Pick up a map at one of the local bike shops like Palisade Cycle & Shuttle, where you can also rent a sweet ride, and hit the road.
1. Three different routes accommodate travelers with a wide array of interests and cyclists of varying abilities.
The 5-mile East Cruiser Loop is an easy ride along the Colorado River, and the 7-mile West Cruiser Loop offers stunning views of the Book Cliffs. Meanwhile, those traveling by car and sturdy bicyclists love the 25-mile East Orchard Mesa Loop, which encompasses several hills and affords incredible views of Grand Junction.
2. There are more than a dozen amazing wineries to visit.
Grand Junction’s sunny weather mingles with dry air and cool nights to produce award-winning varietals of wine and epic fruit harvests. Known as the center of Colorado’s well-established wine industry, the Grand Junction area is home to a majority of the state’s wineries and vineyards.
A majority of the area's wineries can be found along the Fruit and Wine Byway. Pair the Vin de Peche (made with Muscat grapes and ripe peaches) with a heaping charcuterie board at Maison la Belle Vie Winery and don’t miss the smooth Lighting Cat Reisling at Carlson Vineyards.
3. Local farms offer a peek at the region’s agricultural riches.
Late summer is prime time to sample the area’s famous fruits, including apples, apricots, cherries and the coveted Palisade peach. Find super-fresh produce, preserves and other treats at the many farm stands along the Fruit and Wine Byway, like Fruit Basket Orchards. The farm and orchard tours are also excellent. Meet the happy alpacas at SunCrest Orchard Alpacas and Fiber Works and walk through fragrant lavender fields at Belli Fiori Lavender Farm.
4. There’s more to discover than just fruit and wine.
Indulge along the route at Peach Street Distillers, a must-stop close to where the byway begins.
5. The Fruit and Wine Byway boasts some of Grand Junction’s most iconic views.
Sights of the majestic Grand Mesa — the world’s largest flat-top mountain — as it towers over lush orchards and picturesque vineyards with tidy rows of grapevines are simply unforgettable. Break out your camera to capture wraparound panoramas of the Grand Junction and the Book Cliffs, sandstone mountains that resemble a shelf of books.
For more ways to experience Grand Junction, check out the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.
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