More to know about Grand Junction, CO – contact Paul Aspelin. Residential Real Estate For Sale. Text/Call 612-306-9558. Move to Grand Junction, CO

Grand Junction Water Supply

If you are moving here from another state, you may be wondering about the Grand Junction Water Supply. Where does Grand Junction get its drinking water? Does it taste good? Does the city supply water for irrigation? Do homeowners have their own wells? We have learned a lot living here and I am happy to share our knowledge and experience with you. If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, call me before you come for a visit!

Where Does Grand Junction Get Its Drinking Water?

Let’s start with the most popular question I get. Where does our water come from? We are lucky. We are the first ones to use the fresh snowmelt from the Grand Mesa as our drinking water. It’s stored in over 19 reservoirs on top of the Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world just 45 minutes east of here. It comes into Orchard Mesa to be treated and disbursed into our homes. Grand Junction provides water that exceeds the minimum standards for municipal drinking water.

In 2023, Grand Junction entered a drinking water taste test in Toronto, Canada. A city in Canada won first place, but Grand Junction won second place! Essentially saying we provide the best drinking water in the United States! Please thank Randi Kim, the utilities director for the City of Grand Junction for this!

Here’s a link to the American Water Works Association’s Best of the Best Water Taste Test Competition article with details. Awarded Best in the United States.

Grand Junction Water Supply starts here. Carson Lake view from standing on the dam

Carson Lake view from standing on the dam – Grand Junction Water supply starts here.

We have been to Carson Lake on the Grand Mesa which is at the head of the Kannah Creek Basin in the Grand Mesa National Forest. There were signs in the parking lot warning not to use motorized boats on the lake as it’s used to provide drinking water for the surrounding area. It’s beautiful. You can walk across the dam, there are trails nearby and we saw several groups fishing from the shore.

Does Grand Junction’s Water Taste Good?

YES! Every time we go to a restaurant, we order water. We drink it and it’s delicious. I can’t say that for other places we’ve visited. Sometimes their local water is so bad we need to order a pop or lemonade instead. If you currently use a home water filtration system where you live now, you probably won’t need one if you move to the Grand Valley. Try it for yourself and you’ll understand what I mean. We are thankful for our Grand Junction water supply from the Grand Mesa!

Living in Minnesota most of our water came from underground. The city built wells to access it. We got our water from our local city, and we drank it and used it to water our yard. We even had to add our own water softener because the water was “hard” and unpleasant to drink. In addition to that, we also added a Culligan water filtration system. Not here!

Where Does Irrigation Water Come From?

Canal along Patterson Road near 12th Street

This system was new to me. Ag water or irrigation water is different from drinking water.

If you have visited, you may have seen canals running through town and in rural areas. They look like concrete ditches. Simply put, water gets diverted from the Colorado River near Palisade. It flows through an extensive canal system serving the whole Grand Valley. Water that isn’t used for irrigation is returned to the Colorado River to serve more communities downriver. Water conservation is always encouraged. We have been in a drought for several years.

There are six irrigation districts that serve the Grand Valley. Below is a map from the Mesa County Irrigation District’s website. The City of Grand Junction has a lot of information about water on their website including water supply, treatment, and distribution.

I had a client who lived on the Grand Mesa just outside the town of Mesa and they drove to Palisade to fill their water tank (strapped inside the bed of their pickup truck) to bring water back to their property. The city’s website includes information on filling stations for those in rural areas who do not have water brought to their property.

Property Water Rights

If you buy a property here, you may have water rights or water shares. You can buy a small amount of water or more, depending on your needs. Many homeowner associations manage the irrigation water access for their neighborhood.

The Grand Valley Irrigation Company explains it very well on their website for the landowners they serve.

“The Grand Valley Irrigation Company serves a variety of land-types, including farms, farmettes, subdivisions, residences, and municipal properties. There are 48,000 shares of capitol stock held by over 3,000 shareholders. Each share of water gives the owner the right to approximately 4.6 gallons per minute. This is not a storage right, meaning that the water right does not accumulate and store up when it is not being used. It is a direct flow right, meaning that 4.6 gallons per minute can be drawn at any particular time to be put to beneficial use.

GVIC levies an assessment, or bill, annually on all shareholders. The first share owned by every account is designated as an A share. Each account has only a single A share. Any additional shares owned by a shareholder are categorized as B shares. There is no difference between an A or B share with regard to the water right that is granted. Both types of shares entitle the shareholder to 4.6 gallons per minute. Rather, an A share is assessed, or billed, annually at a higher rate than a B share.

For the 2025 irrigation season, an A share is assessed at $342.64 and a B share is assessed at $16.39.

As an example, if a shareholder owned 5 shares the annual assessment would be calculated as follows: $342.64 + ($16.39 x 4) = $408.20. The annual water assessment is sent out in early January and payment is due in full by April 1.”

Grand Junction Water Conservation

Standing on the Grand Mesa looking down into the Kannah Creek watershed, you can see Land’s End curvy gravel road that’s closed in winter!

If I kept going, I could write another 1,000 words about water conservation in the Grand Valley and Colorado in general. The city and county have conservation initiatives. There are many local, regional, and state nonprofit organizations, districts and institutions who help preserve this precious natural resource.

As a Colorado resident, we try to conserve water. We know that the water from the Colorado River flows southwest to serve Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California residents with water too.

We are thankful our Grand Junction water supply for drinking water comes from Kannah Creek and the Grand Mesa. When you are here, consider a visit to Carson Lake. It’s sort of near the Land’s End Observatory, an outstanding overlook of the entire Grand Valley, best experienced at sunset! I mention it in my post called What It’s Link to Live on the Grand Mesa.

Move to Grand Junction, we’re waiting for you!

Text/Call me at 612-306-9558

Contact me directly regarding non-MLS listings.

