For those who live or are visiting Grand Junction, there’s so much to do locally in the area. But if you are interested there are so many accessible places that are amazing day trips from Grand Junction.
We pull together some of the best day trips around and help you plan your travels. We have arranged these day trips by distance from Grand Junction.
Under 1 Hour
Palisades
Distance from Grand Junction: 12 miles (20 mins)
Near Grand Junction, Palisades is a farming community known for its delicious local produce and wines. It’s a perfect place to indulge in beautiful rolling hills, vineyards, and a cute local community. A small downtown area has a few cute restaurants and coffee shops, but most of the charm is in the farms and vineyards.
One of my favorite things about Palisades is the palisade peaches known throughout Colorado. While you can often find them even in Denver or other cities, nothing matches getting them fresh here in Palisades. Beyond that be sure to check out The Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range for a chance to encounter wild horses.
Fruita
Distance from Grand Junction: 12 miles (20 mins)
Another local town to Colorado Springs, Fruita is often nearly a suburb but has much to experience. One of my favorites is its parks and dinosaur exhibits. It also has a cute downtown with some restaurants and coffee shops. It’s worth a nice stroll, and I found some places like the Hot Tomato that have a fun vibe.
There are also parks such as the James Robb Colorado River State Park that are a fun excursion from Grand Junction. It’s also located close to the west side of Colorado National Monument.
Colorado National Monument
Distance from Grand Junction: 15 miles (30 mins)
It is one of my favorite places in Colorado and one of my favorite National Monuments. Colorado National Monument is larger than you’d expect and rugged with many great hiking trails. For first-time visitors, you should be sure to drive the rim road which takes you along the awe-inspiring cliff of the canyon rim. You’ll see some of the most beautiful rock formations with very “patriotic” names that line this canyon.
There are many hikes to get closer to the canyon, such as the Rim Trail, Otto’s Trail, Coke Oven Trail, and more. On the eastern side, you’ll descend off the canyon but there’s still more to see. Hikes in this area include the Serpent’s Trail (an old road), Devil’s Kitchen, and Echo Canyon. There’s so much to see that each time I visit I discover something new.
Between One and Two Hours
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 72 miles (1.5 hours)
One of the most underrated and incredible parks, Black Canyon of the Gunnison entices visitors to explore one of the most dramatic canyons in the United States. Named for light not reaching much of the canyon, the sheer cliffs plunge steeply into the flowing Gunnison River.
The Canyon is divided into two rims, with most visitors exploring the more developed southern rim. Here visitors can explore viewpoints and several hikes along each of the rims. For those who are able, intercanyon travel is possible. However, it is more dangerous and requires an extra permit.
There is no connection between the rims within the park so you’ll need to plan for a 2-hour drive if you choose to visit both.
Explore More: Guide to Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Distance from Grand Junction: 87 miles (1 hr 20 mins)
Located about 90 minutes from Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs is a fun town with beautiful nature, history, a cool downtown, and of course hot springs. There are several in the area, including a few wild ones, but most visitors will go to Glenwood Hot Springs or Iron Hot Springs. Both offer some great water but are very different experiences. If you want more of a pool, Glenwood works well, and Iron has some interesting smaller pools that you can explore.
There’s also Glenwood Adventure Park with access to many activities from caves to a gondola ride. You can also do some fishing and hiking in the forests that surround the park. There’s also some interesting history such as the cemetery in town that has the gravesite of the famous Western personality Doc Holliday.
One of my favorite parts is the town itself. It’s got some great shops and of course some really good restaurants. It has one of the best dining scenes for a mountain town its size. Overall, it’s an easy way to spend a great day trip away.
Hanging Lakes Trail
Distance from Grand Junction: 96 miles (1.5 hrs)
Officially considered part of Glenwood Springs, this beautiful hiking area is actually a bit further east of the town. Hanging Lakes is one of the most famous areas in this part of Colorado. The beautiful waterfalls that make up the lake are something to be seen to be believed.
The trail is actually moderate even if it’s pretty short. It’s about 3 miles round trip, with one mile of the trail that is mostly uphill. It’s an out-and-back hike and gives visitors access to both the falls and the lake.
Visits here do require a permit that has a timed entry. You’ll need to arrive at the parking area within 15 minutes before or after your reservation time. The trail is open year-round although may be closed in spring if there is flooding. Spikes are recommended during winter due to ice and snow.
