Tag Archive for: Paul Aspelin REALTOR®

Water Bottles for Living in Grand Junction: Why It Matters Here

Water Bottles for Living in Grand Junction

If you spend any time outdoors in Grand Junction—hiking, walking around town, running errands, or heading out on day trips—you quickly learn that staying hydrated isn’t optional. The high desert climate, abundant sunshine, and elevation make having the right water bottles more important than most people expect—especially for anyone who’s new to living or recreating on the Western Slope.

Water Bottle Collection

Which water bottles we chose, how we use them, and where to get yours. This isn’t an article about the best water bottles, you can decide which ones are best for you. I just wanted to share the different ones we use and why so you can make informed decisions when you want to add to your water bottle collection. I have included some links to bottles or backpacks so you can get details about them and see what I’m talking about. They are not links to encourage online shopping, just to be informative. See the section below regarding the value of shopping in-person at REI.

YETI® Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Our YETI Stainless Steel Reusable Water Bottles are also dishwasher safe

We chose the YETI® brand primarily because they are dishwasher safe. Other similar brands are not, and I don’t like to hand wash anything, so this was very important to us. However, many people put stickers on their water bottles, therefore, they need to wash them by hand. That’s why we don’t have stickers on ours.

The other important factor for choosing a YETI® water bottle is because it is important to us to have COLD water. Having an insulated water bottle was a priority for us. It makes it heavier, but we were willing to live with that drawback…initially. Then we started hiking longer, going further, then the weight can be a bigger negative than having water that isn’t cold.

YETI® and similar insulated stainless steel water bottle brands are fantastic for keeping your liquids cold for long periods of time. We chose the 26-ounce size bottle with what’s called a chug cap. It’s like a regular plastic water bottle opening. The cap includes a handle for easy carrying. They have other options with straws and flip-top lids. I didn’t want to keep a straw clean, so we chose bottles without straws.

I bring this one on short walks and carry it in my hand. For longer hikes, it fits in my backpack or on the side pouch of my backpack for easy access. It’s big but not too big. It’s 100% leakproof.

The downside is that it’s heavy. Therefore, our next purchase.

Nalgene Hard Plastic Water Bottles

waist pack and 3 Nalgene hard plastic water bottlesWe originally bought a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle to carry extra water. Nalgene bottles are made of hard plastic, and they are not insulated. Michelle got a small waist pack to be able to carry this size bottle, and it fits in there perfectly. Her YETI® water bottle is too big. Sometimes you don’t want something in your hand when you are hiking so you can use your hands to stabilize yourself when you are climbing. Her pack is called the REI Trail 5 Waist Pack in case you want to see what it looks like.

We now have a couple of Nalgene bottles, and we use them to bring extra water. We keep them in our YETI® cooler. They come in a wide or small mouth. I recommend the wide mouth so you can easily put ice in it. If you don’t like drinking from the wide opening, like us, then you can get this stopper looking thing to make the opening smaller, so the ice doesn’t slam into your face when you are drinking. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

These are completely leakproof. They are dishwasher safe. Again, we don’t put stickers on these either but most everyone else does.

The downside is that they are not insulated so they don’t keep water cold. However, you can fill your Nalgene with ice, then add water, and you’ll get more water as it melts. So, this makes it good for shorter walks. Plus, it’s not too heavy.

Other Stainless Steel Water Bottles

We do have a couple of other stainless-steel water bottles we’ve collected over the years. They are smaller and fit in the cup holders in our vehicles. Some are the YETI® brand. Stainless steel is great for cold or hot beverages. I like the small size. I take these on short walks or offer them to our friends to use when they come to visit. Everyone needs a water bottle nearby in our warm climate. Read my post about Grand Junction weather and Summer Weather in Grand Junction.

Obviously, there are all sorts of water bottles out there. I’m just letting you know which ones we have and why. If you are ready to purchase some while you are here in Grand Junction, I highly recommend you shop at our local REI to choose the best water bottle that will work for you and your intended use.

Emma has a huge Hydro Flask water bottle and she got a special cup holder expander so she can keep her large bottle secured next to her while she’s driving.

Serious Hikers Use Water Bladders, also Called Water Reservoirs

Flash 22 REI backpack resting on rocks near Mica Mine

Michelle’s Flash 22 REI backpack resting on rocks near Mica Mine trail in Grand Junction

We learned the hard way one time when we ran out of water. It was my birthday (May) and we hiked the Palisade Rim Trail with our daughter Emma. Because she’s a fast hiker and we are not, she let Michelle or I lead the way, set the pace. Well, let’s just say we got off the trail, twice, and our 2-hour hike turned into more like a 3.5 hour hike. And this trail has a steep upgrade at the beginning. We ran out of water at the top and still needed to come down.

Michelle’s small REI backpack (called a Flash 22) has a spot for a water bladder (water reservoir), and we went to REI after this trip to buy one. We keep it in the freezer, so it doesn’t get bacteria growth, and it will be ready to go when we need it. It holds 3 liters of water. If we go on a longer hike, like 3-4 hours she uses it. It’s a better way to carry more water. Hydration packs are designed to make drinking convenient and efficient. You don’t have to stop, or even slow down, to take a sip of water; you simply grab the drink tube that’s connected to the water reservoir. You don’t need to stop and pull a water bottle from a backpack.

Emma uses her small hiking vest that holds a water bladder all the time, even for short walks around town or when we go to the Palisade Farmers Market. REI has a large selection of backpacks, hydration packs, hydration vests, hip packs, and water carrying backpacks you can consider.

Why Buy at REI?

You’ve got to go to REI and ask for Josh Kolb, our son-in-law. He’s a local expert and can explain, in detail, the pros and cons of all water bottle styles, sizes, brands and their reliability. You get to pick out the one you like the best, in your favorite color, and bring it home. It’s a much better experience than going online, reading the ratings and reviews, hoping you chose the right one, and then waiting for it to be shipped to you.

The best thing about shopping for your water bottles at REI is that you get valuable LOCAL advice. If Josh isn’t working when you stop in, that’s ok. Everyone there is very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly.

The reason we buy our water bottles and other outdoor gear there is because of their generous return policy. If you don’t like it, or it doesn’t work as expected, you can bring it back. No need to package it up and bring it to the post office or a shipping location. Just walk through the door and they’ll take care of you. Ask me about the time we had 45 minutes to buy Emma a mountain bike when we brought her to CMU for college. We went straight to REI because we knew she could easily return it if it wasn’t right.  I mention REI in our post about Parent Tips for CMU families.