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Licensed in Colorado & Minnesota

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Learn more about my real estate experience and how I serve my clients

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

More to Know

Grand Junction Internet Providers

Grand Junction internet providers include high speed internet, broadband and fiber optic, depending on where you live. It is already live in several sections of the community with more under construction. Fruita has high speed internet and Palisade has high speed internet – for the vast majority of homes in those cities. How do you which Grand Junction internet providers serve your property? Here’s a way to find out if you can get fiber optic internet.

Clear Networx offers “Speeds Up-to 1Gps – No Contracts”. Fiber Optic is fantastic technology. Be sure to read about how it’s different than cable internet speeds.

Go to this website, https://clearnetworx.com.

Hover over the Residential tab and you can see the list of communities like Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Ridgway, Durango and more.

Once you choose a city, look for the bar at the top and click on the Construction Map to see where fiber optic is available from Clear Networx. For example, here’s what they look like as of 3/25/25.

Fiber Optic Internet Map for Fruita

Click map for link to Fruita Map online

Palisade Fiber Optic Internet Service Map

Click Palisade Map for link to map online

Grand Junction Fiber Optic Internet Service Map as of 3/25/25

You can click on the map and zoom in to street level.

Click on the map for the online map

If you search Google for who provides internet services in Grand Junction you will see more providers to consider like CenturyLink. Quantum Fiber and Rise Broadband may be an option, but they aren’t available where we live in Grand Junction. Starlink Residential is another option for satellite services anywhere in Colorado. Starlink Mini is a compact, portable kit that can easily fit in a backpack, designed to provide high-speed, low-latency internet on the go. Bring it camping!

Cellular Internet Service in Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade

Aside from fiber optic, the Grand Valley and Grand Junction internet services are offered by cellular providers as well.

See if your cell phone service provider offers Home Internet Services from cell towers. That’s what we use from T-Mobile. One device gets plugged in and placed in a window facing toward the cell tower in Grand Junction. For the two of us, with Michelle working from home full-time and me occasionally, this meets our needs for about $50 a month. We can easily watch streaming services, and we have an antenna to help get more local channels. If you have a large property, you can look into Wi-Fi extenders for more coverage at your location. T-Mobile Home Internet Service

When we first moved here, we brought our T-Mobile gateway device from Minnesota, plugged it in, and had an instant internet connection. We later upgraded our device when the service “officially” became available in Grand Junction.

Verizon Home Internet Service isn’t available in Grand Junction as of this writing. I checked their website 3/25/25. You can sign up to get notified when it is available.

AT&T offers a service called Internet Air for strong Wi-Fi coverage, check their site for availability and rates.

If your Grand Junction internet service provider of choice is cable internet, Spectrum is your go-to. Don’t worry, they will mail you postcards practically every week once you move in with special offers and sign-up incentives. Visit their website for current coverage and speed options. You can enter an address on their website to determine if service is available. https://official.spectrum.com/sem/internet

Digital Nomads in Fruita, Palisade or Grand Junction

If you are a Digital Nomad investigating living in Fruita, Palisade or Grand Junction you will be happy to know that each community offers several co-working spaces in addition to high-speed internet for your home base.

Here’s a link to a great article the City of Fruita put out called Digital Nomad’s Guide to Fruita. It has many great resources for remote workers in Fruita.

https://gofruita.com/the-digital-nomads-guide-to-fruita

Grand Junction has seen a surge in remote workers, drawn by the potential for a lower cost of living and access to outdoor activities. The entire Grand Valley welcomes and supports remote workers, also known as location independent.

GJEP, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, has offered a special “Welcome Wagon” Program in the past, specifically for remote workers. Here’s an article that describes the tech and remote worker boom we are experiencing. GJEP is a huge resource for work and community in the Grand Valley. We go to their annual Economic Summit in April.

https://www.gjep.org/news/grand-junctions-tech-and-remote-worker-boom

As you search the internet for Internet Services in Grand Junction, Palisade and Fruita, just know that there are a lot of options in this growing community for your home or business. We are a bit more rural than Denver or Salt Lake City, but we have fast internet you can count on! If you’d like to learn more about the area and our experience with local internet services, give me a call.

Let me help you… Move to Grand Junction!

We’ve been waiting for you!

Text/Call 612-306-9558

Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Serving Mesa County – Licensed in Colorado and Minnesota

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

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know

Las Colonias Little Free Library

The Las Colonias Little Free Library in Grand Junction

I took a leap toward promoting literacy and community engagement in the Grand Valley. I was instrumental in getting a Little Free Library in Las Colonias in late 2023. Take a book. Share a book. This exciting initiative stems from a passion for supporting local and a commitment to making a positive impact on the Grand Valley community.

The Little Free Library is located in the Las Colonias Park area near the Butterfly Pond, overlooking the zipline that crosses the Colorado River. A great place for a Little Free Library because it’s where people gather. Look for it by the parking area near the pond.

My wife, Michelle, and I have a connection with local libraries that started with our real estate brokerage in Minnesota. We established a strong relationship with local libraries and their respective friends’ groups. Michelle served on the Board of the Carver County Library Foundation and used her skills to volunteer to make a website for each Friends Group in Carver County, Minnesota.

Inspired by our library experiences, I knew we had to continue our partnership mentality with the Mesa County Libraries Foundation.

I approached my team at the time with the idea of partnering with the Mesa County Libraries foundation and requested we install a Little Free Library. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and thus, our Little Free Library found its new home in the park. A new partnership was formed. Read my post about Mesa County Libraries and be sure to get your Library Card!

As real estate professionals, we understand the significance of helping individuals with their housing needs. That often involves packing up, decluttering, and donating items. I wanted to become a book drop-off site, encouraging residents in the Grand Valley to donate their books during the process of selling their homes. I had one past client donate a collection of over 1,000 books to our local library. The Friends group was so thankful!

