursed camping (boondocking), 4×4 adventures, extensive public lands, and all the outdoor recreation you could ever want within a relatively short drive. We do lots of day trips and we love to stay overnight in some cool places to let the adventure continue! Overlanding from Grand Junction is a pretty cool lifestyle.

Read about our day trip to drive the Red Mountain Mining Area 4-wheel only trail between the quaint mountain towns of Ouray and Silverton.

We are so excited to continue to share all the Western Slope has to offer with our readers!

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Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin
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by Michelle Aspelin

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Just Driving Through: Rocky Mountain National Park

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

Our experience driving Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road through Rocky Mountain National Park

Hello…just driving through Rocky Mountain National Park to get from Point A to Point B, LOL.

That’s right, we took the extra scenic route from Grand Junction to Loveland, CO for the 2026 Overland Expo Mountain West, read that post.

When I started my research on how exactly to get to Loveland from Grand Junction, I wanted to take a route we had not been on before. When I realized Loveland is just east of Rocky Mountain National Park, I knew we would finally have a chance to drive Trail Ridge Road! I’ve had that on my list for a long time. It’s the longest, highest paved road in the United States. It’s closed in winter due to deep snowpack, so we have a limited window of opportunity to experience the alpine tundra above tree line.

Western Slope vs the Front Range

Paul has had people ask him if living on the Western Slope feels like we are missing out on what the Front Range has to offer. The answer is absolutely not.

If you are considering a move to Grand, do not worry. The Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs side of Colorado is heavily populated with an incredible number of things to do and see, if you are ok with heavy traffic and long lines. I-70 gets very busy during peak times in the fall, in the winter, and summer, and well, spring too. We would much rather drive east into the city than have to drive around in the city on a regular basis and fight the unpredictable traffic to get west.

Living in Grand Junction, we are close to the many wonderful attractions and outdoor activities on the front range. We don’t feel like we are missing out on anything.

What I find amazing is that we can drive through a stunning National Park just going from A to B. Everywhere we go in Colorado has the most beautiful and diverse landscapes. It’s one of the best parts of the lifestyle we enjoy living in western Colorado. And the lack of “traffic”.

We didn’t hesitate to go to the Overland Expo in Loveland. If we drove straight there via I-70, it would have taken us about 4.5 hours, without stops. But we didn’t want to drive into Denver and then north to Loveland and deal with the 3 lanes of chaotic traffic. That’s why we chose this more scenic, slower-paced route. It was well worth the extra time! Speaking of time, let’s talk about timed-entry.

Timed-Entry Permit for Rocky Mountain National Park

If you want to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) during the hours of 9am to 2pm, you need to purchase a $2/vehicle timed-entry permit from Recreation.gov. They can be purchased well in advance, or at 7pm the night before, depending on availability. The times may vary with the seasons so always check Recreation.gov when planning a trip through a national park.

Rocky Mountain National Park entrance sign with Paul waving from the 4Runner parked in front of the sign

Paul in the new 4Runner at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park

Initially, we chose to enter the western side after 2pm, no permit required. As it got closer to our trip, we realized we would be driving at 12,000’ elevation during the middle of the afternoon when thunderstorms with lightning, and potentially hail, are common. Not a good idea. So, we decided to try for a noon-2pm permit so we could enter the park anytime noon or later. I hopped on the computer at exactly 7pm the night before and snagged one of the 142 tickets available for that time slot.

When we got to Grand Lake, just outside the western Kawuneeche Visitor Center entrance gate, it was 11am. We were early. No problem. We sat on the beach of Grand Lake and ate lunch from a food shack that was right across the street. After a walk on the dock, we left and entered the park. We were glad we had the permit.

On our way back, we decided to get into the park before the 9am cut-off. We got to the Fall River Entrance Station about 8am and only waited in line behind a handful of cars. If the line was long, which it can be, and we didn’t get in before 9am, we would have to drive another route around the park entirely. From Loveland through Estes Park to the entrance is an absolutely stunning drive through the Big Thompson canyon, following the river by the same name. We loved it!

Taking Trail Ridge Road from West to East

Driving Trail Ridge Road

Because you can only drive Old Fall River Road from east to west, we took Trail Ridge Road first. OMG! It was so cool to be up so high for so long. Driving through the alpine tundra above tree line, looking like we were level with the nearby mountain tops, was fantastic. We made sure to drink plenty of water and we took our electrolyte tablets. Read our post about How to Avoid Altitude Sickness.

The speed limit along the road is about 25mph and many curves you slow down to 15mph so this is by no means a fast route. We drove at a leisurely pace. The road meanders around some lakes and ponds through the Kawuneeche Valley then started the steep accent from about 8,000’ to 10,000’. We stopped at the pull-outs and took pictures.

