Eat, Sleep, Play: Grand Junction

The adventure hub of Colorado’s Grand Valley is a biking and wine enthusiast’s paradise.

EAT

With an arid climate and ample sunshine, the Grand Valley is a grower’s paradise, which makes it an eater’s paradise, too. Before hitting the trails, head to GJ’s historic and artsy downtown district for a cup of Klatch coffee and a hearty bagel breakfast sandwich at Main Street Bagels (gjmainstreetbagels.com). Post-ride, cool down with a house-brewed craft beer and the pub-style dining menu at Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery (rockslidebrewpub.com). This longtime Grand Junction institution also offers up mid-day small plates, like a selection of flat bread pizzas, which are available for just $6 during one of two happy hours offered throughout the day. And with more than 20 wineries in the area, don’t forget the grapes! Explore the valley’s thriving winery scene by bike, or snag tickets to the Colorado Mountain Winefest  (coloradowinefest.com), September 19 through 22, 2019.

SLEEP

Book a room at Two Rivers Winery & Chateau (tworiverswinery.com), a rustic lodging property surrounded by some of the area’s most iconic natural draws. Two Rivers hosts a handful of charming guest suites with room rates beginning at $92 per night. If you’d rather sleep under the stars, you’re in luck. The Grand Junction area is home to a healthy camping scene, which includes plenty of dispersed BLM camping. Or head to the Saddlerock Campground in Colorado National Monument, which garnered a Best of the Rockies award from EO readers.

PLAY

Whether you’re a die-hard mountain biker or prefer the road, Grand Junction caters to two wheels. Explore the Tabeguache Trail, which rolls across 142 miles of public land from Montrose to Grand Junction. Riders looking for more technical track should head to the Lunch Loops—a system of challenging, fun technical trails just outside of town. Road riders will want to tick off the classic 33-mile Rim Rock Drive loop in Colorado National Monument that racks up 2,300 vertical feet of climbing along the red rock Visit visitgrandjunction.com for a complete list of trails and menu of rides to choose from. 

—Tyra Sutak