Partnership with Google Puts Grand Junction, Colorado on the Map

In perfect timing of National Trails Day on June 6, people around the world can now tour Grand Junction, Colorado and surrounding area trails without ever leaving their homes.

Grand Junction, Colorado (June 4, 2015) – In perfect timing of National Trails Day on June 6, people around the world can now tour Grand Junction, Colorado and surrounding area trails without ever leaving their homes. Through the Trekker Loan Program, Visit Grand Junction has made many of the most popular trails in the area accessible on Street View in Google Maps.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to participate in the prestigious Google Trekker project,” stated Visit Grand Junction. “We welcome the world to glimpse the amazing trail system that we have to offer within the immense public lands surrounding Grand Junction, Colorado and thank all local partners for making this a reality. In total, we have mapped over 50 miles of Grand Junction trails for Google Maps.”

From the Pyramids of Giza to the Amazon Rainforest, Street View features panoramic imagery across 66 countries around the world. Many of these images are collected with the Google Trekker, the newest vehicle in the Street View fleet. The Trekker is a camera system that gathers images as its operator walks through pedestrian walkways or trails on foot. That imagery is then stitched together to create the 360-degree panoramas you see today in Google Maps.

Now for the first time, people all over the world can explore the Colorado National Monument, 18 Road North of Fruita, Lunch Loops/Tabeguache Trail, Palisade Rim Trail and the Colorado Riverfront Trail, plus others. With this imagery, viewers can go on self-guided tours of these locations, giving them a sense of Grand Junction, Colorado and surrounding areas, with the intention of inspiring them to visit in person. 

“Working with Visit Grand Junction to bring the trails and scenic landscapes of Colorado online has been such a treat,” said Deanna Yick, Google Maps Street View Program Manager. “With an office in Boulder, Google is truly a part of the Colorado community, and we are thrilled to bring these beautiful locations to Google Maps for people to explore and enjoy.”

Visit Grand Junction extends a special thank you to the following partners: the Cities of Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade, Grand Junction Parks & Recreation Department, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Parks Service and Colorado National Monument, and the Colorado Riverfront Commission, Grand Valley Trails Alliance, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, as well as Mesa County Parks and Landscapes Division.

For more information about Grand Junction, Colorado go to visitgrandjunction.com. For more information about this initiative, reach out to Visit Grand Junction at [email protected] If you are interested in speaking to a Google representative, please reach out to Susan Cadrecha at [email protected].