Palisade wants you to know there’s more to Colorado than the Front Range

In the Little Book Cliffs near Palisade, Colorado, visitors can take a trail ride to see wild horses that live on public land. Pam LeBlanc photo

Gravel crunches beneath Dolly’s hooves as we drop into a rocky canyon east of Palisade, Colorado. 

The horse lifts her head and takes a whiff. I’m not sure if she smells the sage, which permeates the air, or a distant herd of wild mustangs. 

I’ve joined JR’s Carriage Services for a trail ride through the Little Book Cliffs, where nearly 200 horses roam free. It’s part of a five-day trip that includes snow skiing, hiking and stops at local distilleries and breweries. 

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Texans have long headed to Colorado to ski during winter or escape the sizzling heat in summer. But many limit their explorations to the front range of the Rocky Mountains. I went farther west to investigate the state’s less crowded and equally beautiful Western Slope. 

I flew into Grand Junction and turned Palisade, known for its peach orchards and wineries, into my home base. From there, I made day trips to nearby Colorado National Monument, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, and Powderhorn Ski Resort.  

9 fun things to do in Palisade, Colorado

Here are 9 fun things to do in and around Palisade… 

1. The Palisade History Museum, housed in an old log house at the corner of Elberta Street and Highway 6, makes a great first stop. Exhibits at the museum, once occupied by a freight hauling business, tells the story of the region’s native ancestors, as well as its mining and peach growing background.

A scenic drive winds through Colorado National Monument in northwest Colorado. The park is a short drive from Palisade. Pam LeBlanc photo

2. Most Texans know of Rocky Mountain National Park, but fewer have visited Colorado National Monument. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a 23-mile road that winds through the 265,807-acre park’s sheer-walled canyons and twisted red rock formations. Entry fee is $25 per vehicle or $15 per person. We spotted a few cyclists with well-toned calf muscles pedaling through. For best results, get out of your car and hike.

Wild mustangs roam the Little Book Cliffs near Palisade, Colorado. Pam LeBlanc photo

3. Palisade is located 20 minutes from the Little Book Cliffs, where about 200 wild mustangs live on federal land. I joined J.R.’s Carriage Service for a trail ride into the canyons, where we spotted two bands of the horses, descendants of animals once owned by the Ute people who lived in the area. 

Chris LeBlanc skis at Powderhorn, a small ski area near Palisade, Colorado. Pam LeBlanc photo

4.  I went to Palisade mainly to go skiing. It takes just 40 minutes to drive to nearby Powderhorn Ski Resort, where you can ski down the Grand Mesa, the biggest flat top mountain in North America. The resort’s Bob Beverly Program provides first-time snowboarders or skiers with three days of lift tickets, three days of rentals, and three days of lessons for free. If you want to skip the commute and stay at the base, book a room at the affordable Tiny Home project. And in summer, you can bike the slopes.

5. My favorite bourbon is made at Peach Street Distillers in Palisade, where visitors can take a tour or sample the array of offerings. You can also visit Clark & Co.’s Distilling (I recommend the honey lavender gin) or the Palisade Brewing Company. The first commercial grapes were planted in the area in the 1970s, and today more than two dozen wineries operate in the area, too.

6. Prefer pedaling to hiking? From the 32-mile, experts-only Palisade Plunge, which plummets off the Grand Mesa all the way to Palisade, to the nearby Lunch Loops in Grand Junction or the desert trails in Fruita, cyclists can take their pick from an array of options. 

7.Hang your hat at one of Palisade’s cozy, unpretentious motels. This time I stayed at The Homestead, where you can gather around a fire pit or play a game of cornhole, but I also like Spoke and Vine, which has its own bar and is situated just blocks from all the shops and restaurants.

Pam LeBlanc finds a hidey hole while hiking in Palisade, Colorado. Chris LeBlanc photo

8. If you’re looking for a sweet spot to catch the last rays of sunlight, head to the Palisade Rim Trail on the east side of town. The trail – popular with cyclists and hikers – stretches for 13 miles and climbs 1,000 feet above the valley floor – but you only have to hike a quarter of a mile in to get a spectacular view of the surrounding mesas. It’s gorgeous at sunset.

9. If you visit Palisade during the summer, stop by one of the local orchards to pick your own fruit or buy it from a roadside stand. Palisade is known for its peaches, but apricots, cherries, pears and apples are all grown here. Check this list of farms and fruit stands.