We summitted Milner Pass, the Continental Divide, at 10,759’ and continued higher to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796’. It’s the highest Visitor Center in the national park system. We soaked in the view, purchased our souvenirs, and continued on.

Alpine Sunflower along Trail Ridge Road on the Tundra Communities Trail

Alpine Sunflower along the Tundra Communities Trail

The next stop was to get out at Rock Cut and hike the short 1 mile round trip Tundra Communities Trail at 12,110’. The trail was steep at the start and Paul was struggling with breathing and a bit of altitude sickness, so he turned back. I continued to the end of the trail and got some great photos and videos of the alpine tundra wildflowers, rock formations, and the mountaintop views. It was windy, but I’m guessing it’s always windy up there. I loved it.

We continued down on the windy road with lots of switchbacks, through some dense subalpine forest. We exited the park and had dinner at Poppy’s right next to the Big Thompson River and paved river walk in downtown Estes Park.

Driving Old Fall River Road East to West

Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park with hazy mountains

Driving Old Fall River Road

We passed a herd of elk in downtown Estes Park on our way to the Fall River Entrance Station on the east side of the park. We drove through several valleys before getting to the entrance of the historic one-way, steep gravel road, Old Fall River Road. The road was built in 1920 as the first road for automobiles to cross the Continental Divide in the park. Yeah, it was steep. It was more like driving a motorized trail vs a road. A few cliffs and drop-offs with no guard rails. It reminded us of the Million Dollar Highway except it wasn’t paved.

The posted speed limit is 15mph so you need to be patient with this journey. The switchbacks were tight, some longer vehicles made three-point turns. We moseyed along. There were pullouts along the route so slow drivers could pull over and let others pass. If you notice more than 4 cars behind you on roads like this, be polite and pull over so they can pass you. You’ll enjoy the adventure much more if you don’t feel like you are being pushed. The other drivers will be thankful too.

Chasm Falls along Old Fall River Road

The highlight along this route was getting out to take the stairs down to Chasm Falls. A great way to get out and stretch and see some beautiful falls up close.

After that we stopped again at the Alpine Visitor Center then headed back through the Grand Lake and Granby, CO area.

One More Route Diversion

Instead of driving our exact same route from Kremmling, we headed south to Silverthorne and I-70. We stopped at an outlet store and ate lunch in town. On our way back we also had time to pick up a few things at Costco near Eagle/Gypsum. Always have to stop at Costco when we pass by. Filled up with gas too!

Overall, it was a wonderful trip to Loveland. We were only gone 2 nights, but it felt like a week. We felt like we really unplugged. Kind of had to since cell service was limited or not available at all while we were in the national park. The Expo on our day in-between kept us entertained and we loved the business speakers we attended. We love weekend trips like this to get away and immerse ourselves in nature and take in the glorious views of this great state. We are so thankful to call Grand Junction home. It makes doing adventures like this so easy!

Check out the social media platforms below. There are some videos posted about this trip.

Paul and Michelle Aspelin on Trail Ridge Road

Michelle and Paul Aspelin near Milner Pass (Continental Divide) on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park

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by Michelle Aspelin

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Driving the Red Mountain Mining Area 4×4 Only Trail | Day Trip from Grand Junction, CO

by Michelle Aspelin

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Hiking Monument Canyon Trail – Grand Junction Hike Tips

Hiking Monument Canyon Trail Review: What to Expect

Guest post by Michelle Aspelin

What it’s Really Like Hiking Monument Canyon Trail

If you’re planning on hiking Monument Canyon Trail in the Colorado National Monument, you’ve probably heard it’s “moderate” and takes 2–3 hours. Spoiler alert: it might take longer, it did for us.

I attempted hiking Monument Canyon Trail with Wedding Canyon twice before finishing it, and even seasoned hikers feel the challenge. Here’s our honest experience, so you can plan accordingly.

When we first moved to Grand Junction, Paul completed this hike and found it to be much more of a challenge than he expected. He couldn’t believe he finished it.

I want to prepare you because locals will encourage you to hike this popular trail when you first move to Grand Junction. I want to give you our impression so you can decide for yourself when you are ready to hike it.

Quick Stats: Monument Canyon Trail

Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 770’ (that’s like 77 flights of stairs)
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Time: 2-3 hours (or 5 hours!)

Is Monument Canyon Trail really “moderate”? Our experience says otherwise.

Our Monument Canyon Trail Experience

Here’s the link to Paul’s quick Hiking Monument Canyon Trail Video on his Move to Grand Junction YouTube Channel – be sure to watch and give it a “like”.

Hiking at higher elevation makes even a “moderate” trail more challenging. We stopped often to catch our breath, despite living at 4,583’ of elevation in Grand Junction. Adding time for lunch, snacks, and scenic stops, the 5-mile hike took us 5 hours.