I also highly recommend you become a REI Member to take advantage of special sale coupons and an annual rebate check based on how much you’ve purchased. And if you want to go one step further, Josh can explain the multiple benefits of having the REI Credit Card. It has a fantastic sign-up offer! Grand Junction REI is located at 925 Independent Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81505.

Types of Coolers

Picnic in campground under the shade of a tree

We ate a picnic lunch in a campground under the shade of a tree near Goblin Valley in Utah

On a related note, I wanted to share two things we learned about our YETI® Roadie Cooler since moving to Grand Junction. The Roadie Cooler is a great size for day trips when you want enough space for beverages, lunch, and snacks and you won’t break your back carrying it. It has a great shoulder strap!

In the beginning, ours wasn’t keeping our items as cold as we thought it would. That’s when Josh asked if we were “pre-cooling it”. What? We had no idea.

The night before, we now put an ice pack in the cooler to start cooling it down. Before we leave, we take that one out and put it back in the freezer. We put fresh frozen packs in the cooler, and we go. That helped but it still didn’t seem like it was keeping our drinks cold for a long period of time.

Then Josh said it’s better to have one large block of ice instead of several smaller ones. When Emma and Josh go on 5-day river trips, they need their food to be kept cold for the entire trip. They can’t afford it to spoil. They buy blocks of ice from the grocery store or a gas station so their large YETI® coolers stay cold!

I also decided that freezing individual plastic water bottles is way better than using our 20-year-old ice packs. LOL. We do this for two reasons. As the ice melts, we now have more clean water available to drink if we need it. And having the thicker frozen bottle is better than the thin ice packs we were using. Now we know!

If we are staying local or won’t be gone the entire day, we have 2 smaller collapsible bag coolers (similar to this one at REI) that do a great job too. Ironically, they were gifts from a lender and a title company, so we didn’t shop for them. But they do the trick to keep up to 6-8 cans or bottles of drinks cold or a couple of snacks, dip or salsa. Plus, they have pockets for napkins, silverware and a garbage bag. I use these bag style coolers to keep drinks cold when I take clients around the Grand Valley. Everyone needs to stay hydrated. You can read my related post about how to avoid altitude sickness and the importance of drinking enough water.

I hope you learned something new about water bottles, and I hope you shop at REI when you are in Grand Junction. If you are coming to the area, let me know if you’d like a tour. I’d be happy to show you around. And yes, we can stop at REI along the way if you want to pick up a new water bottle to use while you are here.

Paul Aspelin hiking to Crater Lake near Maroon Bells Aspen area with Yeti water bottle sticking out of backpack

Hiking to Crater Lake near Maroon Bells/Aspen area with my YETI water bottle in my backpack.

Check out REI when you come to Grand Junction!

Are you seriously thinking of moving to Grand Junction? Here’s my suggestion for Getting Started!

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Your Grand Junction Relocation and Listing Expert
Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!

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Text or Call me at (612) 306-9558

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Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley of Colorado.

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

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Homes Sold for More™

Selling a Home in Grand Junction with a Homes Sold for More™ Agent!

If you’ve been reading my Move to Grand Junction blog posts, you know that they are mostly about moving here and living in Grand Junction. But did you know I also list homes for sale in Grand Junction? In fact, I have a dedicated website for Grand Junction Home Sellers called Homes Sold for More™.

What is Homes Sold for More™?

Homes Sold for More™ is a listing process I created over the last 25 years that positions the sellers I work with to get MORE! More communication, more convenience, more pre-planning, more home staging, more services, and more expertise.

Traditional “Just Listed” tactics are outdated and ineffective. In fact, after moving to Grand Junction, I quickly realized that the listing preparation and marketing tactics used by even the top agents in the Grand Valley are 15+ years behind what agents are doing in the major metropolitan areas. I show my clients how their home can stand out from the competition!

Avoid These “Just Listed” Mistakes When Selling Your Grand Junction Home

For a comprehensive list of “Just Listed” pitfalls to avoid visit HomesSoldForMore.com. Find out more about my process and how the Sold for More™ team stands by the fact that “We Do Real Estate Right!” Some of the pitfalls to avoid are quite entertaining! Learn about showing feedback, radon testing, price reductions, photography, what color to paint your home, secure lockboxes vs combo lockboxes, professional brochures, and no open houses!

In this real estate market, a vast majority of people will be selling a home before buying their next one. Unfortunately, contingent offers are not the answer to avoiding a double move (see my article on contingent offers).

Whether you are selling a home in Grand Junction or relocating here with a home to sell out of state, here are five quick tips for seller success.

Five Tips for Seller Success

  1. Hire an experienced locally based agent that understands how to help guide you in preparing a home to be listed. This includes professional staging, color consultation, decluttering, and pre-packing. Best to follow the phrase “The way you live in a home is different than the way you sell a home.”
  2. It’s better to go on the market when you’re ready than just fast. If your agent is pushing to get your home listed ASAP, they view your home as another “Just Listed” commodity and don’t fully understand how to take advantage of the first impression period.
  3. Photographs need to speak to buyers! Even though the latest smartphone has great clarity, the quality of a photo comes from the talent of the photographer. Great pictures speak a thousand words, don’t settle for less than the best. Always hire a professional.
  4. Don’t allow your agent to ignore virtual staging if you plan to sell your home vacant. The average person has a challenging time visualizing the layout of furniture in rooms. Virtual staging is your friend when selling a vacant home.
  5. Collaborate with your agent on pricing! Work together to come up with the best price based on the facts of what is selling in your area, not emotion or what you think it could sell for.

Sellers in Grand Junction consistently see stronger results with the Homes Sold for More™ strategy

“Working with Paul was an outstanding experience from start to finish. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the market and brings a level of experience and professionalism that immediately puts you at ease. He’s organized, hardworking, and always quick to respond — which made a stressful process feel much more manageable.

What really sets Paul apart is his proactive approach. He didn’t just list the house and hope for the best. He came in with a clear strategy, helped with thoughtful staging, and found creative ways to market the home so it truly stood out.
Most importantly, Paul genuinely cares about his clients and the outcome. You can tell he’s fully invested and working hard on your behalf. We felt very lucky to have him guiding us through the sale and would recommend him without hesitation.”
Rachel Nelson – Grand Junction

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 – Sold a Single Family home for MORE in Grand Junction, Colorado (2026)

👉 “Want results like this? Schedule your FREE Discovery Conversation

Trust me, I won’t be like this guy pressuring you to sign the contract the first time we meet.