I can come to pick up books from your location. This ensures that the Little Free Library remains stocked and ready for readers to explore new literary adventures.

What sets this initiative apart is the commitment to recycling and promoting sustainability. Recognizing that many home sellers may overlook the value of donating books, the Little Free Library ensures that these books don’t end up in landfills. I will donate any extra books I get to the Friends of Mesa County Libraries. This helps support their weekend book sales that, in turn, generate funds to support local library cultural programming and equipment. It’s truly a win-win for everyone involved!

Over the course of my real estate career, I’ve witnessed the impact of a library partnership, emphasizing the importance of encouraging individuals to donate books. This not only preserves literary treasures but also aligns with my commitment to making a positive difference in the community.

Whether you have a handful of books or an extensive library, we welcome your contribution. (Please NO encyclopedias, textbooks or magazines.) Residents are encouraged to fill our Little Free Library with their favorite reads while discovering new gems to take home and enjoy. “Take a Book. Share a Book.”

If you’re already living in Grand Junction or planning a visit, make sure to swing by the Las Colonias Little Free Library to find your next adventure. Find us on the Little Free Library app!

For those looking to arrange a book pick-up, reach out to me directly at 612-306-9558.

I couldn’t be prouder to initiate the Las Colonias Little Free Library in Grand Junction to help foster community engagement, literacy promotion, and sustainability. By joining forces with the Mesa County Libraries Foundation, we have created a platform for residents to contribute to a more vibrant and connected community, one book at a time.

Little Free Library in Grand Junction

Find us on the Little Free Library App on your mobile device!

Las Colonias Park
1601 Riverfront Dr
Grand Junction, CO 81501

Connect with me on LinkedIn

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Text/Call 612-306-9558

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know

Parent Tips for Colorado Mesa University Families

Guest Post written by Michelle Aspelin

Hello! We’ve got parent tips for Colorado Mesa University families and students. Our daughter graduated from CMU in 2022. We are sharing things we learned from discovering the university, doing our research, two campus tours, early orientation, communication with CMU, and tips for lodging and more around Grand Junction.

If you have questions about Grand Junction and the surrounding community, please reach out to Paul Aspelin. We’d be happy to share more parent tips with you or meet up to answer your questions.

Discovering Colorado Mesa University

Parent Tips for Colorado Mesa University Families - CMU Outdoor Program trip to Zion National Park

CMU OP trip to Zion National Park for Canyoneering

Colorado Mesa University sent representatives to our daughter’s Minnesota high school to participate in a College Fair. She wanted to go to college near the mountains. After visiting with several school representatives from other states, we had a better idea of what questions to ask. We stopped by the CMU booth on the way out and couldn’t believe what we were hearing. They talked about the University, of course, its size, the majors offered, dorm options, etc. but when they mentioned “Outdoor Program” (OP) our eyes got big. What was that? The rest of the time we spent learning about Grand Junction and what the students can do within a few hours or a day’s drive from campus. Organized, supervised trips every weekend and the OP has gear and ridiculously low fees that students can rent. Camping, hiking, biking, canyoneering, canoeing and more. That was it, she was hooked. Oh, and you can rent a bike from the OP for the school year for very little.

Tip: Remember that your child will be a student at the University but also a member of the community and there is so much to see and do in this area off-campus.

Researching and Comparing CMU to other schools

Excited to learn more, we went home and spent hours on the internet researching CMU and comparing it to other schools. I wish we had one document or guide with parent tips for Colorado Mesa University families at that time. We used the niche.com website to compare the school to other similar schools. That site was very useful. It gives the school “grades” on things like academics, diversity, value, dorms, student life, etc. It gives you a good idea and makes it easy when you can compare all schools with the same metrics.

Tip: You can’t always trust everything you read. You won’t really know until you experience it for yourself.

We did other research and considered those sources as well. Grand Junction is a small community with urban and rural features. We thought crime was high compared to other areas so during one of our campus tours I asked about it. They said the most common crime is bikes getting stolen. And we later found out that crime within the surrounding community was overreported. For example, if there was an incident and 5 people called it in to the police department, it got counted 5 times vs only as one incident.

Colorado Mesa University is one of the least expensive universities in Colorado and if our daughter wanted a chance to go to school near the mountains, this was it. So, we decided to take a family vacation and tour CMU and the University of Wyoming at Laramie. We flew into Denver and drove to Grand Junction. Did the tour and left after that for Wyoming.

Tip: When you come to visit the school, give yourself 2-3 days to tour around the area as well as the campus. See Paul’s post that includes a two-day itinerary of what to see and do in Grand Junction. We exited I-70 at the Clifton exit so we didn’t even know there was an airport or a super cute downtown area.

Two Campus Tours

We did the standard 2-Hour campus tour the summer before our daughter’s Junior year of college. She started looking early. It was the first college campus we visited. We asked a lot of questions, seeking parent tips for Colorado Mesa Universities families ourselves! After looking at 3-4 more she chose CMU. We flew to Colorado from Minnesota in March to do the extended tour called The Mesa Experience. It’s a full day event where you tour the building that would have most of your classes for a particular major. And there was an informal reception the night before. THAT was a fantastic experience and a great way to really get to know the school. That confirmed her choice. She applied and got a merit scholarship to help cover the costs of the out-of-state tuition. Because of her scholarship, the cost was about the same as if she attended a MN state school.

Tip: If your student is considering CMU from outside of Colorado, be sure to apply early and consider a merit scholarship to reduce the cost of tuition. It can save you up to $7500 annually for each year of attendance.

Tip: If you live in Colorado, look up The CMU Promise. “CMU promises an opportunity for a better life through education. If your family earns $70,000 or less the cost of your classes is covered and we will teach you how to think, not what to believe.”