We quickly learned that “moderate” doesn’t always match expectations, it depends on elevation, terrain, and pacing. We purposely hiked at a slower pace, we had to stop to breathe, but the 770’ elevation gain during the hike does have an impact, even though we are acclimated to the elevation. It’s like climbing 77 flights of stairs.

Hiking Monument Canyon Trail: Trailhead Route and Tips

The AllTrails app says that hiking Monument Canyon Trail loop with Wedding Canyon should take 2 hours and 7 minutes and is moderate. We knew it would take us longer, but not 5 hours! After all, we aren’t 25 anymore. We were just surprised. Were we really THAT slow or was it just more challenging?

On this map, Wedding Canyon is at the top, trailhead on the right, Monument Canyon is on the bottom, Independence Monument on the left.

Our 2026 experience was mixed initially. After the hike we were exhausted and I wasn’t sure I wanted to write about it and promote this hike. But after we recovered, and I reflected on what we saw, and more importantly, experienced, I thought it would be good to warn you, I mean, share it with you.

Trailhead: Take Broadway/Hwy 340 to the Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead. There’s a small parking lot with two portable toilets.

The Trail Itself

Paul hiking the Wedding Canyon Trail

After our first two attempts at starting on the Lower Monument Canyon Trail, we were advised to start on the Wedding Canyon Trail and I think that’s what made the difference in our ability to complete the 5-mile hike.

Starting the hike with Monument Canyon Trail is a slow uphill climb almost the entire time, with lots of steps. From the loop trailhead it’s 2.5 miles to reach Independence Monument, considered the half-way point of this loop hike.

Wedding Canyon Trail starts out with a steep descent with switchbacks over loose gravel, a walk across flat open land, then the ascent to Independence Monument. It was much easier to descend through Monument Canyon than to start on that trail, in our opinion.

We discovered after we reached Independence Monument that the Wedding Canyon Trail is “unimproved”. Ah, ok, that makes sense. That’s why there were steep climbs, no steps, loose gravel, rocky terrain, and several spots that were washed out.

In one section, run-off washed away the “shelf” part of the trail so much so that the edge to step across the wash was about as wide as your shoe. We went slow and sort of hopped over the gap in the trail. Luckily, we had our hiking poles to balance us on the ascent. We both slipped a couple of times but didn’t fall. The trail is both narrow and wide. We were walking along a huge sandstone cliff which offered some shade.

We started at 10:30am so the sun was behind the cliff part of the time. That helped keep us cool. It was about 55 degrees, but the sun made it feel like it was in the 70s. We hiked in mid-March. Be careful when you decide to hike, mornings are always better than mid-afternoons due to the heat and sun.

Independence Monument: The Highlight

Once we reached the base of Independence Monument we stopped to eat our lunch. It was much-needed break. We discovered a huge rock with words etched into the top, likely the Declaration of Independence or they could be about John Otto and the significance of this monument in the park. The words were difficult to read after years of exposure to the elements. Let us know what you think they say if you do this hike.

Independence Monument was formed after water and ice eroded walls that once connected the pinnacle to mesas on each side. Sandstone was deposited in this area 210 million years ago and forms the cliffs we see today. Quite amazing. There are so many colorful layers.

The Tradition of Climbing Independence Monument

One of the highlights of hiking Monument Canyon Trail is reaching Independence Monument, a 450-foot sandstone monolith. Every year on the 4th of July, a crew climbs the monument to hoist an American flag, celebrating our nation’s independence. The flag flies for about a week.

John Otto was the first to climb Independence Monument in June and July in 1910, honoring Flag Day and Independence Day. He also built many of the trails in the Monument and became the first official custodian after the Monument was established in 1911, earning a salary of just $1 a month, according to my book Scenic Driving Colorado by Stewart M. Green.

Standing at the base of Independence Monument, knowing its history, makes the hike feel both physically rewarding and historically significant. I’m glad we went.

Hiking Monument Canyon Trail: Returning via Lower Monument Canyon

After reaching Independence Monument, we turned left onto Lower Monument Canyon Trail to head back, which was mostly downhill. (If you turn right, you’ll be on Upper Monument Canyon Trail, which climbs up to Rim Rock Drive.) The full Monument Canyon Trail from bottom to top is about 6 miles with an elevation gain of 1,843 feet, rated “moderate and steep.” We were only on the lower part of the trail.

With the sun at our backs, the return hike was more comfortable. We stopped frequently to take photos of Independence Monument again. We were grateful we weren’t climbing the steps this time. The trail hugs the cliff wall in a few spots but is wide enough elsewhere for other hikers to pass us safely.

The last half mile felt exhausting. When we finally reached the parking lot, we joined hands and raised our arms like we were finishing a marathon. We were completely spent but thrilled to have completed our longest hike to date.

Afterward, we drove home, collapsed on the couch, and groaned every time we moved. My hips, middle back, ankles, and even toes were sore. But two days later, we went on another hike.