Finding an Agent to Sell Your Home in Another Location

If you’re interested in having me interview and recommend agents to sell your home in another location, just ask! I’d be happy to do the legwork for you to find the best agent for listing success! I understand what it takes to effectively prepare, list, and market homes.

Other articles you might enjoy:

Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients!

Homes Sold for More sign over generic sold sign

Selling a Home in Grand Junction? Call me with confidence!

Paul Aspelin REALTORText/Call (612) 306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

Locally Based Grand Junction Real Estate Expert
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.

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

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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?

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

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

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

Where is Last Dollar Road?

Double RL Ranch overlook with view of the San Juan Mountains

Overlook at Double RL Ranch near Ridgway, CO

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

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

The Amazing Drive Itself

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

Last Dollar Road Caution SignDriving 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.

Last Dollar Pass

Last Dollar Road shelf, narrow spot with drop-off on one sideA 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

Parked near the Telluride airport with Mountain Village in the backgroundWe 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.

Telluride Regional Airport

A Few Famous People

Near Telluride Airport is the residential community called Aldasoro Ranch. In 1913, the Aldasoro family moved to this area from Northern Spain to raise sheep and provide lamb and wool to the nearby mining camps. Eventually they subdivided their land into individual home sites. The family still lives here and now runs Telluride 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

Last Dollar Saloon roof looking down to Colorado AvenueThe Mushroom Festival was unexpected and eye-opening. People were dressed up as mushrooms, wearing mushroom hats and other unique costumes. It’s a weekend festival described on their website as “A weekend of mushroom love, community connection and fungi everything. You can expect expert hosted forays to ID mushrooms in the great San Juan Wilderness, talks from world-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

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

I mention Telluride and Mountain Village in my post called Top Day Trips from Grand Junction with additional photos. This was the first time we visited Telluride without taking the Gondola up to Mountain Village. We won’t make that mistake again.

Planning a move? Get my Grand Junction relocation guide or reach out and get your questions answered.

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

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

Double RL Ranch fence overlooking the San Juan Mountains

Text or Call (612) 306-9558 (based locally)

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 

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

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Comparing Taxes: CO, AZ, NV, TX, & FL

Comparing Taxes: Which State is the Most Tax-Friendly?

When choosing where to live, comparing taxes can play a significant role in the decision-making process. Some states offer tax advantages that can save residents thousands of dollars each year. In this article, I am comparing taxes and the differences between Colorado (with a specific look at Grand Junction), Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Florida to determine which state is the most tax friendly.

Taxes are obviously a key factor when deciding where to move, but it’s also helpful to see why people are choosing Grand Junction and how the cost of living compares to other areas.

Colorado Taxes Compared to Other States

State Income Tax

One of the biggest tax considerations is state income tax. Here’s how these five states compare:

  • Colorado: Flat income tax rate of 4.4%
  • Arizona: Flat income tax rate of 2.5% (one of the lowest in the nation)
  • Nevada: No state income tax
  • Texas: No state income tax
  • Florida: No state income tax

Property Taxes

Property taxes can vary significantly depending on the state and local government rates.

  • Colorado: Low property tax rate at 0.49% of home value (one of the lowest in the country)
    • Grand Junction, CO: Property tax rates are consistent with the state average, making it an attractive option for homeowners.
  • Arizona: Moderate property tax rate at 0.51%
  • Nevada: Moderate property tax rate at 0.55%
  • Texas: High property tax rate at 1.68% (one of the highest in the country)
  • Florida: Higher than average property tax rate at 0.83%

While Texas and Florida have no state income tax, their higher property taxes can offset some of the savings.

Sales Tax

Sales tax impacts everyday purchases and varies widely across these states:

  • Colorado: State base sales tax of 2.9%, but local taxes push the average to 7.8%
  • Arizona: State base sales tax of 5.6%, but local rates bring the average to 8.4%
  • Nevada: State base sales tax of 6.85%, with an average combined rate of 8.2%
  • Texas: State base sales tax of 6.25%, with local taxes leading to an average of 8.2%
  • Florida: State base sales tax of 6%, with local taxes pushing the average to 7.0%

Florida has the lowest average sales tax burden, while Arizona has the highest.

Other Taxes to Consider

  • Gas Tax:
    • Colorado: 23.9 cents per gallon
    • Arizona: 18 cents per gallon
    • Nevada: 33.78 cents per gallon
    • Texas: 20 cents per gallon
    • Florida: 43.5 cents per gallon (highest of the group)
  • Estate & Inheritance Taxes: None of these states impose an estate or inheritance tax, making them attractive for wealth transfer planning.

Insurance Costs: Auto & Home

Insurance rates can significantly impact cost of living, especially for homeowners and drivers. Here’s how these states compare:

  • Auto Insurance (Average Annual Premiums):
    • Colorado: $1,750
      • Grand Junction, CO: Auto insurance rates tend to be slightly lower than the state average due to smaller population density and lower accident rates.
    • Arizona: $1,480
    • Nevada: $1,900
    • Texas: $1,750
    • Florida: $2,560 (highest due to high accident rates and severe weather risks)
  • Home Insurance (Average Annual Premiums):
    • Colorado: $1,800
      • Grand Junction, CO: Home insurance costs are generally lower than Denver and other metro areas, averaging closer to $1,600-$1,700. You should also know that more rural mountain properties (far away from fire departments) can have increased premiums due to wildfire exposure.
    • Arizona: $1,250
    • Nevada: $950 (lowest due to fewer natural disaster risks)
    • Texas: $2,400 (high due to hurricane and tornado risks)
    • Florida: $4,000+ (highest in the nation due to hurricanes and flooding risks)

While Florida and Texas have favorable tax structures, their high insurance costs can impact affordability and overall cost of living.

“Go West” my friend! Here’s an I-70 overhead sign as you leave Denver, CO. Michelle took this on our way back from a road trip to Michigan and Minnesota to see family. Move to Grand Junction! Let me show you around!

Overhead highway sign showing go west on I-70 to Grand Junction from Denver

A little known “non-tax” benefit of living in Grand Junction

Comparing taxes can be an important part of any financial plan, especially in retirement. But one thing no one talks about is utility costs. Utility costs overall in Grand Junction are well below what I was used to paying in my former home state of Minnesota. Here in Grand Junction, we enjoy ultra-low utility bills in the shoulder season months.

