Grand Valley
The Grand Valley is a geographic region along the Western Slope of Colorado that encompasses the towns of Grand Junction, Fruita, Loma, and Palisade. Unlike most of the other destinations on this list, the trail network here is comprised largely of desert singletrack, meaning that this destination is best for a fall, winter, or spring riding trip. The fact that the Grand Valley doesn’t feature epic, high-elevation singletrack highlights the overall diversity that Colorado as a state offers.
While this region has long been ranked as a top-level destination, the COPMOBA folks in the Grand Valley continue to build trails and improve mountain bike trail offerings. As tourism has increased, so has the infrastructure like restaurants and micro-breweries to support it.
The closest ski resort to the Grand Valley is Powderhorn, located up on the Grand Mesa. While Powderhorn doesn’t nearly have the quality of natural snow or terrain that most other Colorado resorts offer, they’ve recently opened a brand-new bike park that’s attracting riders from across the region and diversifying the available MTB offerings.
Must-Ride Trails:
- Kokopelli-Area Trails: 40 miles, intermediate
- Lunch Loops: 40 miles, advanced
- 18 Road Trails / North Fruita Desert: 40 miles, beginner/intermediate
Beer:
Bike Shops:
[see_also id=’230167′]
Up next: Salida.