Gear & Preparation Checklist

Water (more than you think)
Snacks/lunch
Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
Sun protection
A hat and sunglasses
Trekking poles (recommended but not required)
Layered clothing if starting out early when it’s still cool
For fast-acting hydration we take electrolyte fast chews by Salt Stick
Hydration powder with electrolytes in your water helps too
For a burst of energy, we like Skratch Labs brand of energy chews (sport fuel)

You can get these items at REI in Grand Junction including a small waist pack, backpack or hydration vest with pockets to carry everything you need to be prepared for hiking in the high desert. Read our post about Water Bottles in Grand Junction: Why it Matters Here.

You can read our How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in Grand Junction guide for more hydration tips.

Wildlife + Wow Factor

Wedding Canyon Trail and view towards Fruita

If you want to see bighorn sheep, look for them in Monument Canyon about midway between Independence Monument and where the trail leaves the neighborhood fence line. We did see two in Wedding Canyon on our hike, but people see them regularly in the Monument Canyon, especially early or later in the day, not so much midday.

Seeing the canyons themselves is amazing. The pretty little flowers, the diverse landscape, the huge walls of different rock layers are all stunning.

To be at the base of Independence Monument was very satisfying and, to be honest, felt a bit patriotic. I was glad we did the hike. I am thankful to be able to say, “I’ve been there” and experienced this special place in the Colorado National Monument. Will I hike the loop again? Probably, but not anytime soon. I need the trauma of the experience to wear off first.

Hiking Mary’s Loop to Pizza Point: A Scenic McInnis Canyons Hike

Pizza Point Colorado River Overlook

Two days after our Monument Canyon/Wedding Canyon loop hike, we tackled a 4-mile hike in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area with only 568 feet of elevation gain, and it felt much easier and enjoyable.

We took Mary’s Loop to Pizza Point. We returned via Steve’s Loop, which offers breathtaking views of a steep canyon and we saw grazing cows, and an interesting slot canyon to explore. This is in the Horsethief Canyon area between Mack and Loma.

Pizza Point is an incredible overlook of the Colorado River and was our halfway point. We spotted boaters and kayakers below and enjoyed a quick snack while taking in the scenery. The full 4-mile hike took us just about 2 hours, including the stop at the river overlook. Much faster than the Monument Trail loop hike!

This trail is shared with mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners, so be aware of bikers coming up behind you. Across the river, we could see the dramatic Rattlesnake Canyon, a truly stunning view. We have hiked to Rattlesnake Arches, very cool.

For reference, here’s the official BLM map of McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area if you want to hike in this beautiful area.

What This Hike Taught Us About Living in Grand Junction

The outdoor lifestyle is real here. While this particular hike was challenge for us, there are many more trails we’ve hiked before this that we really enjoyed. Anything 4 miles and under is likely going to be enjoyable to us, longer than that starts to be “not so fun” anymore.

We learned what “moderate” mixed with 770’ elevation gain really means. Know we know what an unimproved trail looks like and feels like. We were glad to have our trekking poles.

You build up to this type of hike.

I felt good knowing we CAN do this sort of hike, given enough time. We planned it on a day when we wouldn’t feel rushed. We did try to enjoy it along the way. Sometimes you look down at the trail itself too much (so you don’t trip on a rock) that you forget to look up and enjoy the scenery and stop to hear the sounds of nature.

I guess we did more stopping and looking than we realized. Reflecting back, I enjoyed it. I am glad we did it mid-March. If it was hot out, it would have made it even more difficult.

If you’re planning on hiking Monument Canyon Trail after moving to Grand Junction, knowing what to expect can make all the difference.

If you’d like to live near trails like this, Get Started!

You might also enjoy these posts…

at the base of Independence Monument

If you’re thinking about moving to Grand Junction and want honest insight into what daily life is really like here, we share that on this site and we’re always happy to help answer questions.

Contact Paul for a tour of Fruita, Grand Junction or Palisade, or sign up for his real estate market updates if you want to learn more about properties in Mesa County.

Guest post by Michelle Aspelin

by Michelle Aspelin

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The Many Adventures Near Moab Utah

What’s Moab?

Before we can talk about the many adventures near Moab, first you might be asking “Where is Moab, Utah?” I can still remember the first time we heard the word “Moab”. We were standing at the Colorado Mesa University booth at the College Fair at our local high school in Chanhassen, MN. The 2 representatives were raving about going to Moab for the weekends and all they had access to in relation to outdoor activities. Then went on and on — our eyes got wide, so did our oldest daughter’s. She eventually attended CMU for college, and then we moved to Grand Junction. Needless to say, what those representatives said that day changed the course of our lives, for the better.