What is a shoulder season month? This is a period where you rarely need to heat or cool your home. With the low humidity and perfect overnight sleeping temps, we’ve experienced up to 2 months on either side of the change of seasons where our gas and electric bills are laughable, they are so low. Most irrigation water is also charged annually not monthly, so there will be savings found on that bill as well. I would guess we are saving around $2400+ a year from what we were paying (obviously in a much colder climate and a larger home) on our combined utilities. It’s just one more factor people often overlook, since most focus on comparing taxes first.

I also have a lot of simple energy saving tips you can implement in your new home, just ask me!

Read my post about WHY people are moving to Grand Junction.
HINT: It’s about more than financial comparisons.

Colorado TABOR Surplus Refunds

TABOR stands for Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The Colorado Department of Revenue website shows which type of refunds have been issued to Colorado residents since 2018. Refunds can be for property taxes, income taxes, or sales taxes. Learn more about potential surplus refunds at https://tax.colorado.gov/TABOR

Thinking about living in Colorado? Explore homes for sale in Grand Junction.

Bottom Line

For those prioritizing a low tax burden, Florida and Texas stand out as the most tax-friendly states. However, high home and auto insurance costs, particularly in Florida and Texas, can offset some of the tax benefits. Each state balances taxation and cost of living differently, so choosing the right one depends on personal financial circumstances, lifestyle, and risk tolerance for insurance expenses. Knowing these differences can help guide your decision when considering a move.

Always consult a tax professional for the most up to date information. The information above was current as of July 2025. Please check with each taxing authority or state government for additional information as tax rates can and do change.

Paul Aspelin working on his laptop at the kitchen tableLive Your Vacation in Grand Junction!

Follow Live your Vacation in Grand Junction on Facebook and Instagram
Follow Move to Grand Junction on YouTube

Text or Call me at (612) 306-9558 (locally based)

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE

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

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

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Grand Junction Moving Preparation Guide for Relocators

Moving preparation boxes and items in the back of the carMoving Preparation Guide for People Relocating to Grand Junction

Getting started with your Moving Preparation in order to relocate to Grand Junction can be daunting, we get it. Paul has been a REALTOR® since 2001 and I worked with him at our Minnesota Brokerage for twenty years, so we understand the process of moving from a buyer and seller’s perspective. If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, we know that simply the thought of moving might make you hesitate. We moved from our home of 26 years. We know how “things” can accumulate.

To make it easier for you, I wanted to provide some of the Moving Preparation we went through that you may find useful. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Our preparation took over two years, shifting our focus along the way. We took breaks and we asked for help when we needed it. Moving is a big deal, we know.

Decluttering your home

The first step we took was to simply start decluttering our home. We were extremely motivated after watching the 2020 documentary called The Minimalists: Less is Now. Here’s a 2-minute trailer for the documentary on Netflix. That really got us motivated to pass on to others what we weren’t finding value in anymore. We were ready to be less attached to things and spend more time on activities and traveling to new places.

Starting with just one room, our owner’s suite bathroom, we removed everything, did a deep clean, painted, and then put back only what we were currently using. Everything else got donated or sold. After completing that one small space, it gave us encouragement to repeat the process in each room. This process can be started immediately and will last until the day you pack the last box.

moving preparation decluttering surfaces, closets and cabinets. Photo of empty counters in kitchen.

In the kitchen, we got rid of expired food and spices, storage containers missing the lids, pots and pans we didn’t really need but thought we did. We donated small appliances and serving pieces we only used on a rare occasion.

If there was a small item I was hesitating on keeping because I wasn’t sure if I’d need it, I learned to ask myself  “Can I buy it again within 20 minutes for under $20?” If the answer was yes, then it got donated. Knowing that if I miss it in the future, I could always buy it again. Since moving to Grand Junction, we’ve only purchased one or two things of the thousands of items we donated.

If it wasn’t hanging on the wall now, or on display somehow, then do I really want it? We had artwork and wall art stored in our basement. What good does it do in a box? During this process I pulled out some heirloom items to display them vs having them packed away. Now I get more enjoyment from having them.

Deferred Maintenance

There were things in our home that were ok for us, but if we wanted to sell our home for top dollar, we needed to do some additional maintenance to make it really shine. Starting with the exterior, we painted the trim, releveled the concrete sidewalk that had sunk over the years, and painted our steel garage doors. In addition, I thinned our landscaping, added more mulch and moved some plants around to fill the space. I took seasonal photos too, especially in the spring and summer in case we ended up moving in the ugly winter season.

Inside we did things like sanding down our wood windows and sealed them where they were showing wear and tear. In our basement we painted it a light, neutral color and replaced the carpeting. We scrubbed our kitchen and bathroom cabinetry inside and out and used a special oil to brighten up all of the natural woodwork.

Painting

First, we started by removing personal photos from shelves and walls to help buyers envision themselves living in the house instead of seeing our family there. Holes in the walls were patched and rooms received a fresh coat of paint. In all the bedrooms, walls were updated to a warm beige, which feels welcoming—never go completely white, as it can feel too sterile. Even the laundry/mud room and the metal door from the garage benefited from a new coat of paint.

If there’s a dark accent wall you love, remember that a buyer may perceive it differently. Neutralizing bold colors is usually worth the effort, since a dark wall can feel like “one more thing we need to do before moving in”—something you want to avoid for a smooth sale.

Determining What to Keep

moving preparation boxes piled in the hallwayThis whole process is emotional. We started with the easy decisions first. Things we didn’t use anymore or were outdated. Things we knew for sure we didn’t want or need anymore. After all, we were moving from a 2600 SF home with a full basement and three-car garage to a home of half the size. Knowing we would be downsizing, we actually looked forward to getting rid of stuff. It was very gratifying to see an empty surface or sparsely filled cabinet.

When I came across an item that we had more attachment to, like family photo albums, I waited to make a decision on those. I wanted to do all the easy stuff first, then come back to the more difficult, time-consuming things.

Clothing was pretty simple. If I hadn’t worn something during that season, and it wasn’t for special occasions, I donated it. I eliminated items that had limitations, like items I would only wear around the house. I kept one pair of black heels and black sandals and will only buy dresses that go with black footwear in the future. Working from home made that an easy decision.

There were way too many towels, and we do laundry each week, so why do I need more than a week’s worth of any one type of clothing? 10 pairs of black socks, nope, 2-3 will do. You get the idea. I kept a variety but not a large quantity of any one thing.

