Al and I called Colorado’s Front Range home for more than twenty years. Once we moved into the RV full-time, we still continued to spend most summers exploring the state with a focus on Colorado’s Western Slope. The Western Slope and town of Grand Junction soon became a favorite. What’s not to love when you’re surrounded by beautiful landscapes in all directions?
Colorado’s Front Range refers to the land east of the Continental Divide, while the Western Slope refers to the terrain west of the Continental Divide. Colorado’s great divide traverses high through the Rocky Mountains and separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean and the river systems that drain in the Atlantic Ocean.
Therefore, Denver and Colorado Springs are located along the “Front Range” while Grand Junction and Telluride are located on Colorado’s “Western Slope”. End of lesson!🤣
Whether traveling by RV or other means, a visit to Colorado’s Western Slope should be included during any trip to this part of the country. I sometimes think towns like Grand Junction are overlooked with places like Denver or Breckenridge taking center stage.
Since my brother and his wife live in Grand Junction, they have provided an excellent excuse for us to visit the area regularly over the years. We actually enjoy Grand Junction so much that we almost bought a house there back in 2014, but timing just wasn’t right for us back then …. ah, there are regrets though!
During our most recent trip to Grand Junction, we enjoyed a very chill visit hanging with family. With the exception of visiting the local botanical garden, we didn’t do any exploring, but in the past, we always packed in plenty of adventures including stops at the Colorado National Monument.
Boasting an abundance of scenic overlooks, the historic Rim Rock Road drive in The Monument is not to be missed or overlooked.
6 Things to Do in Grand Junction, Colorado
- Visit the Colorado National Monument. I’ve written several posts on this scenic park. Feel free to visit this post or this post about a great hike.
- Attend a festival. Throughout the summer months, Grand Junction along with the neighboring towns of Fruita and Palisade offer a variety of festivals sure to fit anyone’s taste. This post shares the details of a wine festival.
- Tour the Palisade Fruit Loop and visit an Alpaca farm.
- Thursdays: Downtown Market on Main. Every Thursday evening during the summer, downtown Grand Junction hosts a farmer’s market/entertainment event.
- Lots of outdoor recreation: golf, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing on the Colorado River, and more.
- Visit a dinosaur museum, botanical garden, orchard, winery, or brewery.
In conclusion
Should you plan a visit to Colorado, consider visiting the western slope, and don’t overlook a stop in Grand Junction. We’re already trying to schedule our next visit.
Janet is hosting this week’s Lens-Artists photo challenge. The theme is overlooked. Be sure and check out her post.
Images in this post were made nine years ago with a Panasonic Point & Shoot camera. I’m disappointed with the quality of the photographs, but they serve as an impetus to revisit with my new camera and challenge my ever improving photography skills.
Live Laugh RV 
71 responses to “Overlooked Grand Junction”
Fruita was our first stop on our grand tour of Colorado. On a Sunday we went to Grand Junction to see the sculptures. While there, several small groups of people were walking around with their noses in the phones. It was creepy until we found out they were searching for Pokeman. Thanks for reminding me of all the places we saw there.
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We’re currently back in GJ enjoying a quick escape from the Phx heat. We love visiting the area but it’s also hot here today so we probably won’t do any exploring. Chilling with family works for us.
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From the frying pan onto the grill. Enjoy.
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Love your things to do section.
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Thank you! Hope you get to visit someday.
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Nice info
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Thank you! 😊
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Ingrid, your post could be an advertisement to visit the western slope of Colorado and Grand Junction! It looks like a beautiful place. I’m sorry we missed that part of Colorado during our travels.
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Hi Beth, there are soooo many places I now wish we would’ve made more of a priority to visit with the RV, but such is life. In the end, you and I sure made it one heck of a ride and saw some stunning sights and have the pics to show for it. 😁
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Too bad our paths never crossed during our travels! I still grateful to you for giving us all the information about how to find the Whooping Cranes at Goose Island and the name of the Cranes Mill campground on Canyon Lake.
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I too am disappointed we never connected in person. I’m glad sharing my adventures and info was helpful in your travel adventures. I’m surprised how often I refer back to my own posts to remember stuff 🤣
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We are big fans of Cabela’s, and the Cabela’s in Grand Junction is near the top of our list. Five or six years ago, we were passing through on a camping trip, and I called ahead to ask if we’d be able to overnight in their lot. The gentleman who answered the phone was the friendliest Cabela’s staff member I had ever spoken with – and they’re all pretty nice to begin with. He cheerfully welcomed us to stay, and was incredibly apologetic that they didn’t have a dump station to offer. He went on to suggest the Fruita Visitor Center’s dump station, assuring me that it was a good one and that he had used it many times himself. Talk about going above and beyond – he was a wonderful ambassador for both Cabela’s and Grand Junction! We had pulled in after dark. When we headed out the next morning, we were commenting on the beautiful scenery in the area. Your beloved Western Slope is on our “return to” list.
