Discover Mesa: River, Rock and Culture

A trip to Mesa can focus on several different things: activities on the Colorado River, museums and regional history, or canyons and trails. When looking for a hotel, choose its location based on the experiences you want to shape your stay. The places and activities vary considerably, from river trips to dinosaur fossils.

Rivers, Lakes and Trails

The Monument Trail is three miles long and paved. It connects the Colorado Riverfront with the red rock landscapes at the foot of Colorado National Monument and also forms the backbone of the ten-mile Redlands Loop. The two distances refer to different routes: the trail and the loop.

Connected Lakes offers trails along a series of ponds and accessible fishing piers. From there, it’s possible to take river trips of about ten miles to Fruita; this stretch of the Colorado River has areas with Class II rapids. Corn Lake has a launch site for boaters and rafting on the Colorado River. Warm- and cold-water fishing are available there. Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and trout are stocked in spring and fall.

The offerings at River Park at Las Colonias also take different forms: the park includes a long, accessible water channel, two standing waves, beach and shallow-water areas, and a boat ramp to the Colorado River. The ponds at Las Colonias Park are open to the public for kayaking and stand-up paddling. Visitors can rent equipment from Grand Junction Stand Up Paddle (GJ SUP) for use at River Park, on the ponds or on the Colorado River.

The Fruita section of James M. Robb Colorado River State Park offers restrooms, a trail along the Colorado River and a large visitor center. Rafting, tubing and canoeing are among the park’s popular river activities; local outfitters offer guided rafting trips, instruction and equipment rentals.

Museums, History and Prehistory

The Museum of the West features historical and archaeological exhibits on the Old Spanish Trail, as well as art and history of western Colorado and regional history. The museum includes a Native American Gallery and a replica of an 1880s mud-wagon stagecoach. The Sterling T. Smith Observation Tower rises nearly 75 feet above the museum. From there, the 360-degree view takes in Grand Junction, the Colorado River and the surrounding canyon landscape.

The historic site of Cross Orchards preserves the agricultural and railroad heritage of the Grand Valley. The grounds were once a 243-acre apple orchard. Dinosaur Journey displays real dinosaur fossils, and visitors can get a look inside an active paleontology lab. The museum also offers interactive exhibits featuring animatronic dinosaurs.

Another way to explore prehistory is the Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time: this 1.5-mile interpretive loop passes an active fossil quarry containing 140-million-year-old dinosaur fossils. For a visit focused on history and paleontology, you can combine museum exhibits with a loop trail alongside an active quarry.

Canyons and Outdoor Experiences

Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness covers more than 75,000 acres and has the second-largest concentration of natural arches in North America. Little Book Cliffs Wilderness Study Area encompasses four major canyon systems, a 2,000-foot cliff face in the Book Cliffs and a herd of wild horses. Each landscape has its own distinctive features to consider when planning your time outdoors.

The North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail can be explored on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. Twenty-five miles of the Colorado River run through McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area; boat trips through multicolored sandstone canyons are possible along this stretch. Also in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, the 142-mile Kokopelli Trail attracts mountain bikers and extends to Moab, Utah.

For a change of pace, Peachfork Orchards & Vineyard offers wine and fruit tastings; seasonal operations may vary. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether river activities, landscapes, museums or tastings.

Discover more destinations: Palisade, Redlands, Grand Junction, Fruita, De Beque, Archuleta, Custer, Las Animas.

For the broader travel overview: Colorado.