Colorado’s Other Side Travel to Colorado is synonymous with Denver, Aspen, Vail, or maybe Rocky Mountain National Park, all of which are on the eastern slope. But Delta County, on Colorado's western slope at the base of Grand Mesa, is definitely worth a trip. Accessible from the Grand Junction, Salt Lake and Denver airports, its varied landscape and myriad of attractions appeal to any taste, budget or age.
 Outdoor enthusiasts can stay busy for days. The Crawford, Paonia and Sweitzer Reservoirs are great places to picnic, boat, water ski, camp, swim and fish. The north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, near Crawford, features spectacular views and unprecedented heights, which you can view from the park's many trails. The canyon also offers rafting, kayaking and pontoon boats.
Nearby Crawford State Park provides a scenic refuge from the everyday, with fishing, hiking and water sports. Paonia State Park’s natural beauty and abundance of wildflowers make it a "must see" for photographers and nature lovers. Confluence Park, in the town of Delta, boasts 265 acres dedicated to trails, a bike path, swim area, picnic sites, fishing lakes, river access and a fitness course. Grand Mesa National Forest, West Elk Wilderness Area and the Uncompahgre National Forest offer hunting, fishing, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, camping and horseback riding.  The Gunnison, Uncompahgre and North Fork Rivers are an angler's paradise. The more than 300 lakes on Grand Mesa provide ample room to find your own favorite fishing hole. The Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery, which boasts 32 outdoor concrete raceways, 24 nursery tanks, and 6 earthen ponds, is a great place for kids to learn the sport.
 Three scenic byways provide fascinating and diverse options. Dinosaur Diamond, featuring the paleontology of the area, offers glimpses of dinosaur bones, evidence of early man's inhabitance and geographic timelines. The West Elk Loop, featuring the recreational, historical and conservationist aspects of the Delta County communities is a 205-mile drive. The Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway features more than 300 lakes, providing easy access to camping, fishing and boating.
 From late June through October, roadside stands will treat you to locally grown cherries, peaches, apricots, apples and more. Grapes are also grown here, resulting in ten wineries, five tasting rooms, two distilleries and a new hard cider mill to sample. For the meat connoisseur, bison, beef, ostrich and elk are all raised and sold here.
 Delta County's festivals pay homage to the area's proud heritage and history. Deltarado Days in Delta dates back to 1936 and includes food, live music, mule and donkey races, a rodeo, tractor  pull and coal shoveling events, among others.
The North Fork Bluegrass Festival in Hotchkiss, known for its easy-going garden party atmosphere is where up and coming bluegrass bands show their stuff. Crawford Pioneer Days pays homage to Crawford's heritage and features an old- fashioned melodrama and an elk calling contest. Paonia hosts two festivals to celebrate their locally grown products, the annual Cherry Days in July, and the Mountain Harvest Festival in September.
westerncolorado.org/itineraries.htm Photo credits: Gunnison and rock art: Bob Marshall. Vineyard: Leroux Creek Inn. Edited by Ellen Schofield |
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