ARTICLE 2: DAYS 4-7

 

The Grand Junction Backyard: Mountains, Small Towns and National Parks

What if you could spend Friday exploring the San Juan Mountains, enjoy a relaxing Saturday on the Grand Mesa, spend Sunday driving off-road trails, and visit a national park in Utah on Monday, all without taking a vacation? That’s exactly what I wanted Megan to experience during Days 4–7 of the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge. As we explored mountain towns, discovered familiar scenery, experienced the thrill of getting off the pavement, and crossed state lines for a day trip, I wanted her to see something bigger than the destinations themselves. I wanted her to understand what makes living in Grand Junction, Colorado, different: the freedom to explore an extraordinary variety of places without having to travel far from home.

Day 4 – Friday: Your Backyard Is Bigger Than You Think

What does Grand Junction’s location make possible?

By Friday, everyone had agreed that we would start the Labor Day weekend a little early. It was time for Megan to experience her first real day trip of the challenge, taking us 100 miles south into the San Juan Mountains and the towns of Ouray and Telluride.

In one of our conversations before Megan arrived, she mentioned that she wanted to visit Switzerland someday to see the mountains. I took that as the perfect invitation to introduce her to our own “Switzerland of America” on the Western Slope.

This day was the biggest itinerary challenge of the entire 10 days. There was simply too much to experience and nowhere near enough time to do it all. So, I thought long and hard about what I wanted Megan to get out of this experience.

Most importantly, I wanted her to understand something: When you live in Grand Junction, monumental vacation-like experiences can become simple day trips. Grand Junction isn’t just a place to live. It’s a basecamp for experiencing unforgettable moments.  

We got an early start and headed directly to Ouray for our first stop.

This quaint little mining town tucked into the heart of the San Juan Mountains will literally take your breath away. And then there’s the adrenaline rush and sheer amazement of driving the Million Dollar Highway toward Silverton. Megan was getting to see the eye candy that people come to Colorado for. But I didn’t just want her to see the mountains. I wanted her to experience them.

After driving much of the Million Dollar Highway, we took a mountain-pass detour that put us into four-wheel drive low and well off the beaten path. We were taking Megan over Red Mountain Pass, climbing to elevations of more than 11,000 feet and into some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Colorado.

Backroad exploration is part of living in Colorado. But on the Western Slope, it can also become part of everyday life. I wanted Megan to realize that there was an entire layer of Colorado that most visitors never get to experience. I didn’t want her driving past trailheads filled with people unloading their RZRs and ATVs, wondering where they were going and what they were seeing that the average tourist never gets to experience.

Because getting there is part of the experience. The drive up these mountain roads can be spectacular in itself, but what I really wanted Megan to understand was that some of the most incredible places I’ve experienced during my time in Colorado weren’t found along the paved highway. They were off the beaten path.

There are places people visit on vacation. And then there are places locals go exploring.

Halfway through our up-and-over adventure, we stopped for a picnic lunch, explored the remnants of some old gold and silver mines, and eventually made our way back toward Ouray, stopping at the ghost town of Ironton along the way.

Our original plan was to take the heart pumping, off road, Ophir Pass into Telluride, but it was closed for some maintenance work. And, frankly, after some of the anxiety-inducing driving we’d already put Megan through, I think she was perfectly happy to take the longer paved route.

On our way to Telluride, we pulled over at the Double RL Ranch overlook. Megan was amazed to learn that the ranch is owned by Ralph Lauren of fashion industry fame.

Then we arrived in Telluride. The town was hosting a film festival, so it was busier than normal. We parked and immediately headed for the gondola to go up to Mountain Village. There may not be a better way to experience the incredible mountain scenery of Telluride than from the gondola. It was spectacular.

We first got off at the San Sophia station to explore the empty ski slopes and soak in some views before hopping back on and continuing to Mountain Village.

My wife, Michelle, tells everyone that Mountain Village feels like Santa’s north pole village.