Difficult Decisions

Historical items were tough for me. My mom didn’t keep much from my childhood and I wanted my teenage kids to determine what they wanted to keep from theirs. We got some large rubber totes with their names on them and started to pack their childhood memories. Things they wanted to keep but didn’t have room for while away at college. Paul and I have a box marked heirloom items where we have special things we will keep forever.

Letting Go of Photo Albums and Yearbooks

What was difficult were all the photo albums and high school yearbooks. There were over 15 albums, mostly from our teenage years and early marriage. Eventually we stopped printing photos taken from our camera and saved photos digitally because we were taking them on our phones vs with a camera. We decided to go through each album and relive those memories. I took digital pictures of some and shared with family and friends. I have the memories, and saved some photos from the event, just not ALL the photos, and I am ok with that.

You can buy a digital photo frame too where you add the app to your phone and upload photos to a digital frame that you keep in your living room or wherever you spend a lot of time. I see them as a collection on my phone too each time I go to open the app. It makes me smile. I helped my mom take pictures of very old photographs of her family so she could add them to her digital frame. It allows you to enjoy them now vs letting them sit in a box.

Documents and Business Records

Because we owned two businesses, we had to keep our records and IRS/State Tax Returns for a certain number of years. I used to keep more than we needed because I had the space. We started to shred the old files and burned some too. I put a “destroy date” on the boxes and I just shredded a box with a 2024 date on it, and it felt so good to get rid of it!

I scanned or took a picture of all of our important business and personal documents so I could get access to them easily in our new state. Marriage license, business formation documents, wills and estate documents, etc. Making as much digital as we could took time, but was well worth it for easy access. Digital files take up way less space too!

Fill Those Trash Bins

Every week for a year we hauled our 30-gallon garbage bin down to the curb, and made sure it was FULL. In the beginning it was easy. We threw out old rugs that were fine for the unfinished part of our basement but we knew we wouldn’t need them in the future. If the bin wasn’t full by the night before, we walked through the house to see if there was anything else we could add.

Donating Items to Charity

This was easy. I did NOT want to have a garage sale. The pain of setting it all up, and running it, to only make a few hundred dollars wasn’t a good use of my time. We focused on donating as much as possible and lumped our donations into every other tax year so we could itemize our deductions. Every charity that called asking for item donations, I said yes to. My goal was to give them 2 trash bags full of donations. I did this every few months with multiple charities like the Disabled Veterans and the Epilepsy Foundation. They came to the house to pick it up, so it was easy.

I made regular trips to other local charities with small furniture, clothing, yard maintenance items, and household items. It was easier than we thought to sell larger items like beds, couches and our dining room table using Facebook Marketplace. Luckily we sold our lawn mower and heavy duty snowblower to our neighbors! We kept what was easy to move or our favorites.

Uhaul trailer and our Rav4 driving to Colorado

U-Haul trailer and our Rav4 driving to Colorado

Moving Across the Mountains

Everything we owned got packed into one 20’ moving truck Paul drove, and one small U-Haul we towed with our Rav4 over the mountains. Ask Paul about that uphill climb out of Denver on I-70! LOL. He wrote a post about what it’s really like to drive I-70, that post is worth a read, it will make you laugh and make you aware that it’s not your typical interstate highway.

Decision Fatigue

My final moving preparation tip is to realize that decision fatigue is real. There were days I just couldn’t make any more decisions about our “stuff”. I set some things aside I just didn’t know what to do with, keep or not keep? Some things needed more research. For example, I donated the formal dresses from the school dances my girls attended to a specific charity just for that purpose vs Goodwill. Did you know Goodwill takes bowling balls? At least the one by us did, but call first to verify. Our local bowling alley didn’t want them.

Letting Go of Gifts and Cherished Items

Gifts from other people that I didn’t find value in anymore created a strange feeling because I appreciated the gift when I got it. And I probably used it, but just didn’t want it anymore. It was a bit more difficult donating a crystal vase that was a wedding gift. There was some guilt to process, but I tried to relive the moments and the people during this purging process. I took photos of items and texted a few to my college friends and we laughed. I wanted to embrace this process as much as possible, even knowing there would be difficult moments and tough decisions along the way.

When our house started to look sparse, I actually found it a relief. We sometimes wonder what was in all those boxes stored in the basement. It seemed we kept stuff because we could, just in case we needed it. But what we found out was we really didn’t need those things anymore at all. I was happy that others could find joy in the items that were being donated and sold.

Preparing a Home to Sell

Moving Preparation first impression of exterior of home for salePaul always tells his clients that “The way you sell a home is different than the way you live in a home.” That means decluttering and depersonalizing it as much as possible before it goes on the market. Pre-packing items that are used on rare occasions or in a different season than the one you are currently in can really help open up your cabinets and closets. You want buyers to be able to easily walk up to a window and move from room to room. Too much furniture makes a room look small. Most times less is best.

👉 You may want to read Paul’s post about essential steps for moving.

You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression

You want your home to look it’s best when the photographer comes to take photos. Make sure your horizontal surfaces are free from clutter. Put things away in drawers, closets or cabinets. Make sure your closets don’t look over-stuffed.

Make sure your home shines and there aren’t loose hinges, burnt out lightbulbs, discoloration or stains. When in doubt, replace it, paint it or get rid of it. You want buyers to see the potential of living there, not a potential list of repairs, replacements and concerns. Ask Paul about the value of getting your home pre-inspected. We did and we found some items that we could easily fix that we weren’t aware of ourselves. When we sold our home (after the first showing) the buyers didn’t ask us to do anything more to the home after their inspection. They could tell we had taken good care of it.

If you want a smooth selling experience before you move to Grand Junction, or anywhere, do as much work ahead of time as you can. It will pay off in a much smoother transaction and save you time and frustration during the home selling process. You may want to read Paul’s post about writing Contingent Offers. Ask him about Radon too!

Paul Aspelin and Michelle Aspelin

Moving to Colorado with our 20′ U-Haul truck!

If you need help interviewing and hiring a professional real estate agent where you live, he can help you with that too. You want an agent who understands how preplanning, and preparation can help reduce the stress and anxiety around moving.

If you are considering moving to the Grand Valley, call or text Paul (612) 306-9558. He’d be happy to give you a tour of the area if you haven’t been here before. We have lots of posts about what to do, things to see, and places to eat in this fantastic geographic location.

Learn more about Paul Aspelin and read the numerous recommendations and testimonials he’s earned over his career.

