In 2021 we explored the Front Range of Colorado and now we are back in 2022 to explore the western slope. Technically speaking, the western slope is anything west of the Continental Divide, thus we will include places that fit that description on this page. We only have great things to say about the western slope because spending the summer/fall here was a dream come true! We got to explore more National Parks, whitewater raft through Glenwood Canyon, eat Palisade peaches all summer long, hike to INCREDIBLE alpine lakes, and so much more! The western slope of Colorado is so unique, and many prefer it over the front range, including us. We’d love to know what you think!
BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
To me, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is an underrated National Park. It gives smaller Grand Canyon National Park vibes. The park itself is divided into three sections, the North Rim, the South Rim, and the East Portal. We visited the South Rim and the East Portal.
EAST PORTAL
The East Portal is only accessible from the South Rim and is located at the bottom of the canyon. I would highly recommend visiting the East Portal if you trust that your vehicle and brakes can handle it. In some sections, the steepness can get up to a 16% grade. Besides fishing, there’s not much to do down in the East Portal, but it offers a completely different view of the park and makes for a fun experience getting there!
SOUTH RIM
What I liked most about the South Rim, besides the views, were all the overlooks, 12 to be exact. Most of them you will park your car, hop on the trail, and then in a few hundred yards you’ll be at the overlook. This makes seeing as much as the park, in a short amount of time, very easy!
However, if you’re looking for more challenging hikes or to be more immersed in the park try these:
The other thing I love about this park is that it is great for all ages and fitness levels. Because most of the trails are flat and short, with a few being handicapped accessible, it makes a great National Park for the whole family to visit! Just keep an eye on the children! Black Canyon of the Gunnison features some of the steepest and deepest canyons in North America!!
CRESTED BUTTE
Crested Butte is one of the less visited Colorado mountain towns due to its accessibility. However, make no mistake, this place is worth going out of your way to visit. We visited in the summer, thus gravel County Road 12 over Kebler Pass was open. This made our drive much shorter and more scenic! Driving along Kebler Pass you’ll see many seemingly untouched steep mountain peaks and, my favorite, vast forests of Aspens.
When you get to Crested Butte, you can visit the town of Crested Butte or Mt. Crested Butte. Mt. Crested Butte includes the Crested Butte Moutain Resort for skiing/snowboarding in the Winter and hiking and biking in the warmer months. We gave ourselves a challenge and hiked the Upper Westside to Crested Butte Trail to the summit of Mt. Crested Butte at 12,162 ft, a 10.6 mi loop trail with 2775 ft elevation gain.
If you arrive at Crested Butte in the morning, a stop at Butte Bagels is a MUST! The CONSTANT line out of the door will tell you enough about how good these bagels are! Take a stroll through downtown Crested Butte, which features many cute and colorful shops and restaurants. My favorites downtown include pizza at the Secret Stash and drinks at Montanya Distillers Cocktail Bar.
DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
If you’re looking for a fun trip on the western slope of Colorado that may be a little less crowded, I would suggest visiting Dinosaur National Monument in Dinosaur, CO. Dinosaur is located in Northwest CO, on the border of Utah and just shy of Wyoming. It’s secluded and off the beaten path but makes for a great weekend trip!
There are two visitor centers to access the park, the Canyon Visitor Center located in Colorado, and the Quarry Visitor Center located in Utah. Because the hotel we stayed at was in Vernal, UT (a very cute dinosaur-themed town) we accessed the park through the Quarry Visitor Center. The best part about this visitor center is it has a shuttle that will pick you up and take you to the Quarry Exhibit Hall where you can view over 1,500 dinosaur bones. It’s incredible!
Throughout the park, many short trails lead you to petroglyphs, dinosaur fossils, and more, but our favorite was hiking Harpers Corner Trail. An easy out-and-back trail that is 2.3 miles long with an elevation gain of 347 ft. For as easy as this trail is, it offers incredible views of the Green and Yampa River canyons, incredible rock formations, and the infamous Steamboat Rock.
If you have time and want to get an even closer look at Steamboat Rock, I would highly recommend visiting Echo Park. A 4-wheel drive and/or a high-clearance vehicle would be preferred on this scenic drive. The road can get pretty rough. Echo Park is located 38 miles from the Colorado Visitor Center, but it’s the perfect location to spend a day hiking, enjoying a picnic, jumping in the river, camping, and watching the rafters float by Steamboat Rock. Add Dinosaur National Monument to your bucket list! You won’t regret it.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
Glenwood Springs is the BEST location for a weekend getaway! There are so many unique experiences to do, great places to explore, and delicious food to eat.