She’s not wrong. It’s spectacular, upscale and almost surreal. Walking through the village during the off-season offers a completely different experience than being there during ski season, but the scenery and atmosphere are always impressive. As we wandered through the European-inspired village, we stopped for some Telluride hot chocolate, found an empty table outside, and simply soaked it all in. 

And then, because this day apparently wasn’t already full enough, we noticed our barista taking pictures of someone outside. We soon realized there were some A-list celebrities in town for the film festival. Megan’s eyes lit up. “I literally cannot believe this right now.” It was one of those completely unplanned moments that you couldn’t have put on an itinerary if you tried. But it made the day for her and us too. 

We took the gondola back down to Telluride, walked the shops along Main Street and eventually headed out of town. And since this day had already been one surprise after another, of course we spotted a herd of roughly 50 elk in a field on our way out.

Seeing one elk for the first time is memorable. Seeing fifty of them together? That’s something else entirely.

By the time we finally made it home, it was late. We were tired. We were exhilarated. And we had packed an absolutely ridiculous amount of Colorado into a single day. For most people, a day like this would be the highlight of a two-week Colorado vacation.

For Megan, it was only Day 4. 

This wasn’t about how much we could cram into one vacation. It was about showing her what could be possible when Grand Junction was your home base.

Megan’s Take: Boy oh boy there is so much I could say about day four. I think I lived ten different lives that day. Day four was the day of firsts, the day of high blood pressure, and the day of wondering if this is real life? We had another early wake up call in order to hit every stop Paul had planned for the day, which I was ready for! 

It started with the San Juan Mountains in Ouray and when I say I felt like I was in Switzerland, I mean it. Pictures will never do what my own eyes saw, justice. My life flashed before my eyes on the million dollar highway as I was both in awe of the scene around me but concerned if I moved even one muscle I was going to flip the car over the mountain. One of the most incredible parts about that morning in Ouray was making our way through the Red Mountain Pass, where I experienced my first natural bathroom break, riding at what felt like a 90 degree angle in a moving vehicle, and exploring a gold mine. The fact that I experienced all of that in the span of a few hours was incredibly surreal.

And then there was Telluride… I still sometimes can’t comprehend how ALL OF THESE PLACES are just a couple hour drive at most from Grand Junction. This town was one I see in my dreams to be honest. The energy of the town, the endless shops and restaurants, and then you hop on the gondola that takes you to one of the most incredible places I have ever been too. It is like its own little oasis, and I felt like I was in a movie scene. I was in complete awe with every single thing I experienced that day.

Day 5 – Saturday: A Little Taste of Home

After a long day on Friday, we were all ready to sleep in and have a little downtime. Saturday morning was exactly what we needed. We had coffee, made a big breakfast, did some laundry, and Megan went out for a quick run. There was no set in stone agenda for the day other than dinner at my daughter and son-in-law’s house that evening.

We would simply play things by ear. And that’s exactly what I wanted Megan to experience.

After a slow morning at home, we decided to take the afternoon to explore the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain and home to more than 300 lakes. I was especially excited about this one because I knew it would give Megan a little taste of northern Minnesota right here on the Western Slope.

One of the things I wanted Megan to experience throughout the 10-day challenge was just how dramatically the landscape can change within a relatively short drive of Grand Junction. There aren’t many places where you can snow ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon. But that’s possible here, with Powderhorn Mountain Resort only about 45 minutes from Grand Junction.

After our slow morning at home, we were caught up on our chores and ready to head up the mountain. 

The leaves were just beginning to change, but the views were already impressive. And, because apparently we were becoming magnets for wildlife, we spotted a few bighorn sheep soon after we exited I-70.

We drove through the small town of Mesa, and our first stop was Powderhorn.