Guest Post from Michelle Aspelin
Grand Junction, Colorado resident since 2023.

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

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

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Ridgway State Park: Day Trip from Grand Junction

Ridgway State Park, Ridgway Reservoir, and a Surprise Drive Over Owl Creek Pass

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

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

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

Ridgway Reservoir

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

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

Ridgway State Park Map

Ridgway State Park Map, click to enlarge

Hiking to the Scenic Overlook

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

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

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

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

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

Ridgway State Park Marina

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

Ridgway State Park Swimming Beach near Marina

Ridgway State Park Swimming Beach near Marina

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

Ridgway Marina Ridgway State Park

 

Dallas Creek

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

Ridgway Reservoir cars on the beach

Ridgway Reservoir cars on the beach

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

Taking the Scenic Route

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

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

View of Ouray, CO

Bear Creek Waterfall Overlook in Ouray

Owl Creek Pass

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

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

Spot featured in movie True Grit

 

 

Why you should plan ahead

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

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

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

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

Wildlife near Owl Creek Pass

Elk on Owl Creek Pass

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

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

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

Ridgway Reservoir at Ridgway State Park

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

Follow me on Facebook Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction! 

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

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

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

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55+ Communities in Grand Junction

House Hunting When You Are 55+

55+ Communities in Grand Junction offer a range of options for older adults looking for low-maintenance and active living. Before I made my move to Grand Junction, I was holding an open house in a new construction single family home geared towards older adults. The neighborhood had a Homeowners Association (HOA) to take care of all the exterior maintenance like yard services. No community center or other facilities. The model I was in was a spacious one-level home with three bedrooms on the main level and a two-car garage.

I had a 62-year-old gentleman strike up a memorable conversation with me. He explained that he has a boat, a motorcycle, two cars, and he and his wife like to ride bikes. It made him wonder how he’d be able to fit all his toys in this narrow two-stall garage. He asked, “Why don’t these builders understand that just because we want a home with no exterior maintenance, that doesn’t mean we sit home all day. We need room for our “stuff” as well as a simpler lifestyle as we get older.”

I fully understood where he was coming from. There are national builders, like D.R. Horton that build 55+ communities where you own your own single-family home and they include amenities like a club house, pickleball courts, workout room, and community eating and entertaining spaces. Over my career I have helped several clients build homes in communities like these. Be warned though. These robust communities also come with high monthly fees. You may, or may not, want all of that.

I haven’t found housing available in 55+ Communities in Grand Junction that are like this. Where you own a single-family home. Until now…

Chipeta Hollows

Good news! BOA Builders is building a 55+ Community in Grand Junction! Technically it’s in Orchard Mesa just east of the Chipeta Golf Course. This new development broke ground in June 2025. It is an Epcon Community. You can learn more about this option by visiting the Epcon website.

Epcon describes it this way…

“Discover Chipeta Hollows, an exclusive neighborhood designed for those who seek a vibrant, active, and low-maintenance lifestyle. Built by BOA Builders, known for their commitment to quality craftsmanship, energy efficiency, and sustainable living, Chipeta Hollows redefines a lifestyle of living in Grand Junction, CO. Chipeta Hollows community offers resort-style amenities to enhance your daily life. Enjoy the beautifully designed clubhouse, perfect for social gatherings, fitness activities, and relaxation. Stay active with a pickleball court, a sparkling pool, and scenic walking trails, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Western Colorado. For pet lovers, the dog park and dog wash station ensure that your furry companions feel just as at home as you do.”

Buyer Representation

55+ Communities in Grand Junction happy seniors sitting in front of their homeIf Chipeta Hollows (or any new or existing development) sounds like a place you’d like to live, contact me before you call or go visit so I can explain to you your right to buyer representation before you contact the builder or developer. This is very important. If you contact them first, you may forfeit your right to be represented. The real estate agent or “sales rep” in open houses and builder models represent the seller or the builder, not the buyer. When I represent buyers, I always put their best interests first. Agents representing the seller are obligated to put the seller’s interest first, not the buyers. Call or text me at (612) 306-9558 if you have any questions about representation in Colorado. Real Estate Representation laws and rules vary by state.

👉 Read my post about being your personal Grand Junction Relocation Guide!

Homeowner Association (HOA) Fees

Property Tax ValuesLet’s talk about low maintenance and HOA fees. In Minnesota, HOA fees were much higher than here in Grand Junction because they had to include snow removal and lawn maintenance services. In northern and eastern states there can be lots of grass to mow and shrubs to trim on a regular basis. Many snowfalls over 2” that require shoveling or plowing (again and again) and you have to treat the roads and sidewalks with salt or sand to get rid of the ice.

Luckily, here in sunny Grand Junction, there aren’t many plowable snow events, maybe a slight accumulation of snow 2-3 times a winter which is usually melted by the end of the day. And being in the desert, the landscaping is already drought tolerant and full of low maintenance plants like cactus and beautiful rose bushes that start blooming in late April or early May. Less maintenance means less fees. Plus, our property taxes are very low here. So don’t be too scared when you see monthly HOA fees, they aren’t that bad here.

👉 HOA fees aren’t the only thing to consider when budgeting for a new home, you may be interested in my article about the cost of living in Grand Junction.

What if you just want a single-family home with low maintenance?

Single-Family Homes

The Grand Valley is “the home of 3/2 housing” meaning three bedrooms and two-bathroom ramblers or ranch style homes are commonly called one-level living in other parts of the country. Hardly any homes have basements, and if they do, they aren’t musty because we have very low humidity and low rainfall in the Grand Valley.

Most properties have a two-car garage, sometimes a three-car. Many neighborhoods allow homeowners to add sheds and additional garages to their property. More rural properties have larger lot sizes and less restrictions and they are just 5-10 minutes from downtown.

Low maintenance single family homes are easy to find too. Metal roofs are very popular and last much longer than asphalt roofing materials. Plus, without a lot of snow, our roofs don’t experience a lot of freeze/thaw, so they last longer.

Award-Winning Water Straight from the Tap

Because our water comes from the snowmelt and springs on the Grand Mesa, we don’t need extra equipment like water softeners and water treatment systems. Our water is delicious right out of the tap. It’s award winning actually. Read my post about the Grand Junction Water Supply to learn more.

55+ Communities in Grand Junction

You can easily Google “55+ Communities in Grand Junction CO” to get a list. There are zero in Palisade and one in Fruita called Village at Country Creek. Grand Junction lists about a dozen. Some offer both independent living and assisted living options for those that need care. Even though they say 55+, it feels like most of these communities are suited for those who are later in their retirement years or for anyone needing assistance.