GLENWOOD CAVERNS ADVENTURE PARK
Your first stop needs to be the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park! Once you buy tickets ($30-$52/person) you will take a gondola to the top of the mountain where this fun-filled theme park sits. Once you’re at the top you can enjoy festive food/drinks, explore the caverns, and (our favorite) ride the mountain coaster! This adventure park is the perfect place to spend a day with your family and friends and an even better place to get in the holiday spirit.
DOWNTOWN GLENWOOD SPRINGS
After riding the mountain coaster a few dozen times head downtown to enjoy a delicious dinner from the many great local restaurants nearby. Our favorites were Slope & Hatch, Grind, and Smoke Modern BBQ. However, this specific area, under the bridge, is filled with great restaurants that all look and smell amazing! You can’t go wrong.
Glenwood Springs is such a fun city to explore. Whether you want to have a picnic at Two Rivers Park, enjoy a nice soak at Iron Mountain Hot Springs, or get a spontaneous tattoo at Spyder Rose Tattoo Shop, this city has something for everyone! Check out our blog post GLENWOOD SPRINGS: A GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE WEEKEND GETAWAY for more fun things to do!
SEEKING ADVENTURE
If none of that sounds adventurous enough for you I would highly recommend whitewater rafting through Glenwood Canyon. We booked our half-day excursion through Whitewater Rafting LLC. Tickets were $69/person and included a free shuttle to and from the river, helmet, and paddle.
Because there were only four in our group we were paired with another group of 2. So, the 6 of us and our guide set out for a rafting trip to remember. Right out the gate, we were hit with class 4 rapids and we paddled like our life depended on it. For the first 30 minutes or so we paddled often and overcame rock barriers, whirlpools, and more. It was a blast! After that, the rest of the rafting trip was pretty laid back. Mostly we just floated along the river, passed hot springs, awed at Glenwood Canyon, and even took a few dips into the river. Our guide was great and overall our experience was 5 stars!
If you’re looking for a cheaper adventure, try hiking to Hanging Lake! You will need reservations to complete this hike but can find more information here. Hanging Lake is a challenging 3.1-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 1,187 ft. You will get great views of Glenwood Canyon, the Colorado River, and waterfalls throughout this hike.
GRAND JUNCTION & SURROUNDING WESTERN SLOPE AREAS
When we moved to the western slope of Colorado for my 7th physical therapy contract, we were living just outside of Grand Junction. I worked in Rifle, while my wife was downtown in Grand Junction. Luckily there was an RV park right in the middle, Grand Mesa RV Park, located in Mesa, CO.
MESA
Mesa is located on the side of Grand Mesa, which happens to be the LARGEST flat-topped mountain (aka “mesa”) in the world! And we got to live on it! It was an incredible experience because even though Mesa itself was a very small town, we had access to incredible views, alpine lakes, and Aspen trees all within a 30-minute drive of us. I would highly suggest exploring Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, Grand Mesa Visitor Center, and one of the 300 lakes located on top of the mesa, preferably our favorite, Island Lake. Stay in a lakeside cabin surrounded by Aspens at either Grand Mesa Lodge, Thunder Mountain Lodge, or Alexander Lake Lodge for the perfect weekend getaway! Do this during the fall and you will witness a beautiful blend of yellows and greens as far as the eye can see of the Aspen trees changing colors. During the winter, be sure to hit the slopes at Powderhorn Mountain Resort for a fun activity for the whole family, or go cross country skiing on the vast network of trails on the mountain.
PALISADE
At the bottom of Grand Mesa, where the Colorado River opens into the high desert of the western slope of Colorado sits Palisade. An adorable small town, home of the FAMOUS Palisade peaches. We had no idea Palisade peaches were a thing but thank God we were in the right place at the right time because I tell you what, to this day Palisade peaches are the best fruit we’ve ever had! We were even lucky enough to be there during the annual Peach Festival where we got to sample fresh peaches, peach bourbon, peach pie, and so much more!
Aside from the best peaches, Palisade is also home to award-winning wine. There are so many great wineries in Palisade such as Deroco Cellars, Colterris Winery, and Grande River Vineyards. You can have such a great day jumping around from one winery to the next. Or better yet, book a private tour either by horse, bike, or vehicle and explore all the hidden gems of Palisade.