Early Start Option called FYI

Freshman Year Dorm

This was so worth it! Because we lived out of state, our daughter didn’t attend the standard Orientation the summer before she started at CMU. Therefore, we brought her a week early to participate in FYI (Freshman Year Initiative). That was one of the best decisions. She got to move in early when it wasn’t so crowded and learn more about the campus before all of the students arrived. She went to class and earned 2 elective credit hours that week. She met most of her roommates as they came early too. She became friends with others in her class that have become live-long friends. She even met her future husband during that time!

CMU describes FYI as a chance for students to ease into the transition from high school to college. We knew our daughter was prepared academically, this helped her in other ways, and she loved it.

Tip: It was a wonderful experience for us parents too. Getting to know the other parents on move-in day and discovering more about the campus in a less crowded environment.

CMU Communication

Our daughter started fall of 2019. She completed one “regular” semester, then covid hit in March 2020. They were forced to move out and finish their semesters at home. The current CMU President, John Marshall, was the Vice President at that time and he lead a wonderful team with a health major professor to keep us parents informed during covid. They did group phone calls were we could ask questions. They held Facebook Live chats where they kept us informed and we could ask questions. They communicated frequently via email.

The following fall the were able to accommodate all students coming back to campus and having a mix of in-person and online classes when most larger universities only offered online classes. They are so committed to serving their students. I remember raving to my friends what a great job they did communicating and my friends with kids at other colleges were jealous.

Their website is a great resource, lots of information and easy to search. They have a Resource section for Parents and Families. You can follow them on social media, there is a Facebook group for parents. And once your student is accepted, they send frequent emails explaining the process and the opportunities. As a parent of an alumni, I still get some emails from John Marshall when he has news to share and I love it.

Lodging for CMU College Visit

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express near the Mesa Mall on our first visit. When we came for The Mesa Experience, we stayed downtown at the Fairfield Inn & Suites. For visits over her attendance at CMU we stayed at the La Quinta near the airport. All were great. I recommend staying downtown on at least one visit to immerse yourself in the downtown area. It’s a real gem. Shops, dining, entertainment, artwork, and now there’s a CMU store on Main Street!

Hotel Maverick opened after she graduated. We have dined there but have not stayed. I think that would be a great immersive experience as well. Their food is fantastic as well as the roof-top views.

It’s very easy to get around Grand Junction. If you fly here, check out Paul’s post called The Grand Junction Airport Experience. Our 6-gate airport with rental cars on site is very impressive!

Get an REI Membership

One more tip. If you don’t have one already, walk into the local REI store, ask for Josh Kolb (our son-in-law) and get signed up for REI Membership, and maybe the REI credit card. When we dropped our daughter off, we went to REI and bought her a mountain bike and a heavy-duty lock. She had a sleeping bag and water bottle and that was about it. She made many trips to REI while she was in school and took advantage of their sales and their generous return policy. They take back used items if they don’t work out for you and resell them in the “garage sale” section of the store. The store is a great asset to the community because there are so many opportunities for outdoor adventures around here.

Overall CMU Experience

We hope you have enjoyed the parent tips for Colorado Mesa University families. Overall, it was a wonderful experience as a parent to have our child attend CMU. She absolutely loved it, especially weekend trips with her friends to so many great places. Lots of laughs and life-long friendships.

Why we moved to Grand Junction

Parent Tips for CMU Families trip to Arches National Park

Parents Weekend trip to Arches National Park

I’ll never forget Parents Weekend the first year. We came in October for a short visit. On the day we left, we met our daughter at the library on campus and got bagels and coffee. We watched her walk off to class and we sat outside to eat our breakfast. The sun was warm on our faces, it was in the 70’s and we were captivated with the area and the warmth. We said to each other that we could see ourselves retiring here someday. That was 2019.

We kept that thought in the back of our minds until after our second daughter went to Arizona for her college experience. They both said they weren’t coming back to Minnesota. So, we put our plan in motion and moved to Grand Junction in 2023. No regrets whatsoever. We created this website a few months later and have been so thankful to be here and discover everything around here. It’s been one of the best decisions we have ever made. You can read Paul’s post about what we learned in the first 3 months of living here and other posts about our transition and the move across-country.

And if you want to look at any houses while you are here on a visit, connect with Paul. He’d be happy to show you properties currently on the market or about to be listed. Read more about his real estate experience on the About Paul Aspelin page.

P.S. One more tip, read our post about Retiring in Grand Junction because CMU also offers classes for those 60+ at a discounted rate using their CMU Golden Scholars Program!

Written by Michelle Aspelin

by Michelle Aspelin

Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

What it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa

What it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa in Colorado

I have visited the Grand Mesa multiple times, hopefully you have too. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa? Is there fast internet? How much snow do they really get? What’s there to do up there year-round?

Grand Mesa in September near Mesa Lakes Lodge

Let’s start with some Grand Mesa quick facts

Colorado’s Grand Mesa is the world’s largest flat-top mountain with over 300 lakes in about 500 square miles. Most of “the Mesa” is about 10,000 ft above sea level. Powderhorn Mountain Resort offers over 1,600 acres of year-round diverse terrain for all levels of abilities. There are lush forests of aspen and evergreen trees and beautiful wildflowers. There are numerous resorts offering tons of activities for every season.

Sounds great, right? But what’s it like to live on the Grand Mesa? Here’s some extra information about the area and some FAQs answered by locals to give you a feel for the area to help decide if you’d like to live on the Mesa.

Driving on the Grand Mesa

There’s one main road that crosses the Mesa, Hwy 65, also known as the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway. Yes, it’s scenic! From Grand Junction, head East on I-70. Take the exit for Hwy 65 to head south. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the town of Mesa, CO and 45 minutes to get to Powderhorn. Get your Google maps set up before you leave Grand Junction because you may not get a cell signal on the Mesa.