  1. Village Cooperative of Grand Junction
  2. The Fountains of Hilltop
  3. The Cottages of Hilltop
  4. La Villa Grande Care Center
  5. The Retreat at Harbor Cove
  6. Larchwood Inns
  7. Ratekin Tower Apartments
  8. The Lodge at Grand Junction
  9. Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center
  10. Grand Villa Assisted Living
  11. The Commons of Hilltop
  12. Cappella of Grand Junction
  13. Solstice Senior Living at Mesa View

Moving to Grand Junction

So, what does all this mean? It means that Grand Junction has lots of options for 55+ housing that isn’t strictly classified for people in or nearing retirement. I haven’t even touched on the golf course communities. You can learn more about those by reading my post called More Than Redlands Mesa Golf Courses.

I have helped dozens of clients 55 and older find their next place to call home. What I’m saying is, the best place to live might not be in the state you live in now. Speaking of best place to live, Grand Junction won an award for that too being named the “Best Place to Retire” from Kiplinger Magazine. I reference it in my post called Why Choose to Retire in Grand Junction.

If you are looking for low maintenance living in a warmer climate without a lot of fuss, consider retiring or semi-retiring in Grand Junction.

Check out my related post called Retire in Grand Junction: Your Grandkids and Kids Will Thank You. It explains why living in an area that serves all ages can be critical to enticing your family to come visit you!

Call or text me at (612) 306-9558  (locally based in Grand Junction) if you are coming into town and want to connect. I’d be happy to show you around Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade. Learn more on my Get Started page.

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

Photo from our day trip to Crawford State Park

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

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

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

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North Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

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

If you’re based in Grand Junction and looking for an unforgettable day of hiking, the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a must-see adventure.

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

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

Drive to the North Rim Ranger Station

West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Map

click to enlarge

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

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

Exclamation Point Hike

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

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

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

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

Vista Trail flowers and meadow

North Rim Exclamation Point view to Gunnison River

Vista Trail to Exclamation Point

Vista Trail to Exclamation Point

Me at the Overlook before we reached Exclamation Point

More to see

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

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

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

Amazing Views on CR-92 South of Crawford, CO

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

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

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

Gunnison River from Hwy 92 near Hermits Rest

Gunnison River from Hwy 92 near Hermits Rest Vista

Live Your Vacation Every Day… Move to Grand Junction!

If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, please give me a call. I’d love to explain your housing options and show you around Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade. Search Homes for Sale in Grand Junction.

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

PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Relocation & Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Text or Call (612) 306-9558

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

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

 

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Crawford State Park: Day Trip from Grand Junction

A Wonderful Day at Crawford State Park

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

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

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

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

Visitor Center

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

Fishing Crawford Reservoir

Crawford State Park shoreline of Crawford Reservoir

Crawford State Park shoreline of Crawford Reservoir near the Visitor Center

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

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

Trails at Crawford State Park

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

Lodging

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

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

An Amazing Stretch of Road South of Crawford, CO

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

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

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

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

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

Take the Scenic Route and to Move to Grand Junction!

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway Map

West Elk Loop Brochure Cover

This map comes in handy, we have referenced it for several trips. Thankfully, we have been to Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Aspen, Redstone, and Marble. The climb over the stunning McClure Pass (ask to see one of my favorite pictures from the pass), Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford, and Gunnison too. Discovered Kebler Pass during an August trip (gravel road not open in winter) to Crested Butte and stayed in Mount Crested Butte. We have also been to the North and South rims of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

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

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

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Living in Durango CO vs Grand Junction

Comparing Living in Durango CO vs Grand Junction

I’ve had several people call that are comparing Living in Durango CO vs Grand Junction when they are researching moving to Colorado. Both Grand Junction and Durango offer appealing lifestyles in our very scenic Western Colorado, but they cater to slightly different preferences. When you’re relocting, I understand you want the scoop in comparing the two cities before buying a house in Colorado.

Before getting into the comparisons, it may be helpful to understand why people are moving to Grand Junction.

Below is my comparison across lifestyle, housing costs, outdoor activities, retirement appeal, and access to mountain biking, an airport and healthcare. You might also find my Grand Junction cost of living comparison tool valuable.

Stay up to date about new MoveToGrandJunction.com posts and watch my short videos on my Facebook page called Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction.

 Housing Costs

  • Grand Junction:
    • Generally GJ is more affordable than Durango which is great for budget-conscious buyers and retirees and the general population.
    • Median home prices (as of late 2024) hover around $375K–$425K.
    • More housing inventory, including 55+ communities and urban or suburban developments. I have relationships with several local home builders and insight into new communities that are being developed, like Redlands 360.
    • Lower property taxes compared to many Colorado resort towns. Read my post about Property Tax incentives for seniors in Grand Junction.
  • Durango:
    • More expensive, with median home prices often $500K–$600K+, driven by the fact that it’s considered a resort town.
    • Limited space for expansion keeps housing inventory tight.
    • Attracts wealthier second-home owners, which can inflate prices.

Outdoor Activities

  • Grand Junction:
    • A beautiful gateway to the Colorado National Monument, the Grand Mesa, and the Book Cliffs (mountains surrounding the Grand Valley).
    • Year-round golfing, biking, hiking, walking, river rafting and floating, plus quick access to world-class desert and alpine trails.
    • The Grand Mesa offers fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling and plenty of resorts and rustic cabins and an alpine forest just 45 minutes away.
    • Nearby Palisade wine country offers a quaint downtown, wine tours and fantastic farmers markets in summer.
    • Fruita is just 10 minutes away and offers an abundance of trails for mountain biking, hiking and trail riding on your horse or ATV. (McInnis Canyons Conservation area is spectacular!)
    • Close to Utah’s red rock country and more mountain biking, hiking and jeeping in Moab, just 90 minutes away. Read my Top Day Trips post.
    • Grand Junction is a place where desert-meets-mountain. It’s about 4 hours to Denver or Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Animas River near Durango

    Animas River Durango area

    Durango:

    • Surrounded by the stunning San Juan Mountains—excellent for hiking, backpacking, and skiing.
    • Purgatory Resort offers accessible skiing and snowboarding.
    • More snow-based recreation, excellent for winter sports lovers.
    • Summer activities like white water rafting, tubing, and kayaking on the Animas River.
    • Home to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a scenic tourist ride!
    • The closest major city to Durango, Colorado is Albuquerque, New Mexico, about a 3.5-hour drive south.