Although the ski season was still months away, the resort was open for its summer activities, with mountain bikers using the chairlift to get to the top before riding back down. We wandered around for a while, talking about all the activities Powderhorn offers beyond skiing, including events like Color Weekend and Oktoberfest. It really is a fun place even if you don’t ski.

Megan had downhill skied before, but this was her first time standing at the bottom of a Colorado ski run and looking up at the terrain around her. A bit intimidating to say the least.

From there, the elevation really started to climb. Our next stop was Mesa Lakes Lodge. Michelle and I love walking around Beaver Lake because the water is so clear that you can actually see trout from the shoreline. On this particular day, the lake was alive with people fishing from shore and others out enjoying the water in kayaks.

Megan immediately recognized something familiar. That was another thing I loved about watching her experience the Grand Mesa. It wasn’t Minnesota. But there were pieces of it that I’m sure felt surprisingly comfortable.

Next, we headed to the Land o’ Lakes trailhead for a short quarter-mile hike to an incredible overlook of Island Lake. 

From the overlook, you can see the Elk Mountains and the San Juan Mountains stretching out in the distance. A must-see overlook when visiting the Grand Mesa. 

A few more quick stops at Grand Mesa Lodge and Mountain Top Resort gave Megan an even better feel for the whole “Up North” Western Slope experience.

And then, just like that, our relaxing little afternoon was getting away from us. 

We headed back down the mountain and made one more stop in Palisade at Clark & Co.’s Distillery. Megan had never visited a distillery before, so this was another first for her. It’s one of our favorites, and the combination of unique drinks, incredible food, the riverfront setting and views of Mount Garfield makes it a pretty great place to spend an hour.

By now, we were officially running out of Saturday. We quickly headed home to get cleaned up and ready for dinner.

We had a wonderful relaxing evening at my daughter and son-in-law’s house, filled with good food, great conversation and, of course, some fresh Palisade peach cobbler to finish things off.

It had been a completely different kind of day than Friday.

Just coffee, breakfast, laundry, a little exploring, family, dinner and peach cobbler.

And somehow, we still managed to squeeze a pretty incredible amount of Colorado into it. That was the point, too. Not every day in Grand Junction has to be an adventure. Sometimes, it’s just Saturday. And that’s pretty damn good.

Megan’s Take:  Day five was another perfect day to grasp what a free day could look like as a Grand Junction local. I really appreciated that we got to have a slow morning but still do some exploring. This day was another experience I didn’t quite realize until the ten day test was over, just how possible adventure can be in Grand Junction if you desire. You can sip your coffee and relax on the porch, but still get a hike in and observe the mountain beauties on the same day while not feeling rushed. Or you can wake up and say I want to do absolutely nothing and have a total change of heart hours later and still go on that adventure. The lakes were the perfect slice of home and also mind boggling to me just how diverse the environment in and around Grand Junction was.

Day 6 – Sunday: Getting Off the Pavement

By now, Megan was starting to get a pretty good feel for what everyday life in the Grand Valley could look like. But there was still another part of the local lifestyle I wanted her to experience. 

We started the morning in Palisade at the Sunday Palisade Farmers Market. Megan was really excited about this one.

The Palisade Farmers Market runs from early June through early October, and Michelle and I probably make it there about three weekends out of every month. It’s one of those things that has become part of our own routine.

We wandered through the streets of Palisade, stopping at the different vendors, visiting storefronts, and just taking our time. There is a vibe to this market that is difficult to explain until you’re there. Megan grabbed a coffee with sweet peach cream, which seemed like a pretty appropriate way to start a Sunday morning in Palisade. “When in Rome” as she stated a few times over her visit. 

And then there was the produce. Oh, my. If you’ve never had fresh Palisade peaches, I’m not sure you’ve really experienced what a peach can taste like. All of the local produce at this market is something else.

But what I really wanted Megan to experience was the community.

The market is incredibly easy to attend. You don’t have the parking headaches you might expect at a similar event in a larger city. You’re not packed shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of people trying to navigate through the crowd. Instead, you can park, walk around, talk to vendors, run into people you know, get what you came for, and simply enjoy the morning.