Continue on Hwy 65 and you’ll reach the town of Cedaredge, then Delta, and you can circle back up Hwy 50 to Grand Junction. Or…

If you want a “local experience” add a stop at the Lands End Observatory to your itinerary. After you see the spectacular overlook of the Grand Valley consider this. If your vehicle is less than 35 feet and you are not towing a trailer, head down Forest Road 100, a scenic gravel road with numerous switchbacks. Also known as Lands End Road. It will come out in Whitewater. Be aware that the narrow road is a two-way road and passing can be tight in spots. I recommend driving down, not up. Be sure you know how to downshift your vehicle so you don’t rely on your brakes the whole way down.

live on the Grand Mesa, drive Lands End Road

I took this picture from the top of the Grand Mesa looking down the Lands End Road into Whitewater. Oh the switchbacks!

How much snow does the Grand Mesa get annually?

Downhill skiing, Nordic (cross-country) skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and other winter sports and recreational activities are popular on the Mesa. Powderhorn Mountain Resort reports this on their website, “The mountain annually receives over 250 inches of light powder snow across a range of groomed runs, aspen & pine glades, and volcanic boulder fields, perfect for skiers and riders of all skill levels.” The Grand Mesa Lodge explains it this way on their website, “With an average annual snowfall of 420 inches (35 feet) the Grand Mesa has epic snow for your adventures. Explore hundreds of miles of trails right from your doorstep or join us for a guided snowmobile ride.”

So, let’s just say the Mesa gets a lot of snow. As a resident, you can rely on Mesa County to plow the primary roads. If you live on the outskirts of Mesa, CO, there may be some roads that require private snow removal contracts beyond clearing snow from your driveway.

Can you get fast home Internet on the Grand Mesa?

Of course! Satellite Internet services like Starlink work great all-around remote Colorado. Some residents take their Internet with them when they road trip away from home.

Can I have a garden?

Yes! The growing season in Colorado can vary from 30 to 150 days, depending on the average last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall. On the Mesa, the frost season ends in late April and doesn’t start again until the end of October. Because of wildlife in the area, be sure to enclose your garden with a fence 6’ or higher.

Driving down from the Mesa near I-70

How does wildlife impact living on the Grand Mesa?

You’ll want to keep your garbage in bear-proof containers. Make sure the paths around your home are well-lit at night. Keep your gutters clean. Typical home ownership responsibilities apply here too. Be cautious driving at night. And even driving during the day as you may come across big horn sheep along the side of the road, especially along the creek right as you get onto the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway from I-70.

Over 400 moose roam the Mesa along with tons of mule deer. Here’s what the VisitGrandJunction.com website has to say about the moose. “When you’re hiking through the woods on top of the world’s largest flat-top mountain, the Grand Mesa National Forest, listen carefully for snapping branches in the distance. Keep your eyes peeled for lumbering beasts moving amongst the trees. The dense pine forests and aspen groves, combined with hundreds of miles of streams and the wetlands from over 300 lakes, make this mountain an ideal home for moose.”

What about Fire Protection Services?

Your homeowner’s insurance rate will depend on how close you are to a fire department so do your research. Here’s a link about our wonderful Mesa County Fire Authority who services the Grand Mesa National Forest area. And here’s the link to the fabulous Plateau Valley Fire Department covering 700 square miles in Mesa County including the areas of Collbran, Georgia Mesa, Grove Creek, Jerry Gulch, Maigatter Knob, Mesa, Molina, Plateau City, Plateau Creek State Wildlife Area, Powderhorn & Round Mountain. If you need a reputable insurance agent that does a great job for rural homeowner’s, give me a call.

What public schools would my child attend?

Mesa County provides a detailed county public school boundary map that allows you to easily review all of the school boundaries. You can enter a specific address to determine which school children will attend. Keep in mind, boundaries are subject to change due to housing growth and population changes. The southern part of the Grand Mesa, Cedaredge for example, is in Delta County so you’ll want to check the Delta County School District website. Plus, there are alternative schools, charter schools and private schools to consider.

Top Day Trips from Grand Junction, Colorado

Snowshoeing on the Mesa near Mesa Lakes Lodge

What is there to do when living on the Grand Mesa?

First and foremost, the people I work with move to the Grand Mesa for the beauty, the views, the solitude and the access to outdoor activities. You will enjoy hiking, biking, downhill skiing at Powderhorn, world-class cross-country ski trails, big game hunting, snowmobiling, fishing (summer and winter) or kayaking the 300 lakes is just a start. You’ll never come up short of ideas to take it all in. With its proximity to Grand Junction, Palisade, and Fruita you are just a short drive into the city with all the conveniences you could ever need. There are not many places in the world where you can enjoy a morning of ice fishing then take part in a round of golf in the afternoon with a short drive into the Grand Valley. Living on the Grand Mesa truly has everything you could ever dream of when considering rural living.

Read how my past clients have described the type of service I offer my clients, all of my clients, every time! Paul Aspelin Reviews and Recommendations.

Fall on the Grand Mesa

Learn more about the area by reading my Top Day Trips from Grand Junction.

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.

Text/Call 612-306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

I-70 Colorado: What it’s really like to drive it!

I-70 Colorado: What it’s really like driving I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction CO

Whether you are an experienced driver or not, driving the I-70 Colorado stretch over the Rocky Mountains has some additional considerations to be aware of and plan for. I want to share some of my experiences with you so you will be more prepared than we were that first time. I must say, following advice from the locals regarding driving I-70 Colorado is extremely important. It’s a stunning drive but it has its ups and downs too, pun intended! I want you to be safe, proactive, and enjoy the drive.

Driving I-70 Colorado from Denver to Grand Junction CO

The “crash” indicated on the digital sign was actually snow on the interstate caused by the avalanche near Vail Pass. That’s our Toyota Tacoma we are following!

#1 I-70 Colorado isn’t always open to traffic in one or both directions

I-70 Colorado playing Monopoly during traffic jam

Unexpected boulder crashed into a semi truck on I-70 means it’s time for a game of Monopoly!

