Stopped in here for info on the riverfront trail. The gentlemen at the center were knowledgeable…read moreand helpful and were enthusiastic about Grand Junction. For sure stop here for info if you are in the area

So we are on our way to Maine from Southern California and got stuck and couldn't go through the…read moreVail pass. We were directed to go back to Grand Junction and the north. We got lost so thought we'd try and stop and get an idea. Not only did we get assistance to get back on track but we also got maps and highlighted as to where to go! It was over the top help that was not expected but greatly appreciated.

Friendly visitor center. Highly recommend as a first stop when arrive at the city. Lots of…read morebrochures and again, a friendly visitor guide! Jacki K, thank you!

From the owner: Glenwood Springs, located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains between Aspen and Vail, is famous for…read moregeothermal amenities and outdoor adventures. You can fish the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork or raft the epic Colorado River, ski, board or snowmobile at affordable Sunlight Mountain Resort, hike or bike dozens of trails, eat at world class restaurants, soak in more than 32 mineral hot springs pools, steam in a hot spring fed cave, or take in thrills at America’s only mountaintop theme park. Glenwood Springs appeals to all ages and abilities.

We love stopping here!…read more They have a wonderful park, and in the warmer months, it is a great place to enjoy their picnic tables for a nice lunch or snack after you have been driving all day. There are restrooms here, information about Butch Cassidy outside, and even a mini Welcome to Colorado sign welcoming you to this welcome center. You will also find the nicest volunteers here sharing information about Colorado.

Grass field to let the dog out and a small building with good restrooms and water refill station…read more Outdoor seating. There was a traffic jam because the trailers lined up at the entrance even the parking lot itself was empty.

Spectacular area with great trails. Lake is right next to visitor center…read more Rangers were very helpful in identifying different peaks and mmk lakes. Nice gift shop too. And the restrooms are very neat!

The Grand Mesa Scenic Drive is a definite must esp during the fall. The aspen tress are bright…read moreyellow along the mountain and the air is fresh and so inviting. The lakes are beautiful and the wildlife are plenty. There are no cars on this road and it is just a spectacular easy drive for any car. No need for a 4x4 unless you would like to go down through Land End's. So pack a lunch and some snacks and spend the entire day there. You won't regret it. Fyi- don't forget to visit the observatory. You have a great view of grand junction and it's vicinities. Also lots of chipmunks that are not afraid of people so bring some nuts.

Came here to camp with a friend over the weekend. We did not get to explore much but from what i…read moresaw of the area, there was a lot of camping, a visitors center, lots of lakes for boating and fishing, so much hiking. The roads are dirt so be prepared for that. There is a fee for camping. Most ranged from $12 to $20 a night at the sites we checked out. They have a envelope to pay cash with at the entrance of each camping area.

Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

Lotta rock. If you like rocks, this is the place to be. Despite the unfortunate fire last year,…read morethey still had a lot of cool rock

I didn't have the highest expectations going into our trip to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National…read morePark. I didn't know too much about the park and was a bit disappointed that we had to nix the plans to do our large hike in the North Rim of the park. That being said, BCGNP far surpassed all expectations on just our very first overlook - Tomichi Point - within minutes of driving into the South Rim. I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of the canyons. The South Rim is so very different from the North Rim, so if you only have time to go to one, make sure to do your research. The South Rim is much more developed, more popular, has plenty of tiny hikes and overlooks, and brings the easy, classic beauty. The South Rim drive is an easy 7 miles and features 12 overlooks with the longest hike to the overlook being about 0.5 of a mile. And most of the hikes are more like walks. Stunning views, perfect for sunset. You'll also find the BCGNP visitor center on the South Rim drive. The North Rim is much more underdeveloped and less visited. We visited in the late afternoon and only ran into one other group of people while driving their scenic North Rim drive. I believe it's about 4.5 miles, and it is unpaved - that being said, we drove it in a Toyota Corolla without any issues. These overlooks are equally gorgeous but give you a different perspective of the canyon. You'll find a lot of the bigger hikes in the North Rim. While we weren't able to fit one into our schedule, we did do part of the North Vista Trail to see Exclamation Point - wonderful hike, wish we had been able to do the full trail. Overall, I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison, but it definitely wasn't how breathtakingly beautiful this park is. 100% worth a stop, and if all you do is stop at their overlooks, you will still get to experience so much beauty.

We have been to Grand Junction many times but I've never been on top of the mesa. He wanted to show…read moreit to me so we headed to the top. The drive was beautiful with lovely views. The weather was perfect. Cool but sunny. We didn't go to the Land's End Observatory as we wanted to keep good time and not get to the hotel late. Stopped at Cobbett Lake. A gorgeous lake with trails and the visitor center nearby. We used the facilities and then continued the drive. The drive down afforded breathtaking views of the fall colors. Met a friendly couple who took our photos and we chatted for a bit. They were house hunting and I was jelly. What a fantastic place to move to. I look forward to driving this route again and spending time at the observatory.

Bottom Line: Welcoming and helpful staff, clean bathrooms, water bottle refilling station and…read moreplenty of parking. Upon arriving in Ouray my husband and I stopped at the Visitor Center. For starters, I like that the building seems to be an old train depot. We were immediately greeted by Patty and she was incredibly welcoming and helpful. She was able to answer all of our questions about sites, hiking, parking and stuff to see on our trek back down to Durango. Also, she did an awesome job juggling multiple visitors. After a long drive we also appreciated the clean restroom and place to refill our water bottles. Oh, and there was plenty of parking out back. I can't imagine a better welcoming to Ouray!

The visitors center was so helpful with giving us information we needed on sites to see here. Mary…read morePeg was wonderful, very helpful, and polite. We enjoyed our day here.

Great campground in Gunnison National Forest. It is on Forest Service Road 706, off county road…read more12, between Paonia and Crested Butte. There are 15 campsites (FCFS) plus a small parking area for day use. CR 12 and FSR 706 are not paved, but any vehicle can travel the roads. The highlight of the campground is Lost Lake, a pristine alpine lake at 9600' elevation. The Beckwith Peaks are in the background. If you paddle across the lake (SUP or kayak - no motorized water craft) you get a stunning view of the Ruby Range. (No Ruby Range photos since I didn't bring my waterproof phone case this trip). The lake is dammed and is filled with snow runoff. Even in midJuly, the water was COLD. No chance in h e l l I was going to let myself fall off that SUP! But midJuly was prime time for the wild flowers. Lupine. Queen Anne's lace. Wild rose. Pentsemon. Sneeze weed. Cow parsnip. Fire weed. Absolutely stunning. I'm told the lake is stocked twice annually with rainbow trout. But I don't fish so can't verify. I did see lots of fishermen though.

This campground was relatively easy to access, on a gravel road well-maintained. The camping spaces…read morewere not too crowded in on each other, and plenty of trees for shade. There are picnic areas with grills, bathrooms, and access to the lake for recreation. Plenty of trails for hiking by foot, or with horses. This place makes for a great one-day or multi-day visit.