Lifestyle & Community

  • Grand Junction:
    • Larger population (~65,000), with more healthcare options and shopping (REI, department stores and mall, Target, and three hospitals).
    • A bit more urbanized, more infrastructure and services with a growing arts and food scene.
    • Conservative-leaning politically, though varied across age groups.
    • Less of a tourist hub, so a steadier year-round pace.
    • Colorado Mesa University with ~10,000 students and community education classes for the community.
  • Durango:
    • Smaller (~20,000), more intimate, and community oriented.
    • More outdoorsy and liberal-leaning culture.
    • Strong college-town vibe (Fort Lewis College up on the hill), with seasonal tourists.
    • Tight-knit feel due to much lower population, with more second-home owners and seasonal residents.

Retirement Appeal

  • Grand Junction:
    • Popular with those working and retirees due to affordable living, dry climate, and medical facilities (see healthcare below).
    • More age-friendly services and communities (see Why Retire in GJ post that includes info about CMU courses for retirees at a reduced rate).
    • Milder winters than Durango – less snow, more sun.
  • Durango:
    • Beautiful place to live and retire if your budget allows living in a resort mountain town.
    • Winters can be harsh for those not acclimated to snow and altitude (~6,500 ft).
    • Higher cost of living can be a barrier.

Walkability

  • Grand Junction:
    • The downtown core (beautiful pedestrian-friendly Main Street area) is walkable with restaurants, breweries, galleries, theater, and a variety of shops.
    • Outside downtown, it’s more car-dependent, especially in North Grand Junction and newer developments along the outskirts.
    • Mixed-use neighborhoods are growing.
    • Public transit is available and bike lane/trail connections are numerous.
  • Durango:
    • More walkable, especially in the historic downtown area.
    • Strong pedestrian and bike culture with trails that connect many parts of the city.
    • Smaller footprint makes walking feasible for more daily activities.

Mountain Biking Access

  • Grand Junction:
    • One of the top desert mountain biking destinations in the country.
    • Lunch Loops, Kokopelli Trail (Fruita to Moab, UT), and 18 Road in North Fruita are world-famous and very close. Plus, let’s not forget all the trails in McInnis Canyons Conservation Area and the newer Palisade Plunge from the top of the Grand Mesa!
    • Trails range from beginner to technical desert singletrack.
    • Easily accessible from town—many riders pedal to the trailheads from home in certain neighborhoods. Read my guest post from a local mountain biker.
    • Year-round access and variety in the Grand Valley, some go up to the Mesa during the warmer summer months for a cooler climate for riding.
  • Durango:
    • Also excellent, especially for alpine terrain lovers.
    • Horse Gulch, Telegraph Trail System, and Colorado Trail are directly accessible from town.
    • Terrain is steeper and more forested than Grand Junction.
    • More high-altitude riding, which limits accessibility during snowy months.
    • Biking is best in summer/fall months.

Airport Access

  • Grand Junction Airport Welcome Sign

    Sign near the GJT airport

    Grand Junction:

    • Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) is just 10–15 minutes from downtown GJ, Fruita or Palisade.
    • Offers direct flights to Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (Orange County) and San Francisco.
    • Small but efficient regional airport—very convenient and reliable. Read about our GJT Airport Experience – no waiting at the curb!
  • Durango:
    • Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO) is about 20 minutes from downtown.
    • Also offers direct flights to major hubs like Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, and seasonal options.
    • Slightly fewer flights and destinations than GJT, but still good. Snow may cause delays.

Healthcare Access

  • Grand Junction:
    • Known for strong healthcare infrastructure for our size.
    • Home to Family Health West in Fruita, Community Hospital, renowned St. Mary’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center (Level II trauma center) that serves communities within 2 hours of the Grand Valley, plus the Grand Junction VA Medical Center.
    • Broad network of specialists and clinics—highly rated.
    • The best healthcare hub between Denver and Salt Lake.
  • Durango:
    • Primary provider is Mercy Regional Medical Center, a quality full-service hospital.
    • Fewer specialist options locally, so more complex care may require travel to Grand Junction or Albuquerque, NM (3.5 hours away).
    • Good for routine and emergency care, but limited depth in specialties.

Grand Junction vs Durango Comparison Chart

Factor Grand Junction Durango
Housing Costs ✅ More affordable, more inventory ❌ Higher real estate prices
Outdoor Activities ✅ Desert & alpine variety ✅ Mountain & snow-based fun
Lifestyle ✅ More urban conveniences ✅ Quaint, outdoorsy vibe
Retirement Appeal ✅ Budget-friendly, mild ❌ Costly but scenic
Walkability ✅ Very walkable downtown, bike lanes available ✅ Very walkable, compact downtown
Mountain Biking Access ✅ Year-round, world-class desert trails ✅ High-alpine trails, seasonal access
Airport Proximity ✅ More direct flights, easy access (GJT) ✅ Good airport, slightly fewer flights (DRO)
Healthcare Access ✅ Strong hospital system & specialists ❌ Fewer specialists, limited complex care

Final Thoughts

Choose Grand Junction vs living in Durango CO if you value overall affordability, accessibility to national parks, more housing options, year-round riding/golfing, and all the typical suburban amenities and small-town charm. I compared just a few topics. There’s more to learn about living in Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade, so keep reading!

The last time I was in Durango I noticed a lot of trucks, SUVs, campers and trailers going down the main road. Hardly anyone drives a sedan in Durango. I guess with more snowfall, everyone wants 4×4 or at least all-wheel drive, LOL!

Grand Junction is ideal if you are working in person or remotely, retired, semi-retired or consider yourself an active adult who wants a variety of terrain and opportunities with strong medical support. You want a place your friends, children, and grandchildren want to come visit because there’s so much to do! Read my post that explains how important this can be.

Paul Aspelin Molas Pass near Durango

At Molas Pass just north of Durango

Call or text me at (612) 306-9558 if you are coming into town and want to connect with me. I’d be happy to show you around Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade to help you compare the Grand Valley to Durango, or buying a house in Colorado communities you may be considering.

If you have a topic you’d like me to write about, send me an email.

Experience the Grand Junction Lifestyle!

PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Relocation & Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Licensed in Colorado – Serving Mesa County
Learn more about how I work with my clients

Live Your Vacation Every Day… Move to Grand Junction!

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

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