The main thing to know is that I-70 is unpredictable. I have been detoured multiple times over the years and that can add hours to your commute. You can’t simply exit the interstate, drive along a frontage road, then hop back on at the next exit. It is nothing like driving interstates around the country. I-70 is unique.

I have had to detour because of

The 2020 Grizzly Creek forest fire near Glenwood Springs that burned over 32,000 acres resulting in a 13-day closure of the interstate.
The July 2021 mudslide in Glenwood Canyon the following spring due to the forest fire. That closed I-70 for about two weeks. The detour was Grand Junction to Steamboat Springs then to Denver, yikes!
And in December 2022 there was an avalanche near Vail that was triggered by a backcountry skier. Luckily this time we detoured around Vail pass via Leadville, but it added several hours to our drive. It closed several more times for avalanche mitigation that season.

I had friends stuck in their vehicle on I-70 because a boulder crashed into a semi-truck, unable to exit, and they played a full game of monopoly during the wait. Car fires happen more frequently than where we used to live and so the interstate gets shut down for those too. And then there are vehicle accidents that shut it down as well. You can also imagine the role weather plays, but especially during the winter months. In winter you need 4-wheel drive or chains for your car in order to go over the passes on I-70. That’s the law.

Advice for driving I-70 through Colorado

driving I-70 Colorado from Denver to Grand Junction CO smoke from car fire

Smoke from a car fire while driving I-70 from Grand Junction to see a client on the Grand Mesa.

Be proactive when you make plans. Do not rely on it being open. If you want to fly into Denver and drive to Grand Junction CO, check the news and Google maps first. And if you are driving from Grand Junction to catch a flight out of the Denver airport, drive to Denver the night before your flight, not the day of. Give yourself a buffer in case there is a delay.

Download the Colorado Road Conditions app called CO Traveler. This app will help you with traffic expectations and there is a layer you can apply to the app for weather conditions. You can see if the roads are dry, wet, icy or snow covered.

Cell service is spotty. Keep track of your progress as you drive and update the travel app or Google maps. You most likely will lose cell service in the Glenwood Canyon as you stare up at the 100’ walls that surround you.

Know how to downshift your vehicle. If you are renting a car in Denver, DO NOT leave the rental car parking lot until you know how to downshift the vehicle you rented. Look up downshifting videos on YouTube prior to your trip if you have never driven on roads with 5-10% grades. You do NOT want to rely on your car brakes as they can get too hot and fail.

Leave with a full tank of gas or a full charge on your electric vehicle. If you get stuck on the interstate and cannot exit, you may use a lot of gas/range to idle your vehicle if you need the AC or heater. And if it’s wet, make sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid too.

How to make the I-70 drive through Colorado more comfortable

I-70 Colorado be prepared with water bottles

Our YETI Stainless Steel Reusable Water Bottles are also dishwasher safe. We haven’t added the stickers to them like most people LOL.

Drink plenty of water. Being at a higher elevation can take a toll on your body. Especially if you fly to the Denver airport and are driving to Grand Junction all in the same day. You get dehydrated faster at higher elevations even if you are not exerting yourself. Drink water or choose something with electrolytes like Gatorade, Propel, or purchase electrolyte powders to add to your drinks. Avoid tea, coffee and pop. Or, if you drink those, offset it with an equal or greater amount of water.

Invest in a good stainless-steel water bottle you can refill frequently. People in Colorado carry their water bottles everywhere. Good hydration is important and having your own bottle makes it very easy and keeps plastic bottles out of the environment.

We found that taking Vitamin C can be helpful to avoid altitude sickness. Start to take a Vitamin C supplement a day or two before your trip to Colorado. Check with your physician first, and your pediatrician for your children, on how to feel comfortable in higher elevations. Read my post called How to Avoid Altitude Sickness for more advice.

Take your time. Stop frequently at the numerous rest stops along the way. Get out and walk around. You’ll probably need to use the bathroom anyway, so plan on extra stops. Rest stops are typically a great source of materials about the area and fun local and historic information to look at.

Bring snacks. Whenever you are driving for over 2 hours, always pack snacks. Bring something salty to help your body absorb the extra water you are drinking. Nuts and trail mix make a good snack.

You might want a small cooler for your drinks and any chocolate you bring because it may melt in the car and that would be horrible. The sun is HOT here because we are closer to it. Read my post about Grand Junction Weather.

Take turns if you are driving with others. Allow the primary driver a chance to rest and look at the scenery too. Switch off driving every couple of hours.

What it’s really like to drive I-70 through Colorado

As you head West from Denver to Grand Junction, you leave the city and the interstate turns into a very long, slow climb that will be difficult on your vehicle. Your car or truck may need to use all the energy it has to climb this part of the Rocky Mountains. When I drove our Toyota Rav4, towing an 8-foot U-Haul, I had it floored and our max speed was 40 miles per hour, no joke! When you see it start to incline, make sure you are driving at least the speed limit because it’s difficult to speed up once you start uphill. Now, if you have an 8-cylinder truck, you probably won’t have issues, but you will be burning through a lot of gas too!

I-70 Colorado Rocky Mountains from Denver to Grand Junction CO wide load

We had to follow this wide load for miles before there was enough of a shoulder for his oversized load and we could pass.

Absolutely stay in the right lane unless you are passing. It is the law in Colorado. Pay attention to the trucks as they go abnormally slow up the steep inclines. Vehicles driving slower than the speed limit generally have their hazard lights on full time. Be patient as you will get stuck behind a slow-moving truck or car at some point and the traffic in the left lane will be speeding by. It’s difficult to pass sometimes, so just wait until you have plenty of space. Try not to pass on an incline.

The Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnel is at the Continental Divide, the “top” of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 11,112 feet above sea level. BE PREPARED as you start to exit the tunnel. It’s like the green starting flag was just waived at the Indy 500 as everyone drives like a bat out of hell, downhill, jockeying for position. The actions of the more experienced I-70 drivers can be just as intimidating as the steep downgrade. Once you reach Silverthorne/Dillon, I recommend exiting at this time so you can pry your hands with white knuckles off the steering wheel and take a break until your heart rate returns to normal. You need to be very attentive at all times, making it strenuous. Don’t let those runaway truck ramps intimidate you, but understand they are there for a reason, and yes, they do get used!

driving I-70 Colorado - from Denver to Grand Junction chain up area

We chuckled the first time we saw the “chain up” signs and the pull-offs for the truckers.

There’s another high pass around Vail. So, when you descend after Denver, that’s not the end. You will go up and over Vail pass and it can get a bit chaotic then too with other people speeding in the left lane, making it hard to pass and drive at a good pace for you. Always be watching the traffic around you. Cars come up behind you, out of nowhere, and vehicles you’re following suddenly move into the passing lane leaving you unknowingly racing up on a slow-moving semi.

It gets easier after Vail. Near the town of Eagle, the mountains open up and there feels like more room. Then you approach Glenwood Canyon, the most expensive stretch of interstate ever constructed in the United States. You’ll enjoy going down and following the Colorado River as you look up at the canyon walls. Very pretty. Watch your speed through the canyon as there are sharp turns where you need to slow down quickly.

Driving near Glenwood Springs CO along the Colorado River

After all the ups and downs, curves and beautiful scenery, you come around this curve right before Palisade and it will begin to open up into the Grand Valley. You’ll see vineyards and peach orchards along I-70, yes, those famous Palisade Peaches (so juicy)! The Book Cliff mountain range will be on your right, they go all the way into Utah.

As you enter Palisade, you will get a better view of the world’s largest flattop mountain, the Grand Mesa. And to the southwest you will see the Colorado National Monument off in the distance. Grand Junction is surrounded by beautiful mountains with the city at 4,600+ feet above sea level.

Once you come out of the De Beque Canyon you are just 15 minutes to Grand Junction. There are a couple of exits to take. Horizon Drive is the most popular exit, check out the cool rotary with some metal wild horse sculptures in the middle. It’s right near the Grand Junction airport (small airport with 6 gates, but hardly ever busy!) Read about my GJT airport experience.

Once you complete your drive, keep drinking water. If you can, abstain from alcohol on your first night in town. Give yourself a chance to adjust to the higher altitude. If you get a headache, drink more water. And once you get out and explore the area, always wear sunscreen as you can burn your skin within 15 minutes when you come in the summer months.

Hopefully you find this information useful. Driving I-70 through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is an experience you will never forget. Be safe. Plan ahead. Be prepared. Be patient. Be flexible. Have your passengers take lots of photos to show your friends!

I70 Colorado rest stop near Colorado River in Eagle, CO

Beautiful Rest Stop in Eagle on I70

Text/Call 612-306-9558 me with any questions you have about driving I-70 from Denver to Grand Junction CO or the Grand Valley in general.

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
© 2024 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Fruita, Grand Junction, More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

Living in Grand Junction Experiment

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

Before Paul and I made a decision, we wanted to do a Living in Grand Junction Experiment. We already had an idea of what living in Grand Junction might be like, but we wanted to really test it out first before we decided. Our daughter started attending college at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in the fall of 2019. We had visited the area two times before we drove here from Minnesota to move her into her dorm room.

We visited her in October 2019 for Parents Weekend. After she had returned to class, we were sitting outside of the CMU library with our bagels and drinks from the café inside. It was a warm fall day with the sun warming us at our outdoor table. Paul said, “I could see us living here after we retire.” We were surprised at the thought as we were only in our late 40’s. With that thought in the back of our minds, we continued on with our life in Minnesota.

Maybe Arizona?

In the fall of 2021, we drove our second daughter to Arizona to start her college experience. We realized that we didn’t need to hurry back to Minnesota after we got her settled. It was the start of being “empty nesters” for us. We made several stops in small towns on our way back to “check them out”. Might we live in Arizona? Visiting places like Sedona and Flagstaff were terrific. We didn’t realize Arizona had such a diverse environment. It’s not all hot desert in Arizona! We enjoyed the mountains too.

How about Southern Colorado?

On that same trip in 2021 we stopped in Grand Junction for a few days, giving it more consideration. When it was time to go, we drove south. Stopped in Delta, Montrose, Ridgway, and we were totally in awe of Ouray. Drove the Million Dollar Highway (whoa!) to Silverton. Stayed in Durango to give it some consideration. Then we continued east to Pagosa Springs and NE to Salida and through Denver. With each stop, pondering the question, “Could we live here?” Our online research continued. More visits to see our kids. And then we planned an experiment.

Living in Fruita Experiment

Parade of Lights in Fruita, CO

One year we drove to Moab, Utah for Thanksgiving with family and friends. We were there for several days and loved the experience. We went back again two years later but decided to extend the trip in order to do an experiment. Took the long way back from Moab via Gateway and on to Telluride, stunning mountain town. Took the free gondola up to see Mountain Village, magical! However, housing is ultra expensive! Then, we made it to Fruita, CO.

By this time, we had a better idea of what living in Grand Junction might be like, but what about Fruita? We rented a very cute 2BR/1BA home for 3 weeks, just a block off Aspen Avenue (the main street). We wanted to see what it would be like living in Fruita, Colorado. We shopped at the (very busy) grocery store. Found more great dining places. Experienced some downtown activities like the Parade of Lights in December. Went to the Visitor’s Center several times to learn more from the locals (always recommend this).

We drove into Grand Junction to see our daughter and visit more stores, dining and other places. During this trip we also drove on the other side of the Grand Mesa to consider Cedaredge and Paonia. We investigated Rifle and went to some of the wonderful parks there. Paul loved seeing them ice fishing in Rifle Gap State Park’s 350-acre reservoir!