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We have used that dump station at the visitor center in Fruita more times than I can recall. If we hadn’t settled in Phox, I’m pretty sure we would’ve settled in GJ, but alas, the children are here and today I’m watching my 11 month old granddaughter which fills my heart. So as long as the kids live in Phx, so will we. Look forward to seeing you in Sept.
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Likewise! By the way, and for whatever it’s worth, “Mimi,” I think your heart and your home are in exactly the right place.
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Awe, thank you!
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Nice to know the geographical explanations of the area. We stayed in GJ one time on our way to visit family in Denver. Beautiful area!
Lovely pictures!
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When we first moved to Colorado, I was totally confused by the terms and now it’s just part of my vocabulary. We were hoping to return in a couple of weeks, but life happens thus don’t think we’ll be able to make it.
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Sorry to hear that.
Hope all is okay.
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Hanging in there. Dealing with nit-noy stuff.🤗
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A great visit to Grand Junction. Thank you for the info. We haven’t been there and may do some exploring in Colorado next summer. Lots to do. The come k end are fascinating. Thank you, Ingrid.
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Be sure and let me know if you plan a trip to GJ, I might be able to offer a few extra tidbits on the area.
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I will stay in touch regularly.
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A fun take on the challenge Ingrid – my brother lives outside of Denver and we visit each year. Somehow we never manage to get to the rest of the state but one of these days we will. Your post is a great reminder of what we’re missing!
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Once you head west of Denver, the state is filled with some stunning scenery and lots of outdoor recreation. This challenge was a fun one, and I enjoyed diving into my archives
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Okay, I’m hooked. I need to travel to Colorado. We’ve been tempted a few times, definitely need to go there now. So much to see.
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You’ll definitely want to visit Telluride and Ouray, They are stunning. Be sure and reach out if you need any recommendations.
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My son and I drove cross country in May. We didn’t have a ton of time to sight-see but Colorado was amazing. Utah too. I’ll definitely reach out if we come back. Thank you!!!!!
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Oh yeah, Utah is incredible! Glad you got a glimpse.
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I have yet to visit Colorado so this is very informative, Ingrid! Beautiful photography! When we visited Bryce Canyon, I learned that much of the area that extends west is home to similar geological formations like Bryce’s hoodoos. Someday we will head further west and explore all of this! Hope you are staying cool in the record Phoenix heat. We just spent the day at a nearby lake on our paddleboards (with my brother and Partner who are visiting from Fountain Hills. They think 88F is a cool comfortable day 😉
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I agree with your brother, I would love 88 degrees right now. July has been brutally hot and difficult to do any outdoors. I’m ready for cooler temps for sure. You’ll definitely want to include eastern Utah and western Colorado in upcoming travels.
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Wonderful post about an area we have not spent nearly enough time in. Thanks for reminding us about a beautiful area in CO.
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You are welcome. If our children didn’t live in Phx, there’s a good chance we would’ve landed in GJ. We love western CO.
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Ingrid,
We’ve traveled west several times over the past five years but have spent little time in Colorado except visiting an old Army buddy living near Telluride. In our younger days, we always worked in a ski trip, but those days are over. We are going back west again next year and will have to work in a GJ stop. Thanks!
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When you start making reservations, be sure and reach out for ideas. We loved our day trips to Telluride while camping at Ridgway State Park. In GJ we love the James Robb SP in Fruita. So much to see and do.
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I agree that the Western Slope of Colorado is not to ignored! It’s a beautiful part of the country on that side for sure.
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There’s no doubt, if our children didn’t live in Phx, we would’ve landed in western Colorado… somewhere that doesn’t get too much snow 😁 But life in Phx is working out just fine despite this summers brutal heat.
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Will do! Thanks much!
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Good ones! We just returned from a Paonia wine weekend. Stocked up. I love Colorado!
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My brother and his wife have wanted to visit Paonia for years and haven’t made it there. We visited many years ago during a Crested Butte stay and loved the drive over Kebler Pass. So many lovely places to visit in Colorado.
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You betcha’. Paonia is ‘quiet’, but the wineries are great. Drop dead views from Stone Cottage Cellars and Azura wineries, relaxin’ with a glass. Black Bridge Winery is a great place to picnic by the river.
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Thanks for the info. I’ll be sure and pass it along. Who knows, we may even join my brother and wife. Where did you stay? Now that we don’t have an RV, overnight accommodations are something I need to think about.