It feels relaxed. 

It feels local.

And it feels like something local people actually do, not something created just for tourists to come experience. That’s part of what I love about Palisade. There is a genuine sense of community here, and the Farmers Market captures it perfectly. After spending some time wandering the market and enjoying a slow Sunday morning, it was time to shift gears.

It was time to get off the pavement.

Megan, Michelle and I rented a side-by-side RZR and headed toward Rabbit Valley in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area near the Utah border with our daughter and son-in-law, who joined us in another RZR.

This was going to be a first for Megan. She had never driven an ATV, much less a RZR, and I wasn’t quite sure what she was going to think once we got out on the trails.

For the first half hour, I did the driving. The trails were incredible, but the machines were even more impressive. These things can climb, maneuver and tackle terrain that would make you think twice about taking a regular vehicle anywhere near it.

After about 30 minutes, we pulled over and I asked Megan if she was ready to take the wheel. She reluctantly said yes, with a smile.

“Just take it slow and drive at your own pace.” 

She did great. But I knew she was nervous.

There was a lot to take in. The terrain was unfamiliar, the RZR was incredibly capable, and we also had another RZR leading us that was being driven by someone who was very experienced and fast! Keeping up was a little intimidating.

At our next stop, I asked how she liked it so far. She said, “When we descended that one hill, I think I closed my eyes for part of it.” Oh my!!!! I took the wheel again for the next leg. 

We eventually stopped for lunch overlooking the Colorado River. Sitting there, high above the canyon walls, soaking in the incredible scenery, it was hard not to appreciate how different this experience was from simply driving through the area.

After lunch, I asked Megan if she was ready to give it another try.

“I think I am OK,” she said.

I encouraged her a little, not wanting to push too hard. She reluctantly climbed back behind the wheel. This time, I could tell something changed. She was still cautious, but she was starting to figure it out. She was getting a feel for the machine, learning what it could do and becoming more comfortable with the terrain.

Then we got separated from the other RZR. We were following the same trail when we suddenly lost sight of the vehicle in front of us. We continued for a while, but after about ten minutes we still hadn’t seen them and the trail was getting rougher.

Had we taken a wrong turn? We weren’t sure.

Eventually, we came to a particularly technical section of trail and decided to stop. The other RZR was stopped up ahead waiting to see if we needed guidance or help on this next obstacle. 

Megan was still driving.

The RZR was sitting at what felt like a 45-degree angle from side to side, and directly in front of us was a huge mud hole with an immediate climb up on some rocks beyond it.

You could see the deep tire tracks coming out the other side showing us others had struggled to get through. Apparently, we weren’t the first people to wonder whether this was a good idea.

Megan looked at the obstacle.

Then she looked at me.

“I’m not sure I can do this.”

My advice was pretty simple.

“If you’re going to go for it, just don’t stop. If you hesitate in the middle, we might get ourselves into trouble.”

I hadn’t even finished the sentence when Megan essentially had a “hold my beer” moment.

She hit the gas and plowed straight through the obstacle. Like an absolute pro. We cheered with excitement as she came out the other side. I still haven’t ever asked if her eyes were open on that one. But, I think I know the answer. 

Right then, I was so proud of what had just happened. That was her moment. She had gone way outside her comfort zone, trusted herself, trusted the machine and absolutely crushed it.

Sometimes you just need a little experience before something that initially feels intimidating starts to feel like fun. And sometimes you need someone sitting next to you saying, “You’ve got this. Go.”

That was exactly what happened with Megan.

I also understood why she was nervous. This wasn’t a gentle scenic drive. We were bouncing over trails, climbing rocky terrain and navigating a landscape that looked very different from anything she was used to driving. But that’s part of what I wanted her to experience.