If you’re feeling adventurous and looking for a good sweat I’d suggest conquering Mount Garfield. A challenging 3.4-mile hike with an elevation gain of 1,886 ft. Mount Garfield towers over Palisade and gives you views that stretch for miles! It’s an incredible hike but not for the faint of heart. Be sure to pack plenty of water because, in the dead of summer, it can get HOT and provides very little shade.
GRAND JUNCTION
Grand Junction is home to almost 67,000 people. While there may not be a load of fun activities to do in this town, it does have some pretty decent food, you just have to search for it. We loved grabbing breakfast at The Coffee Trader, Dream Cafe, or Sweet Kiwi Bakery. Lunch at Cafe Sol, 7th Street Deli, or Handlebar Tap House. And dinner at The Goat and Clover Tavern, The Rockslide Brew Pub, and Citrola’s Italian Restaurant. And don’t forget dessert at Gelato Junction.
Besides food, Paige also loved checking out the farmers market during the summer downtown or going to her favorite used bookstore, Grand Valley Books. Other than that most of our time was spent at Colorado National Monument.
COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
When traveling, a lot of people look for National Parks as landmarks to see, while overlooking National Monuments. We were guilty of this too, that is until we visited the Colorado National Monument. We will never overlook a National Monument again.
Colorado National Monument is located on the outskirts of Grand Junction, CO, but also has an entrance in Fruita. The park itself covers 32 square miles of land that includes deep canyons, towering rock formations, and LOTS of big horn sheep. We were fortunate enough to spend multiple weekends here exploring as much of the park as we could. We celebrated our anniversary, the 4th of July, and other random spur-of-the-moment trips inside this park. Each time was a unique experience and left us wondering why this Monument wasn’t a National Park.
CAMPING
Because we lived so close to the park we only camped once. We stayed at Saddlehorn Campground, which is inside the park and sites on top of the canyon making it a perfect location for sunset. Both RV and tent sites are $22/night. Check out their website for additional information regarding reservations.
HIKING & DRIVING
Colorado National Monument is a great park for those who want to see a lot for little effort. Rim Rock Drive is a non-stop 45-minute drive from the Grand Junction entrance to the Fruita entrance. Along the way, there are multiple short and easy hikes to do but may be a little nerve-wracking for those who are afraid of heights. Our favorites were:
If you are looking for a harder hike to do, we completed Ute Canyon Trail. This out-and-back trail is 11 miles long and has an elevation gain of 1,912 ft. The trail starts at Wildwood Drive, which does have limited parking, and ends with a steep climb to the Ute Canyon Upper Trailhead on Rim Rock Drive. If you have an additional car, park at the opposite trailhead to cut your hike in half!
HARVEY GAP & RIFLE FALLS STATE PARK
We spent a lot of time at both Harvey and Rifle Gap. Harvey Gap has a beautiful lake that we loved to paddle board on called Grass Valley Reservoir. It was never too crowded and because the lake isn’t too large the water was always calm enough to paddle board on.
Rifle Gap has a beautiful state park that I would highly recommend you check out! Rifle Falls State Park is a great area for camping, cave crawling, and hiking. I would recommend hiking to Rifle Falls, a short .7-mile hike with an elevation gain of 82 feet. An easy hike for great views!
GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
While Great Sand Dunes National Park might be debatable if it’s on the western slope or not, it’s still worth visiting! This was our first stop on our way to our new home in Rifle, CO. I had been once before but loved getting to create a new experience with my wife, Paige. Great Sand Dunes National Park is a unique park. It’s not very large, there’s not a lot of driving, and you better like sand.
We arrived at sunset and set up camp at Great Sand Dunes Oasis located just outside of the park. The campground has a few RV sites, tent sites, and even cabins. There’s a great shower facility on site too, which came in handy the following night. The following day, we headed into the park to watch the sunrise atop a dune. It was breathtaking. The park was quiet and calm. And the lighting was perfect. I would highly recommend you catch a sunrise if you can!
