Hidden gems of Colorado’s Western Slope include sandstone arches, James Beard-quality dining

Fall foliage drives get a lot of attention in Colorado — who doesn’t gawk at a shimmering, golden stand of aspen trees? — but have you ever made the mid- or late-summer trek from Denver to Grand Junction, winding through towering red rock canyon walls in the early evening? It’s like an amped-up golden hour, but with the earthy reds illuminated in a way that seems cinematic. And it’s a warm, radiant welcome to the Western Slope.

Last July, my friend group somehow synced up all seven of our schedules for a last-minute getaway to the Grand Valley so we could bounce between wineries, float in the Colorado River and, of course, bring home a stash of juicy Palisade peaches and crates filled with plump cherries.

But beyond the agricultural bounty that this part of the state is famous for, Grand Junction and its environs have become an outdoor lover’s playground, a reputation bolstered by the new — and epic — downhill mountain biking trail, the Palisade Plunge, and the recently developed Riverfront at Los Colonias Park that’s a hub for kayakers, paddle boarders and lazy river enthusiasts.

Did you know that the area’s Rattlesnake Canyon has 35 sandstone arches, the second-largest concentration of arches outside of Utah’s namesake (and more crowded) national park? Or that 100 wild mustangs roam in Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Preserve, one of just a few U.S. ranges set aside to protect wild horses?

The New York Times included Grand Junction on its “52 Places to Go in 2023” list, along with Martinque and Lausanne, Switzerland. And Food & Wine Magazine declared Grand Junction the “new Sonoma.” Even if the recent attention drums up tourism from outside Colorado, your visit isn’t likely to seem crowded – the region includes 1 million acres of public land featuring rivers, canyons, mesas and mountains.

Here’s a guide to exploring Colorado’s Western Slope this summer.

Where to adventure on the Western Slope

The Grand Junction area is a playground for mountain bikers, hikers and paddlers.

The alpine-to-desert Palisade Plunge, which was more than a decade in the making, descends a thrilling 32 miles from the world’s tallest flat-top mountain to the valley floor in Palisade. It beckons experienced bikers (there are black diamond sections) to skirt cliff sides and, despite being called the “plunge,” includes some grueling climbs. Those taking the plunge should carry plenty of water and avoid biking this technical trail on summer’s hottest days.