Outdoor trail riding is a big part of the culture on the Western Slope. People explore on mountain bikes, motorcycles, RZRs, ATVs, four-wheel-drive vehicles and just about anything else capable of getting beyond the pavement.

For someone moving to Grand Junction, I think that’s an important part of the equation to understand. This isn’t just a place where you can look at the outdoors. It’s a place where you can actually get out into it. 

As our afternoon was coming to a close, we loaded up the RZRs and headed back toward Grand Junction. Megan had gone from being nervous about what these machines could do to understanding why people on the Western Slope enjoy them.

And that was another piece of the puzzle I wanted her to notice. The Grand Valley isn’t just surrounded by incredible scenery. There is an entire culture built around getting out and experiencing it.

By the time we got home, we got cleaned up, had some appetizers, talked about the day’s adventures, and enjoyed a quiet dinner at home.

Another day. Another completely different experience.

Suddenly, this entire challenge was starting to feel less like we were trying to show Megan everything Grand Junction has to offer and more like she was simply beginning to experience what life here could actually look like.

Six days in.

And we still had four to go.

Megan’s Take:  I woke up on day six ready for whatever was in store! There are a few lessons that have truly stuck with me from my ten day experience and this day provided one of them. The morning was filled with dare I say the best farmers market I have ever been to. The community at the Palisade farmers market was one I’d never seen before between every single stand being a small or locally owned business, to the energy just walking down the street. 

Afterwards I experienced my first ever RZR as both a passenger and driver. Like Paul mentioned in the day six debrief, I had a major “hold my beer moment.” I won’t lie, I was freaking out, not sure whether or not I would be able to make it through as the driver. The anxiety and stress of the mudhole situation definitely made me uncomfortable, but afterwards I felt like I was on cloud nine. The adrenaline and joy I felt was an incredible reminder that sometimes you just have to go for it. Sometimes you’re left with no option but to just step on the gas and pray you make it. This experience reminded me to do things even when you’re scared because if you don’t, you’re likely going to miss out on some of the best lessons, greatest adventures, and some awesome stories. 

Day 7 – Monday (Labor Day): Two States. One Day.

Colorado in the morning. Utah for the day. Back home in Colorado by evening. 

Day seven started with what has become something of a rite of passage for our out of town guests whenever we head west from Grand Junction.

A stop at the Welcome to Utah sign for pictures and proof. 

We had crossed the state line, and just like that, we were off to explore another state for the day. But this wasn’t going to be an overnight trip. We weren’t packing a suitcase. We weren’t booking a hotel. We weren’t even particularly far from home.

We were headed to Moab and Arches National Park.

One of the things I wanted Megan to understand during the 10-Day Challenge was that Grand Junction’s location isn’t just a nice bonus. It fundamentally changes what a normal day can look like. Moab is only about 90 miles from Grand Junction. Only an hour’s drive if you ask some local people. I know…Feel free to do the math. 

And because we were coming in from the Colorado side, we were able to enter Arches through what I think of as the park’s back door. That little geographic advantage would essentially give us another hour or more in our day. Instead of driving all the way to the main entrance and then backtracking, we could enter from the north, work our way through the park, and keep moving. 

And we were going to need it.

Delicate Arch

First up was the quintessential Utah experience: Delicate Arch.

If you’ve seen pictures of Arches National Park, or even a Utah license plate you’ve probably seen this one. But pictures don’t really prepare you for standing there. The hike has such a “moment” attached to it because you come around the corner on a cliff-like ledge of a trail and “BOOM”…the arch is right there in all its glory.

We stopped at the arch for a half hour, took in the scenery and let Megan experience one of the most recognizable landscapes in the Southwest for herself. And then, because apparently one famous arch wasn’t enough, we kept going.

We explored a few more incredible arches, stopped for a picnic lunch, and took in more of the park before eventually making our way toward the visitor center.

By then, we were all getting hungry. So we headed into Moab.

You might enjoy this post about going in the back door to Arches and hiking Tower Arch.