Explore More: Guide to Hanging Lake Trail
Arches National Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 109 miles (1 hr 40 mins)
One of my favorite parks, Arches makes a perfect day visit from Grand Junction. There’s so much to see in the park but is compact enough that you can see most of the highlights in one long day.
Start the morning early if you can with a sunrise hike to Delicate Arch, this is the perfect time both for light as well as lack of crowds. Check out Devil’s Garden next before the crowds roll in and then head over to check out Double Arch, Windows, Balanced Rock, and other hikes in the area. If you can, book a ranger tour of Fiery Furnace and feel for getting lost among the rocks.
On your way back out of the park, be sure to check out the Courthouse Towers and nearby Park Avenue for some beautiful wanders along towering cliffs. It’s a perfect way to close out the day at the park.
For visits from April 1 – October 31 you’ll need to reserve a timed entry to enter between 7 am to 4 pm.
Explore More: Guide to Arches National Park
Dinosaur National Monument
Distance from Grand Junction: 110 miles (2 hours)
One of my favorite places in Colorado, Dinosaur National Monument, has incredible nature to explore. And of course Dinosaur Bones! Note that the Dinosaur bones and area is only in the western section (located in Utah), so be sure to stop there first to check out the Quarry Exhibit Hall which does close. While there, check out the petroglyphs in this area, especially the famous “lizard” in Cub Creek. There are also some great hikes in this area too.
After this go and check out the cliff area heading up from Dinosaur Colorado, and drive along the road and if you can hike the various trails here. Harper’s Corner is one of the best options for accessibility as well as views of the canyon.
If you have the desire one of the best things is to plan a rafting trip on the Green and Yampa rivers. You can do single or multi-day trips in this area. If you have the bandwidth overnight in Dinosaur is incredible with some of the best stargazing in the country.
Explore More: Guide to Dinosaur National Monument
Moab, Utah
Distance from Grand Junction: 113 miles (1 hr 45 mins)
Known as the adventure Mecca, Moab is an impressive array of incredible desert landscapes, rock formations, towering spires, and even a cool, quirky town to explore and lay your head down. There are two National Parks in the area, Arches and Canyonlands with unlimited opportunities for exploration. Arches is compact but with lots of hikes including Delicate Arch, Devil’s Garden, Windows, and more. Canyonlands is massive with hikes such as Mesa Arch, Upheaval Dome, and plenty of places to get lost in a 4WD fantasy land.
Beyond the parks is even more adventure. There are a ton of 4WD tracks through the area. Opportunities to raft on the river, hike among the desert landscape, climbing along the rocks make it a paradise for adventure seekers. And for those who love biking, few places are considered better than Moab to ride.
Canyonlands National Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 121 miles (2 hrs)
Canyonlands is HUGE as it’s the largest in Utah, so exploring here as a day trip from Grand Junction is best limited to one area. For this guide, we recommend visiting the Island in the Sky which is both the closest to Grand Junction and the easiest accessible area of Canyonlands.
But don’t fret, there’s so much to see in Island in the Sky which rests on a mesa towering over the desert landscape of the area. From here you can drive along the mesa to viewpoints and some dirt tracks to get more into the interior (if you have the proper vehicle). Some of the best hikes in the park include Mesa Arch, Upheaval Dome, Whale Rock, Aztec Butte, and more. It’s also home to White Rim Trail which is both a hiking and mountain biking trail. It’s one of the best-known biking trails in the world.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 122 miles (2 hours)
Located between Canyonlands and Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park gives incredible vistas of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. You get some beautiful hikes to viewpoints with great views of the river and towering rock formations. The park is also renowned for its Intrepid Trail System which is one of the most challenging mountain biking systems in the area.
The park is beautiful all times of day with stunning sunrises and sunsets, and of course, some amazing star gazing as well. You can also explore thousands of years of human history with important native american history and sites in the area as well. With stunning biking and hiking, and fewer visitors than its more famous National Park neighbors, there’s so much to do and experience in the park.
Over 2 Hours
Telluride
Distance from Grand Junction: 126 miles (2.5 hrs)
The former mining town is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque and charming places to visit. It boasts of an old-west vibe with its beautiful downtown and natural surroundings. The town is situated far from the usual tourist spots in Colorado, but a reasonable drive from Grand Junction.
The downtown is one of the most charming and beautiful mountain towns in Colorado. And the free gondola is a beautiful way to see the area and the canyon as well. Most Colorado towns charge so much for a gondola ride.