SAND SLEDDING
After the sun came up and the visitor center was open, we headed back to rent sandboards. We rented one sandboard and one sled. This is a must, especially if you have children. However, we don’t have children, we’re just children trapped in adult bodies, and we had the time of our lives! We felt like 10-year-olds hiking up a dune and sledding back down. Don’t get me wrong though, it was challenging! We wore thick socks because the sand was hot, windbreakers because it was windy as heck, and snow goggles to prevent the sand from blowing in our eyes (DO NOT FORGET THESE!) We spent hours hiking up and sledding down until we couldn’t hike anymore. Once we got back to the car, we realized just how filthy we were. Sand in crevices you wouldn’t believe. Thank God for those showers!
HIKING ZAPATA FALLS
The following day we decided to forgo sand and hike to a waterfall. Zapata Falls is a short one-mile out-and-back hike that leads you right to the falls. Depending on the time of year you complete the hike, Zapata Falls could look completely different. We went in May and the falls were still very much frozen. This meant we were able to hike directly up to the falls and witness something truly incredible. While most of the falls were completely frozen you could still hear water running. If you looked close enough you would be able to see the water rushing behind the thick frozen sheets of ice and underneath us. It was amazing! I would recommend packing crampons to ensure a steady walk as you walk along the frozen water.
ICONIC WESTERN SLOPE TOWNS
The western slope of Colorado has an abundance of cute mountain towns to explore, which made it hard to explore them all! There’s Aspen, Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne all within close proximity of each other, each offering something different and unique. Although we didn’t have time to explore the hidden gems and every nook and cranny these towns had to offer, we do have special memories that have taken place in each of them that are worth visiting again!
ASPEN
In Aspen, we visited the Maroon Bells. To visit the Maroon Bells you will need reservations. They can be made here. You will either purchase a private vehicle permit or hop on the shuttle and enjoy the ride to the trailhead. Once you arrive there are numerous amounts of trails you could hike. We completed the Maroon Bells Scenic Loop Trail. An easy 1.9-mile loop with an elevation gain of 160 feet. This will take you to the base of the Maroon Bells where Crater Lake sits. Depending on the time of the year this hike could feature wildflowers, golden aspens, or snow-covered mountainsides. The trail does close in November, so be sure to check out Maroon Bells earlier in the year to witness one of the most photographed mountains in America!
After hiking to the Maroon Bells, be sure to head to downtown Aspen. There are so many great shops, restaurants, and bars. We walked around for hours admiring the adorable town tucked in the mountains. Some spots that we enjoyed were Aspen Public House, Aspen Pie Shop, and Paradise Bakery & Cafe.
BRECKENRIDGE
Unfortunately, we didn’t see much of Breckenridge, however, we did get to cross one big, fluffy thing off our bucket list, dog sledding!
We booked our excursion through Good Time Adventures in Breckenridge, CO. Our guide was great, the company made booking easy, and of course, the dogs were furry balls of energy who made the whole experience 10x better!
To read more about our experience check out our post DOG SLEDDING IN THE ROCKIES for more information.
DILLON, FRISCO, & SILVERTHORNE
These 3 little mountain towns all kind of blend together surrounding Dillon Reservoir, which you will drive through if you are taking I-70 across Colorado. Typically, most people are stopping or staying here on their way to other ski resort towns, like Breckenridge or Keystone. But, if you are just passing through and want a break from your drive with some beautiful views here’s what we’d suggest.
Take a drive around Dillon Reservoir up to the Sapphire Point Overlook, which has a short little 0.6-mile loop trail with a view overlooking the Reservoir. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to visit with the not-so-shy locals who call this overlook home. (PS- Do not feed the wildlife, as tempting as it may be!)
On your way back down the mountain toward Frisco, stop in at Outer Range Brewing Company for a drink at one of our favorite breweries in Colorado. My personal favorite is their “Steezy Double Hazy IPA,” paired with a chicken sandwich from Bird Craft, an independent restaurant located inside the brewery.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Steamboat Springs is another popular ski town during the Winter months, but there’s still plenty to do and see in this charming little town in the warmer months too! It is surrounded by mountains full of hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, and hot springs!
We hiked to the popular Fish Creek Falls, a short 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that overlooks the falls. I’d also recommend taking the time to go down to the base of the falls for a closer look. I prefer this view the best. This view gives you a better idea of the size of this waterfall and allows you a chance to dip your feet in the water.
In the heart of Steamboat Springs, you’ll find endless options of shops, restaurants, and watering holes. This is where we found ourselves for most of the day when visiting Steamboat. Notable places we stopped at included The Barley Tap and Tavern, who claim to be the “Best Bar in Steamboat Springs”, Yampa Valley Ice Cream Company for a sweet treat, Skull Creek Greek, and Mahogany Ridge Brewery and Grill for a nice dinner.
