A Surprise Drive Right Up to the Marble Quarry Entrance
One of our favorite things about living in Grand Junction is that you can leave the desert landscape of the Grand Valley in the morning and be surrounded by spectacular Colorado mountains and cooler temps by lunchtime.
Marble is only one example of the small mountain communities, scenic drives, historic sites and outdoor adventures within reach of Grand Junction. We were amazed as we drove right up to the working quarry entrance!
Where is Marble, CO?
Marble sits at an elevation of nearly 8,000’ in Gunnison County, within the beautiful Elk Mountains along the Crystal River, on the West Elk Loop.
In general, Marble CO is south of Glenwood Springs. You can easily get there from I-70. However, we like to take the scenic route. From Grand Junction we drove south to Delta, east through Hotchkiss and Paonia, then northeast on Hwy. 133. We went over one of the most beautiful passes, McClure Pass, and dropped down into the Crystal River Valley.
From Highway 133, the 6.5 mile road to the town of Marble is paved. You drive past the historic jailhouse, through the town and end at the edge of Beaver Lake on the east side of town. Once you turn off the main road though, to navigate the grid of houses, the local art galleries, or get to the campground, you will be driving entirely on dirt and gravel. Most people drive out the same way you drove in. Unless you are headed for adventure!
Any route continuing past town immediately turns into rugged, unpaved dirt paths. This includes County Road 3C (Quarry Road) heading up to the marble mine (which we took), and Crystal River Road leading out to the iconic Crystal Mill and Schofield Pass, both of which transition into highly technical, rocky 4×4 only terrain. One day we will rent side-by-sides and drive to the famous Crystal Mill.
About Marble, CO
We saw this cool lineup of mailboxes that also houses free books!
Marble is tiny. Really tiny. There isn’t a gas station or grocery store in town, so make sure you have what you need for the day. I suggest you make a stop at the super small “visitor center”. It’s not what you might expect. It’s called The Marble Hub.
It’s a coffee shop, with packaged ice cream bars, a gift shop, and the only place in town you can get free Wi-Fi service. Really. While you’re there, check out the old bank vault behind the counter. The Hub is in the historic 113-year-old former Marble City State Bank building. Because Marble is completely off the grid for cell service, this cozy building functions as an essential lifeline for travelers. We looked at the map on the wall and that’s how we got to the quarry. They have physical trail maps and crucial local safety warnings (like reminders that the rugged road to the famous Crystal Mill absolutely requires a 4-wheel-drive vehicle). Exploring small Colorado towns is so fun.
The town of Marble is mostly residential homes. There’s a small lake nearby, Beaver Lake. It is a popular stop that gives access to the Crystal River for fishing, and it’s close to historic Redstone too. This was our second time visiting Marble. We mention it in the Leaf Peeping From Grand Junction post.
Marble, Colorado has been described as “an isolated mountain hamlet tucked away in the Elk Mountains with a year-round population fluctuating between 130 and 150 residents.” There’s only one full-service restaurant, the highly rated Slow Groovin’ BBQ (more on that below). There is a café we have yet to try, we will go there next time.
Folks choose to live in this geographically isolated pocket of Gunnison County for its profound sense of tight-knit community and immediate access to rugged outdoor recreation. A lot of artists and marble sculptors live there too! You can watch a cool Colorado PBS documentary on Marble, CO that just came out in August 2026. It’s called Made in Marble.
Driving to the Marble Quarry
Driving on the Quarry Road with steep drop offs at times
When you visit this tiny Colorado mountain town, allow time to drive 4 miles up Quarry Road to see the marble quarry. It was absolutely amazing. From the base looking up, the marble on the mountain top looked like a glacier! So white and bright against the green and brown backdrop of nature. We were totally amazed. And we could get right up to it!
We were there on a Saturday this time. The narrow dirt shelf road that goes up to the quarry entrance was open. Last time it was closed. We drove as far as visitors can currently go to an active Colorado quarry with an incredible history.
The quarry is now owned by Colorado Stone Quarries, an Italian company. They extract marble year-round and send it to their state-of-the-art marble processing and finishing facility in Delta, CO. You can see it right along Hwy 50.
Sculptures for sale at The Marble Gallery.
Marble from Marble was selected for the Lincoln Memorial in 1916, and in 1931 stone from the quarry was used to create the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Pretty cool!
There are no public tours available for the active quarry. However, at the entrance, there is a pile of marble for the community. It’s free, if you can pick it up. I got a few tiny pieces. I also bought a larger piece from The Marble Gallery in town. Next time, I want even something bigger that we can display outside.
Marble around Marble
Michelle standing next to a huge chunk of marble along the Crystal River
Here’s one thing you won’t see in other mountain towns, huge chunks of marble used for functional purposes, like erosion control near bridges and rivers. You’ll see most yards have marble statues or huge 2’ x 3’ chunks of marble by the driveway. We thought it was the strangest thing to use marble for such things. Only in Marble, CO!
Next time, we want to visit the local Marble Museum housed inside the historic two-story 1912 schoolhouse built with a distinct marble foundation. It originally served up to 200 students during the peak of the town’s mining boom before closing in 1948.
It was raining when we left so we didn’t get a chance to walk through the Marble Mill Site Park either. That looked cool. To stand where the marble was cut, sanded, and polished to make the Lincoln Memorial. That would be amazing.
Eating at Slow Groovin’ BBQ
This was a highlight on our Marble CO day trip from Grand Junction…
After a short 15-minute wait, we were seated on the deck overlooking the main road at this popular establishment. We watched the stream of side-by-sides, motorcycles, campervans, trucks, cars, bikes, and hikers parade by while we dined. We saw people running into friends and giving hugs. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.
The food was absolutely amazing! Michelle had a nut and berry salad with a huge piece of smoked salmon. I had the best pulled pork sandwich (with all the fixin’s) that I have ever had. Everything was so fresh and delicious. They are open seasonally, so plan accordingly so you don’t miss a meal here.
Discovered Black Bridge Winery on the Way Home
Relaxing along the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Paonia
On our way home we decided to make one more stop. Michelle did some quick research to see who was still open and she picked the Black Bridge Winery and Orchard Valley Farm and Market on the east side of Paonia. We got a glass of wine and sat in Adirondack chairs overlooking the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the cool looking black bridge that the winery is named after.
We sampled their tasty balsamic vinegars and brought two home with us. I have already used the peach balsamic vinegar to make homemade BBQ sauce. They have a large assortment of infused olive oils, salsa, syrups, sauces, dressings, and produce along with pottery, jewelry and wine in the tasting room. We will bring friends back here. They have a huge farm and orchards, open Memorial Day through Halloween. People were picking fresh raspberries and blackberries while we were there and their watermelon looked delicious.
This is the kind of day we have come to appreciate living in Grand Junction. We can have breakfast at home, get in the 4Runner, drive into the mountains, explore a tiny historic community, have lunch, discover a new winery, and be home the same day. Making memories and sharing the story and videos of our journey with family, friends and future clients.
I posted a short video about this Marble CO day trip from Grand Junction on social media.
Read more on our new Day Trips from Grand Junction page, a collection of adventures!
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Paul Aspelin on the way to the Marble quarry
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