At first, we thought Moab was some adventure park, an entertainment venue to visit. We slowly realized it’s the name of the popular adventure town in a remote area of SE Utah, but only 90 miles from Grand Junction. My daughter jokes it’s just an hour away. The speed limit on I-70 in Utah is 80 mph…

Two Ways to Get to Moab, Utah

The Fastest Route

Fruita, CO is the last stop in Colorado on I-70 before entering a long stretch with NO SERVICES on the way west to Moab. So get your drinks and go to the bathroom before you leave the area. There is one pit toilet as you cross the border and a rest stop with just bathrooms and a short hike up a hill if you need a little exercise.

Stay on I-70 until Exit 182/Hwy 191. Go south on Hwy 191 for about 32 miles and you will arrive in Moab. There are two gas stations at exit 182, the funky one with the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo parked out front, and a new Golden Gate gas station.

The Scenic Route

If you want the most scenic entrance into Moab from Grand Junction, take the earlier Exit 204 on I-70 near Cisco. Look for Hwy 128 Scenic Byway and go South. There are two exits on I-70 to get onto Hwy 128, the first one is very bumpy gravel road with lots of dips and potholes, but it does go through “the town” of Cisco (it has a General Store and that’s about it). We prefer the second exit, #204, and backtrack a little. Once on Hwy 128 it’s beautiful. You are approaching the La Sal mountains as you drive along shore of the Colorado River. We did a river float into Moab that left from a landing in Cisco. Hwy 128 intersects with Hwy 191, turn left, and you’ll be in the town of Moab.

Things to Do in Moab, Utah

Josh, Paul, Emma and Michelle hiking to Tower Arch in Arches National Park

1 – The most popular thing to do in Moab is to experience Arches National Park. We have been there several times. An easy drive in, drive out on the same road. It’s 18 miles from the Visitor Center to the end. Lots of trails and arches along the way, many very close to the road. For 2026, timed-entry reservations are no longer required!

See our post about the time we took the 4×4 back door into Arches to hike to Tower Arch.

If you want to read about more moderate and difficult hikes in Arches, I suggest you read the advanced guide to hiking in Arches National Park, written by our daughter, Emma Aspelin. On her blog, Emma Gets Outside, she goes into depth describing multiple hikes in Arches, including the hike to the iconic Delicate Arch, which we have not done. She writes about easy, moderate, and difficult hikes. You won’t find us writing about difficult hikes on this blog. She’s way more experienced than we are.

Insight Tip: Did you know the second largest concentration of arches is in Colorado? Yup, you don’t need to drive to Utah to see them, check out Rattlesnake Arches Trail on the All Trails app, we did the hike, it was stunning! It’s in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.

2 – The second most popular adventure near Moab to explore is Canyonlands National Park. Looking down over a 1000 feet or more to the river below is outstanding. There are many cool sites and overlooks that will take your breath away. Our daughter got married near Canyonlands. THAT was incredible! Here’s how the National Park Service describes Canyonlands…

“The Colorado and Green rivers wind through the heart of Canyonlands, cutting through layered sandstone to form two deep canyons. In stark contrast to the hot, sunny desert above, the river corridors are remarkably green, shady, and full of life. Both rivers are calm upstream of The Confluence, ideal for canoes, kayaks, and other shallow watercraft. Below The Confluence, the combined flow of both rivers spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable speed and power, creating a world-class stretch of whitewater.”

3 – Dead Horse Point State Park is near Canyonlands and is worth the drive too. Amazing views, especially the night sky! Read more on that below.

Top Day Trips from Grand Junction, Colorado

Muddy November ride near Moab

4 – After that, I imagine it’s all of the mountain bike and ATV/jeep trails that attract most people to experience adventures near Moab. We rented a side-by-side ATV and followed the trails one day, stopped for lunch, got a little muddy as it was in November, but we had a blast! I highly recommend doing that. We mention this experience in our Day Trips from Grand Junction post too.

“Jeep Week” is a 9-day event in the spring known as Easter Jeep Safari that attracts thousands of 4×4 enthusiasts. Thankfully, there is a lot of BLM land around Moab for free camping and overlanding to accommodate the influx of jeep owners. We were there once during this event; the town was super busy!

Tip: You do need to go online and take a safety test and get a certificate before you can drive an ATV in Utah. It’s called a Non-Resident OHV permit, here’s the link for more information, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. https://recreation.utah.gov/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-registration-and-permits/non-resident-ohv-permits/

5 – The town of Moab itself is full of unique shops, gear for purchase or rental, ATV/UTV/mountain bike rentals for all your adventure needs. There are plenty of hotels, motels and campgrounds. Lots of dining options, Pasta Jays is one of our favorites for Italian food. We had a delicious traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving at the Moab Brewery. A good time for ATVing because it’s not so hot. Lots of guide services for a variety of adventures near Moab.