Considering we’re camping fanatics, we opted to drive just south of Steamboat to Stagecoach State Park. Here we were able to reserve a waterfront campsite. We enjoyed both a beautiful sunrise and sunset, while paddleboarding on the calm Stagecoach Reservoir.
HOT SPRINGS
Another popular destination in Steamboat Springs is the Strawberry Park Natural Hot Springs. These hot springs are a great place to relax away from the crowd, as it’s tucked away in the forest outside of Steamboat Springs. Reservations are required to visit, which costs $20 for a 2-hour window to relax in the many outdoor geothermal pools open 365 days a year. Make it a classic Colorado weekend getaway with options for overnight lodging in their rustic cabins. Car camping and tent camping options are available by reservation as well. Further, unwind by booking an onsite massage, or strap your boots for the many hiking trails surrounding the property in the Routt National Forest.
TELLURIDE & OURAY
We can’t talk about the western slope without mentioning Telluride and Ouray, both of which are in my top 5 favorite Colorado mountain towns. Both towns are situated in the San Juan Mountains, which is an area that kept calling us back due to the vast number of world-class hikes in the area, including Blue Lakes and Ice Lake Trails. But regardless of hiking, both towns are certainly worth a visit any time of the year.
Telluride
Telluride is a cute and colorful little ski town tucked away in a large valley, that gives it this sense of isolation and peace that is hard to find! If you’re visiting in the Winter, obviously there’s plenty of skiing/snowboarding to be had at the Telluride Ski Resort, where you can stay at the beautiful Mountain Village that sits atop one of the surrounding mountainsides overlooking Telluride. If you are visiting Mountain Village, be sure to take the free gondola ride down to Telluride for a ride with a view! Be sure to check ahead of time whether the gondola is open as they do close for regular maintenance during certain times of the year.
Other notable things to do in Telluride include a hike up to Bridal Veil Falls, which features both the lower and upper Bridal Veil Falls on this 2-mile out-and-back trail with 859 ft elevation gain. You can also drive the road to see the falls but a high clearance 4WD vehicle is recommended.
After your hike, you can return to the town for some drinks and grub. We recommend checking out Brown Dog Pizza (you know a mountain town pizza is my favorite) and a drink at Stronghouse Brew Pub.
Ouray
Ouray is very aptly labeled as the “Switzerland of America!” This town also sits in a small valley surrounded by mountains; however, the mountains surrounding this town are much closer in proximity to the town with much steeper peaks, creating iconic views rivaling those of the Swiss Alps. Similar to Telluride, this town has many surrounding hikes to soak in the views as well as a cute little downtown area full of many restaurants, shops, and bars to meet your needs. We recommend any place with an outdoor patio with views, like Ouray Brewing, FullTilt Saloon, or Gold Belt Bar & Grill.
Interested in more breathtaking views with a hint of death and fear of driving off a cliffside??? Head south of Ouray towards Silverton, quickly stop at the “Switzerland of America” Lookout point, and continue on to the “Million Dollar Highway.” This drive is certainly not for the faint of heart, but worth it for the views!
WESTERN SLOPE HIKES
Colorado has no shortage of amazing hiking trails, but we feel that the western slope offers some of the best of the best in the whole state of Colorado. To read more about some of our favorite hikes of all time check out our blog post THE BEST ALPINE LAKE HIKES TO DO IN COLORADO.
In 2021 when we moved to the front range of Colorado we were living there from January through March. Because of this we never got to hike a 14’er. Fast forward to the summer of 2022 and we finally got to cross that off our bucket list! Not only did we conquer one 14’er but we conquered two in one go! We hiked Gray’s and Torrey’s Peak, an 8.1-mile hike with an elevation gain of 3,599 feet. It was an incredible feat, and we couldn’t have had a better day!
The western slope of Colorado just might be one of our favorite places in the States. There are endless amounts of hiking trails, fun activities to be had year-round, and beautiful mountain towns that can’t be beaten. We’d love to go back to Colorado and cross even more off our bucket list, but for now, we will reminisce on the good days. We’d love to hear about your time in the western slope and any must-see or do activities! Contact us for any further information regarding Colorado or travel pt. Also, be sure to check out COLORADO: THE FRONT RANGE for more places to visit East of the western slope.