A Little Bit of Moab

The first priority was iced coffee.

Then we did what we always like to do when we’re in Moab: wander through some of our favorite shops along the main drag. One of those stops was the Made in Moab store, where we took our time looking around. We didn’t need to rush through town just to check another box off the itinerary.

That was another little distinction I wanted Megan to experience. 

Yes, we had spent part of the day hiking through one of Utah’s most famous national parks. But we weren’t treating Moab like some distant destination where every minute had to be maximized because it might be years before we return, if ever. 

We could slow down. Grab a coffee. Browse a few shops.

And eventually make our way to the real star of the show.

Pasta Jay’s

Oh, how we love this place.

After a full day of hiking and exploring, sitting down for dinner at one of our favorite Moab restaurants felt less like the end of some epic vacation excursion and more like what it was becoming throughout this challenge: Just another day out.

Except this particular day happened to include two states, a national park and Delicate Arch. And we weren’t done yet.

The Scenic Way Home

After dinner, we could have simply headed back to Grand Junction on the interstate. Instead, we took the back way. We followed the Colorado River past Castle Valley and into some of the most unmistakably Western scenery you can imagine. This stretch of road has been used as the backdrop for countless Western films, including movies associated with John Wayne. 

And as we drove through it, I couldn’t help thinking about the bigger point of the day.

This wasn’t just about getting to Moab. It was about what was between Moab and home. The red rock cliffs. The river. The enormous canyon walls. The open landscape that seems to stretch forever. And then, eventually, we were back in Colorado.

And Megan still had three days left.

Megan’s Take:  What kind of place allows a national-park experience to become a routine day trip? Well, I’ve got an answer for you. Day seven was a multi state day and even just saying that is still so surreal. The drive to Arches National Park felt like a breeze, and in my opinion was the perfect distance to feel like you are entering a whole new world even if it wasn’t all that far from Grand Junction. It felt like you had a little slice of everything between rock, sand, agriculture, animals and more.

The hike to the Delicate Arch was extraordinary. When I tell you my jaw was on the floor, I mean it. The view of the Arch and the surrounding area didn’t feel real at first, and it took me a minute to take it all in. I could have sat and looked out at it for hours. 

Afterwards we explored Moab which was a wonderful little town that didn’t feel all that large but still offered so much as far as activities, culture and community gathering spots go. Once we wrapped up dinner having some of the best pasta I’ve had, we were on our way home. 

It didn’t dawn on me until we were all settled into the car and half way through our drive home that this day was nowhere near a vacation for the group I was with. 

They can just wake up and do this. 

Four days. Four completely different experiences. And a whole new perspective on what it could mean to live on Colorado’s Western Slope. From the mountain scenery of Ouray and Telluride to the familiar comforts of the Grand Mesa, the community atmosphere of Palisade, the excitement of off-road exploration, and a day trip to Arches National Park, Megan was beginning to understand that Grand Junction’s appeal isn’t just about what you can do here. It’s about everything you can experience from here. But could all that adventure translate into a lifestyle she’d actually want to call home? We still had three days left in the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge, and it was time to explore another side of life in the Grand Valley.

The Challenge Continues

CONTINUE TO…
The 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge: Days 8-10: Discovering What Life in the Grand Valley Is Really Like

Want to understand Grand Junction from Megan’s perspective? Read her entire independent account of the challenge, including what surprised her, what questions she was left asking, and whether she could imagine building a life here.

CONTINUE TO…
Could I Actually Build a Life in Grand Junction? A 10-Day Challenge

 

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Series: 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge

View the all of the posts and videos on the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge page.

PAUL ASPELIN
Your Grand Junction Relocation and Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE

Call or Text (612) 306-9558 (locally based)
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn or send Paul an email

MEGAN JIRELE
Independent Journalist & Writer
Digital Storytelling & Content Creation
Connect with Megan on LinkedIn

 

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