Michelle and Paul floating down the Colorado River near Moab Utah

Paul and I floating down the Colorado River approaching the La Sal Mountains

6 – The Colorado River is another top attraction. There are river boat guided trips you can take or launch your own paddle board, canoe, or kayak and float down the river through calm waters or rapids. There are river cruises day and night, and a couple of jet boat outfitters too if you’d like a fast ride on your vacation in Moab. We launched our rubber rafts, called duckies, near Cisco and paddled towards Moab, pulling out near the campgrounds along Hwy 128 Scenic Byway.

7 – If you’re going to be in the area for a few days, I highly recommend you drive the loop up into the La Sal Mountains. A “cool” adventure near Moab because the temps are normally lower in the mountains. It’s a 60-mile scenic drive from red-rock canyons to alpine peaks with breathtaking views year-round.

From Moab, head south on Hwy 191 approximately 8 miles and turn left at the Ken’s Lake/La Sal Mountain Loop Road sign. Take a right at the T-intersection and follow La Sal Mountain Loop Road up into the mountains. The road winds through the mountains and descends via switchbacks towards Castle Valley. At the intersection with Forest Road 207, take a left to get to Castle Valley and continue for about 10 miles. Take another left at the Hwy 128 intersection to return to Moab.

Plan about 3 hours to drive the stunning loop, depending on the number of stops you make to soak it all in. We saw some cool mountain cabins up there. It would be fun to rent one of those on a future trip while exploring new adventures near Moab.

Petroglyphs near “Wall Street” Moab, UT

8 – Canyoneering and rock climbing are very popular in Moab too. We’ve noticed climbers several times on our trips. When you drive past Wall Street Climbing Area on Potash Road there are usually climbers there. We stopped there along that stretch of road to see the Petroglyphs. You get on Potash Road from the main Hwy 191. It’s the same road that takes you to the trailhead of the Corona Arch hike I mention below. There are several places that offer horseback riding too.

Dinosaur Tracks!

9 – Dinosaur Tracks. We went to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite twice. I was amazed that the dinosaur tracks are just there, out in the open. Sure, there is a little fence to keep the critters out, but otherwise there is a simple boardwalk that takes you right up to the tracks. It is amazing and an easy side trip just 15 miles north of Moab off Hwy 191. Go there when you want to see something very cool, and it’s free.

10 – If you want to do some hiking away from the crowds, consider hiking Corona Arch. It’s a scenic hike with views of a large arch at the end. There’s quite an elevation gain at the beginning, and a few challenges like climbing a metal ladder and holding a safety chain along a ledge. We went slow and felt very proud of ourselves for doing the moderate 2.4 mile out and back hike. After our hike, we snagged a spot in the nearby campground under a tree to get some shade and had a picnic lunch. Bring plenty of water, there’s hardly any shade along the trail and it can get hot in the summer.

Corona Arch

Corona Arch chain section

11 – There are several International Dark Sky Parks in Utah. In fact, the Dead Horse Point State Park Scenic Overlook is credited as one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world! Moab is home to some of the darkest night skies anywhere. Get amazing views of the stars and the milky way. Arches and Canyonlands are International Dark Sky Parks too. Both Arches and Dead Horse Point offer ranger-led night sky activities.

We haven’t stayed here, but it’s on our list. Under Canvas Moab is one of the world’s first Dark Sky resorts where you can experience the wonders of the night sky. Glamping at this upscale, outdoor hospitality location is available generally March through October in their amazing safari inspired canvas tent accommodations. Located just 7 miles north of Moab. Here’s more info: https://www.undercanvas.com

Thinking about living this close to places like Canyonlands, Arches and Moab? Explore homes for sale in Grand Junction.

Your Moab Adventure Awaits

Every time we go to Moab we find something new to do. There are so many adventures near Moab for every skill level and adrenaline desires. On our return trip one time, we headed south out of town, turned east and went over the La Sal Mountains, then ventured on to Telluride, then back to Grand Junction. That was a cool drive. It was November, light snow, the mountains were gorgeous.

Day Trips from Grand Junction

We have written about many day trips from Grand Junction. Going to Moab, Utah is one we do frequently because it’s so close and usually I-70 doesn’t get shut down west of here! We feel like we are living a vacation all the time. People spend a lot of time and money to travel to destinations that, for us, are just a 1–2-hour drive from Grand Junction.

If you want us to write about local attractions or other areas of interest, 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.

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, Paul will give you a tour when you visit the Grand Valley. Learn more about Paul and how he’s been serving his clients since 2001. Email Paul.

Michelle and Paul Aspelin at the Moab Brewery

Thanksgiving Dinner at Moab Brewery

Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction, but don’t forget the adventures near Moab!

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Back Door into Arches National Park

Day Trip to Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

Did you know that there is a back door into Arches National Park? If you take this route into Arches, you can get quick access to a wonderful hike to Tower Arch and avoid the crowds! Some call it a secret back door entrance into Arches National Park, but it’s not really a secret if you just look at a map. It’s just a different way to enter the park. We’ve been to Arches several times since we moved to Grand Junction and were very excited to take this new route in our Toyota Tacoma. It was an amazing adventure!