During our Living in Fruita Experiment, we found we liked the charm of the small town of Fruita but kept driving to Grand Junction on a regular basis. They aren’t far apart, 15-20 minutes, depending on where you are going. But the experiment was useful. It helped us decide that we wanted to move to Grand Junction, not Fruita. If you have the opportunity, try an experiment like this in the city you might consider moving to. Act as if you already live there. See how it feels. We have fond memories of the train whistles as they passed through Fruita. Read our post about the Grand Junction Train Station to learn more about train travel to and from Grand Junction as well as the historic Grand Junction Union Depot.

Researching Grand Junction and Mesa County

We continued to read articles and do research online. I used the “Find Places to Live” feature on niche.com to compare cities on a dozen different categories like cost of living, schools, jobs, crime, health care, night life, etc. FYI, Grand Junction is ranked the #2 place to live in Mesa County. We researched income taxes, property taxes (so low in Mesa County!), sales tax, government and civic entities, nonprofits, local businesses, and community involvement. We joined Facebook groups, followed business Facebook pages and made connections on LinkedIn.

It was time for a lifestyle change. We were young-ish, we didn’t retire when we moved to the Grand Valley. We started connecting with business professionals in the community when we visited. Our Living in Grand Junction Experiment was like we were “dating” Grand Junction. I can do my job from anywhere, I make websites and work from home. Paul easily transitioned his real estate career from Minnesota to Colorado and is loving it!

The Living in Grand Junction Experiment

While our experiment of living in Fruita, CO was a concise 3 weeks, our Living in Grand Junction Experiment was longer and more drawn out. Visiting several times, learning more, experiencing more, researching more, asking “What if…” oh so many times. We were thankful for our experiments.

When we weren’t visiting Colorado, we were preparing our home for sale. Doing updates and minor repair work, donating or selling most of our items, and mentally preparing ourselves for the cross-country move. You can read more on this website, like Paul’s post, Living in Grand Junction – What I learned in the First Three Months. If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, check out Paul’s post called Why Move to Grand Junction? It includes sections on the various housing types as well as a description of the area.

Hopefully you will be inspired to do an experiment of your own! Paul would be happy to show you around Mesa County and answer any questions you have about moving to Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade or anywhere within Mesa County. Paul Aspelin 612-306-9558 or send him a note on the Contact page.

Move to Grand Junction, we are waiting for you!

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin
growyourmindshare.com
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

by Michelle Aspelin

Grand Junction Real Estate, More to Know

Paul Aspelin Reviews and Recommendations

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know

Mountain Biking in Grand Junction CO

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

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Mesa County Libraries

A world of adventure at the Grand Junction Library and 7 more locations in Mesa County

Guest Post by Ami Schiffbauer, Mesa County Libraries Development Director

Welcome to Grand Junction Colorado!

Anyone who’s moved to Grand Junction, Colorado from another part of the country knows that each place is unique. Public libraries across the country can vary significantly from one area to another. All libraries have books, of course, and many also offer audiobooks, DVDs, and video games to check out, too. Mesa County Libraries have all of these, but that’s only a small fraction of what’s available for free to Mesa County residents with their library card.

Library Card Holder Benefits

The 970West Studio, located at 5th and Ouray in Grand Junction, is a public multimedia production studio and Artist in Residence space.

In addition to the items mentioned above, library card holders can also check out board games, passes to local museums and parks (including the Colorado National Monument), and digital camera kits. The camera kits are offered through the library’s 970West Studio, a multimedia production studio where people can learn how to use digital recording equipment to create videos, edit digital photographs, and record podcasts. Right next to the studio, the library’s Discovery Garden offers an oasis of nature in downtown Grand Junction, a place where anyone can come to learn about different gardening techniques or just relax and enjoy the beauty of the garden, along with fresh produce in the summer and early fall.

Mesa County Libraries Programs and Online Resources

With eight branches around the county, Mesa County Libraries offer numerous programs each month for people of all ages to connect with one another, like storytime, Teen Time, local history talks, and book clubs. Programs are available whether you’re in Grand Junction or in a nearby town. You can also access an abundance of online materials from anywhere with an internet connection. That includes downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks, free streaming movies and TV on Kanopy and Hoopla, and national newspapers like the New York Times and Washington Post, among many other eResources. And if a patron wants an item that’s not in the Mesa County Libraries’ collection, it can usually be found through Marmot or Prospector, the regional and state-wide organizations that make it easy to get materials from other libraries delivered to your home library location.

Volunteer Opportunities

For new Mesa County residents who want to connect with their community, the library also offers several opportunities for volunteers throughout the year. This includes planting, weeding, and harvesting in the Discovery Garden, working with English learners and students preparing to take the GED through the Adult Learning Center, and helping in various capacities with our two large annual events, Comic Con and Culture Fest.

Friends of the Mesa County Libraries

Mesa County Libraries and Grand Junction Library

You get to choose the design of your Mesa County Library Card!

Volunteers are also welcome to join the Friends of MCL in their ongoing work of sorting and selling donated books to help support library programs throughout the year. The Friends are part of the Mesa County Libraries Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 1994 to help support and expand library programs with donations, grants, and bequests.

Call Paul Aspelin at 612-306-9558 if you have books to donate to the Friends of Mesa County Libraries. He can pick up your donations.

Get Your Library Card

All you need to sign up for a Mesa County Library card is a photo ID and proof of a Mesa County address. Visitors to Mesa County are also welcome to stop by and use one of our many public computers or free Wi-Fi, attend library programs, check out local art created by community members and our current Artist in Residence, or just enjoy a comfortable space to read and relax. The library’s friendly and knowledgeable staff are always happy to help with any questions you may have.

We hope to see you soon!