Grand Junction, with a approximate population of 42,000, is the largest center on the Colorado Western Slope, unofficially serving as the capital of the region. The city located along the north side of Colorado River where it receives the Gunnison River from south.
Downtown Grand Junction is a classic western town, that is gradually evolving into an arts center, with gallery's and antique shops. The name "Grand" refers to the historical name of the upper Colorado used by locals in the late 19th and early 20th century. The city sits near the mid-point of 30-mile (48 km) arcing valley, known as the Grand Valley, that is a major fruit growing region, historically home to the Ute people and settled by white farmers in the 1880s. In recent years, several wineries have been established in the area as well. The Colorado National Monument, a series of canyons and mesas similar to the Grand Canyon, overlook the city. Interstate 70 connects the city eastward to Glenwood Springs and Denver. The Monument is a great place to hit some towers and climb some great desert cracks.
Spring and Fall are often the best times of the year to visit and climb here. Summers can be very warm and winters although mild compared to the rest of the state can be unpredicatable with cold winds.
On rest days, about 10 miles west of GJ is the town of Fruita, which has some good single track mountain biking, both at the Bookcliffs and above to the Colorado River. People compare it to Moab 10 years ago! It is the starting point of the Kokopeli Trail which is a great bike trip between Fruita and Moab of about 142miles. One good resource is bikerpelli My wife and I did it over four days last spring and had a blast.
Summit Canyon Mountaineering is located downtown, as well as brew pubs and heap of eating choices. REI also has a store located to the East of the town center.
If climbing at the National Monument, camp at the campground,
Other places to stay include ...
There is also wine tasting in the area for those staying for multiple days.
Start off with two hand cracks, then start cranking up steep hand jams till you surmount a bulge. Then it turns into loose fingers and ledges. Great climb that takes some endurance....[more]
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