If you do not have your National Park Pass already, then you need to enter through the main gate and pay the park fee. If you already have your National Park Pass, then you can use the back door into Arches National Park. There is a gate, but no gate keeper. For 2026, they have removed the timed-entry reservation requirements for peak season. Avoid the long line and go in the back way! Be sure to display your pass in your windshield in case a ranger comes to the parking lot. You should check the weather too, more below.

Antelope along the 4x4 road into Arches National Park

Antelope along the 4×4 road into Arches National Park

The “back door” entrance into Arches National Park is an unpaved, high-clearance road route primarily used for off-road recreation. A standard park map does not detail this route for navigation so download Google maps before you go. Yes, I said download the map ahead of time because you probably will not have cell service for an active Google Map. A high-clearance vehicle, preferably with four-wheel drive (4×4), is strongly recommended. This fun route includes soft sand, rock ledges, and steep sections that are impassable for most standard passenger cars. Really, don’t drive your car on this road. It is not a typical “gravel road.”

Tip: During the busy times of year, we’ve waited in line for up to 45 minutes just to enter the park from the main entrance. Entering through the back door (weather permitting) will give you more time to enjoy the park!

Check the Weather First

4×4 back road into Arches National Park

I recommend you check to see if it has rained or snowed in the days leading up to the day you want to try this route. Because of the deep sand and clay, the road can have some severe ruts and if it’s wet, I imagine it will be very muddy and slippery and you can easily get stuck. We could see the deep ruts when we drove it. They do pass through with a road grader but still, if it’s wet, that changes things. Water runs down from Klondike Bluffs. I wouldn’t go this way if it’s wet, way too much sticky mud.

Directions for the back door into Arches National Park

If you are coming from Moab, take Hwy 191 North, go right onto Willow Springs Road (BLM Road 378) approximately 13 miles north of Moab. The entrance to Utahraptor State Park is also along this road. Follow Google’s instructions to the Tower Arch Trailhead parking lot. This is NOT the way we took as we were coming from the north via I-70. We saw a lot more back-country on our route and I highly recommend it. At one point we came across twenty antelope resting next to the side of the road. Here’s the route we took.

From Interstate 70, take the Moab exit onto Hwy 191 south, but only drive 4.5 miles. Turn left onto BLM 144 (Valley City Road). After a short distance, turn right onto BLM 145 (Salt Valley Road). This is where we saw the huge herd of Antelope basking in the sunshine.

Back entrance gate into Arches National Park

Back Entrance Gate to Arches

Continue along BLM 145 admiring the Klondike Bluffs area. It’s beautiful. When you come to a “T” in the road, go right to stay on BLM 145. From here, drive about 9 miles. The name changes to Arches Salt Wash before you reach the entrance gate. The gate was open because we chose to enter Arches from the back door when the park was open. If the park is closed, this gate is probably closed.

Past the gate, you are almost there. Turn right at the sign for the Tower Arch trailhead. There’s a parking area with a nice pit toilet. Prepare for your hike and enjoy!

Leaving Tower Arch

When you leave, you can turn right onto Arches Salt Wash Road, and it will lead you to the main road in Arches National Park. Turn right onto Arches Scenic Dr. Then drive 16 miles through the park to the Arches Visitor Center and the park exit. Explore the many arches, scenic pull-offs, and hikes along the way!

Tip: Coming through the back door allows you to drive through Arches National Park, once. Coming from the main entrance you drive through the park, then you need to back-track at the end of your visit. Between saving time to get in and not having to back-track, you easily save 90 minutes of car time.

Thinking about living this close to places like Canyonlands, Arches and Moab? Explore homes for sale in Grand Junction.

Tower Arch Trail

Paul at the rock scramble part of the Tower Arch hike

This hike was AMAZING! Challenging, beautiful, and very diverse. One of our favorite hikes so far. The All Trails app rates it as a “moderate” trail and I would agree. It is 2.5 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 626 feet because it’s a lot of up and down along the trail. It’s quite a large, secluded arch hidden behind the Klondike Bluffs that is ninety-two feet wide! And since it’s off the main park road, it doesn’t get nearly the same number of visitors. We only saw a handful of people when we hiked it in November with our daughter and son-in law.

Tip: To prepare for this hike, I would bring plenty of water. And I would pack it in a backpack, so your hands are free. You don’t need trekking poles but if you do bring them, make sure you can secure them to your body, so you have your hands-free. Wear layers, a hat, and remember your sunscreen no matter the time of year. Notice I said “hands-free” twice?