Skiing Telluride Ski Resort is one of the top draws, famous for its high altitude and challenging terrain. If you happen to be there at the right time of year, do not miss the annual Telluride Film Festival, which brings the town to life.
Aspen
Distance from Grand Junction: 127 miles (2 hrs 15 mins)
One of the most famous towns in the Colorado Mountains, Aspen is a beautiful location for food, and culture, as well as some of the most incredible nature in the Rockies. The town has a beautiful downtown with several blocks of shops and great restaurants. It’s one of the more walkable ski towns as well, which makes it feel more authentic than others (I’m looking at you, Vail).
Probably most famous for its ski areas, Aspen-Snow Mass has 4 mountains to explore that are very different from one another. You can check out Aspen, The Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk, which have various easy-to-expert options available.
Outside of ski season, coming to Aspen allows you to explore the beautiful nature and history. There are several ghost towns you can drive and explore as well as miles of trails throughout the national forests. One of my favorite areas Maroon Bells is located in Snowmass and is the poster for Rocky Mountain beauty. Just be sure to book your permit ahead of time. A trip to Maroon Bells is a perfect day trip from Grand Junction.
Vail
Distance from Grand Junction: 147 miles (2 hrs 15 mins)
Famous for the playground of the wealthy, Vail is actually a pretty accessible place to visit on a day trip. The busiest times in Vail tend to be winter and summer, and they are also the best times to explore. The famous Vail ski area is incredible with multiple peaks, plenty of acres, and of course beautiful back bowls.
During the summer there’s so much to explore in hiking and biking in the mountains around Vail. There are also many events and festivals in the town as well throughout the year, especially in the summer. GoPro Mountain Games is one of my favorite festivals in Vail with exhibitions of incredible athletes that you rarely see elsewhere.
If you’ve never been it’s worth a wander through the town, along the creek, and exploring the shops and restaurants of this mountain wonderland.
Goblin Valley State Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 151 miles (2 hrs 15 mins)
Goblin Valley State Park is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The park offers a unique experience with its stunning rock formations, including the famous mushroom-shaped hoodoos that have developed over time due to erosion. You can even get up close to the hoodoos which is prohibited in most parks in the state. There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy such as hiking, mountain biking, camping, and stargazing to fill a day or even days in the park.
The park is designated as an international dark sky location and hosts several stargazing events throughout the year. The park is spread across nearly 10,000 acres, providing ample opportunities for exploration. If you plan to visit for a day trip, the day-use fee is $20 per vehicle. If you want to stay overnight, camping is available for $45, and yurts are available for $150 when they are available.
Of note, there are limited services near the park. The nearest town, Hanksville, is about 30 miles away. Therefore, it’s recommended to bring your own food and supplies.
Camp Hale / Leadville
Distance from Grand Junction: 158 miles (2.5 hrs)
If you want to visit one of the newest National Monuments in the US, Camp Hale was recently created to immortalize the important training site of the Mountain Division during WW2. For those who love skiing and climbing, some of the most innovative works in those fields were invented here. Many of Colorado’s ski areas were founded by members who trained here. Additionally, several 10th Mountain Division huts can be explored on longer trips.
Leadville nearby is perfect to explore in combination with the National Monument. The town has a lot of charm downtown and has good restaurants, shops, museums, and nature to explore. The town was created during the mining boom in the area, and you can learn a lot about this history at the town’s mining museum.
Explore More: Guide to Camp Hale National Monument
Capitol Reef National Park
Distance from Grand Junction: 187 miles (3 hours)
One of the more overlooked parks by many folks, Capitol Reef has so many incredible things to explore in its wild desert landscape. The main draw of the park is the Waterpocket Fold, the 100-mile-long warp in the earth’s crust. It runs much of the length of the park and its impossible to miss.
To do this as a day trip we recommend a very early start. Its distance makes it tough but worthwhile to visit. First, you should visit the visitor center and, of course, the historic Fruita district. Be sure to get a pie when you are here as well.
You can do several drives here including “looping the fold” although some of that may be as tough as a day trip. But there are great scenic drives through the park in the northern section as well to drive Cathedral Valley and see beautiful rock formations like the Temple of the Sun.
The park has some incredible hikes to explore, including Hickman’s Bridge, The Grand Wash, Cassidy Arch, and more. There are plenty of trails for days to explore in the park.
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