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Bross Hotel, Paonia. 120 year old large brick B&B, carefully prepared breakfasts, antique decor. We’ve stayed there 4-5 times. Stone Cottage Cellars has a 2BR-1bath ‘stone cottage’ at the winery. Full kitchen and furnishings.
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Thanks for the info.😊
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Hi Ingrid, a few years ago Malcolm and I took Amtrak from San Francisco to Chicago and one of our stops along the way was Grand Junction. Friends, who lived nearby at the time picked us up and gave us the grand tour. One of our favorite days was spent exploring the Black Canyons at Gunnison National Park. I’m sure you have been there many times. It is a true wonder. Another favorite hop off spot was Glen Cove Springs. Bike riding along the Colorado River was the best. The whole experience was something we will never forget. It must have been wonderful to have lived there.
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison is indeed beautiful as are many other places along the Western Slope. We barely touched the surface during our RV travels. Some many places, so little time!
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What a visual treat, Ingrid, and both literal and figurative meanings to “overlooked.” I’ll be passing through GJ in a few weeks on my way to Wyoming, although I don’t know if I’ll have or take the time to stop. Your narrative and links are certainly inviting. My brother lived in GJ for some times years ago and I know he really liked it. I lived and worked in Steamboat Springs for a few years right after college, a very different but also beautiful place. Thanks for letting us tag along on a bit of your obviously very enjoyable and certainly scenic trip!
janet
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We’ve visited Steamboat a couple of times only for short periods and always intended to return. So many places, so little time. Look forward to chatting further 😁
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Colorado has such an interesting terrain… it feels so earthy and a place you can do a lot of contemplation!
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Colorado definitely offers a diverse landscape. It’s a beautiful place to visit and live. 😊
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We’ll have to get back there! Sadly we had a niece in the Springs and her brother in Denver. They’ve moved away. It helped fuel our visits there in the past! I left a piece of my heart there from living in the Springs for 6 years of my childhood!
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We lived at the north end of the Springs when we first moved to Colorado. It full-filled a dream of mine and I feel fortunate to have lived along the Front Range for 20 plus years. Although, these days, I’m partial to the Western Slope. We too hope to return to CO more often but it’s not as easy as it was with an RV.
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My twin sister and family have lived on the Front Range for years. We love visiting! We have toured around the Western Slope. For years they lived in Pagosa Springs. I can say with great joy, I have ridden horses around many beautiful Rocky Mtn mountains! We rode through snow up in those high mountains—way above tree line!
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Wow! I know how beautiful that area is, thus horseback riding around that landscape had to be amazing. Thanks for sharing!
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I love that area!
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You and me both!
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Love the photos ❤️
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Thank you 😊
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That was a wonderful time. Nothing to whine about when there’s a wine festival included.
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You are so right about that! 🍷🍷🍷
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Great post Ingrid! I appreciate the geographical education. 🥰
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My pleasure. When we first moved to Colorado, I was totally confused by the use of “Front Range” and “Western Slope” and that was before Google 😁
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It looks beautiful, it reminds me a little of Grand Canyon. So much beauty out there to see, wish I had more time to see it all.
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I believe it’s all part of the Colorado Plateau, or something like that. Perhaps I’ve visited one too many visitor centers and have info confused 🥴 But there is similar rock topography and colors.
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I’ve never been there. I would like to visit.
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We love western Colorado and hope to return a little more frequently in the future.
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Hello Ingrid, For a number of years here in Wisconsin I had attended a great Summer country music festival called ‘Country Jam’. I was also aware the same promotor held a second CM Festival in Grand Junction every year as well. A great opportunity for many to visit this 3 day event in Grand Junction. I almost decided one year to go West to attend there.
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Hey Roger, should you ever plan a visit to Grand Junction, be sure and let us know. We’ll meet you there!
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Terrific! You did a beautiful write up on GJ. Having hunted many years out of Burns CO, our hunter mid-week get away had been Glenwood Springs and once a bar in Eagle where they serve Blue Moon by the pitcher. Ask Hubbs. The Hot Springs always a refreshing relief after Mountain climbs.
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He loved his years meeting up with the guys in Burns. We stayed in the town of Basalt (just south of Glenwood Springs) with the RV several times and always enjoyed that area. Fun times!
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Thank you, Ingrid, it was great to get your experienced opinion about the western slope of Colorado and Grand Junction. It looks incredibly beautiful, and your photos and explanations were wonderful. Fun logo you have, too.
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Thank you Jet. Always nice hearing from you. This recent trip to GJ reminded us why we love that area of CO so much.
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