At the beginning of the trail there is a rock scramble that can look a bit daunting from the parking lot but go for it! We needed our hands to help balance us as we climbed the pile of boulders. It was tricky, and we were nervous, but we did it! The trail descends into a valley, a bit more up and down, then a final climb up a deep sand dune to the arch opening. It was impressive! The views along the way are spectacular. You can see so far at the top!

We climbed up under the arch itself and looked back through the Arch into Moab and beyond. We sat for a while to soak it all in and ate a snack.

Tip: Climbing into and under the arch itself allows for an incredible “framed” photo opportunity for a memorable picture you’ll want to share! Never climb on top of an arch.

The first ¼ mile is the hardest. I was intimidated when I saw “rock scramble” in the reviews. Yes, we needed our hands, but we did it as novice hikers. We had Emma and Josh with us (daughter and son-in-law), and they were very encouraging and patient while we did our first scramble.

setting sun reflecting on the mountains in Arches National Park

The setting sun reflecting on the La Sal mountains in Arches National Park as we departed the park

After our hike, we went into Moab for dinner at Pasta Jay’s and drove back to Grand Junction. You can do this adventure as a day trip from Grand Junction, CO. However, I would stay in Moab and do more exploration of the entire area, like seeing dinosaur tracks! And if you don’t want to enter Arches from the back door, you can always get to Tower Arch from the main park road. For that stretch you can probably make it in a standard car, but the last few miles are dirt road.

Read our related post about the Many Adventures Near Moab Utah for more ideas!

If you are considering a move to Grand Junction, Paul would love to give you a relocation tour of the Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade area when you come for a visit. Learn more About Paul and how he’s been serving his clients since 2001.

We have a lot of posts about other day trips from Grand Junction so check them out! There is so much to do in just a short drive from GJ. We feel like we are on vacation every weekend.

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Local or Nearby Attractions

Grand Junction Area Spotlight

When you move to the Grand Junction area, there are plenty of great spots in and around the area worth checking out. 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

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 Main Street 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 drawn to the bridge over the Colorado River at Las Colonias Park near Camp Eddy. In the spring, we come to watch the powerful rush of snowmelt flowing through the river. By summer and fall, it’s the perfect spot to check water levels, relax, and watch people float by, soaking in the Grand Valley lifestyle. 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

Main Street Bagels is a favorite

There is just something about 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’ll just drive through downtown to see what’s going on. Attending the Sunday Farmers Market in Palisade the best, but we also go to 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. You can usually find a spot to 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 located in downtown Grand Junction, 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, visiting 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 in the Grand Junction area, and I’ll 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!

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Local or Nearby Attractions

Silverton Day Trip from Grand Junction

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.

Where is the Million Dollar Highway?

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.

If you’d like to live near aventures like this in Silverton, Get Started!

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 plenty of adventures beyond a Silverton day trip from Grand Junction that you can enjoy within 2–3 hours of the Grand Valley — and the journey is always stunningly scenic. I hope you enjoyed this post about our Silverton day trip. If you want us to write about other Grand Junction day trips, 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

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Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin
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by Michelle Aspelin

Local or Nearby Attractions

Leaf Peeping from Grand Junction

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 decided on a day trip the last weekend in September to go leaf peeping from Grand Junction to Crested Butte. We drove Kebler Pass, which is only open during the summer months. It was stunning. Of course 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

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. After stopping at the Grand Mesa Visitor Center, we hiked Ward Lake. It has a great section that goes through a beautiful forest. Continuing on with our day, 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. That short hike is 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

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

At the end of our day 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!

Skip the I-70 Traffic: A Better Way to Enjoy Fall in Western Colorado

Online 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 passing 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 Relocation and Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE

Call or Text (612) 306-9558 (locally based)
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley in Colorado.

by Paul Aspelin, Relocation & Listing Expert

Local or Nearby Attractions

Telluride: Last Dollar Road Day Trip

The Last Dollar Road and Telluride Day Trip

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 RL 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?

First, 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

After 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.

Driving the Last Dollar Road: Narrow, Steep, and Stunning

We 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, so we parked the Tacoma there too and took some photos! This is where we finally crossed paths with a Jeep and a couple of motorized dirt bikes.

A Thrilling Descent into Telluride

After this we started our descent 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

We continued our descent 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.

Flying into Telluride: Commercial and Private Options

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.

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 Sleighs and Wagons, which offers sleigh rides and an event space with spectacular views.

I often joke with my friends about no longer being able to visit Tom Cruise 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 commented about all the people gathering below on the street. We did notice a banner for the Mushroom Festival when we came into town, but had no idea what we were about to witness.

Thinking about living close to Telluride? Explore homes for sale in Grand Junction.

Mush Fest, formally known as the Mushroom Festival

The 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-renowned 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.

An Unforgettable Last Dollar Road Day Trip

We 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. We won’t make that mistake again.

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

Double RL Ranch fence overlooking the San Juan Mountains

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PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

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

by Paul Aspelin, Relocation & Listing Expert

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