All Quiet on the Western Slope
Situated where the great Rocky Mountains meet the desert plateau with the Book Cliffs to the north and the Colorado River to the south, Colorado’s Grand Valley provides a reprieve from the chaos and overpopulation that is the Front Range. Life moves slower back here, with plenty of time to greet the morning in the warm desert sun or bid adieu to the day among a technicolor horizon.
Day 1 – Park City to Fruita
April in Utah is a special time of year. Where mid-week powder days and sunny desert weekend runs can bookend the workweek. With Tuesday and Wednesday proving to be epic pow days, we loaded up the bikes and truck in chase of the sunny and 70 degree forecast to the south.
Photo: David Spinowitz
Above: After setting up camp at 18 Road, we set out for an evening spin on PBR and Joe’s Ridge.
Day 2 – Lunch Loops, Grand Junction
Post-lazy camp morning, we headed to Grand Junction and met up with friends Trevor and Sienna of Guide Pro. Never having ridden Lunch Loops, I was both excited and a little intimidated to have a couple locals like Trevor and Sienna show us around as they’re both absolute rippers. Lucky for us, they’re also both very patient 😉
Below: The Crux on Holy Cross. Who rode it best – Allison, Sienna, or Trevor?
After an epic ride and tailgate sesh, we ventured into Palisade for some beer and brisket. Palisade Brewery is a must stop if you’re in the area. Big thanks again to Trevor and Sienna for playing tour guides and be sure and hit us up next time you’re in Park City so we can return the favor!
Day 3 – PBR & Horsethief Bench
After another lazy morning and breakfast lap on PBR, we set out for the Kokopelli trailhead. If you’re a mountain biker, you’ve likely seen photos of the iconic Horsethief Bench drop-in. While perhaps ridable for 1% or so of the mtb population, most mere mortals simply walk our bikes down it. The rest of the trail is fast and flowy with a nice amount of tech to keep things interesting for both intermediate and advanced riders.
Photo: David Spinowitz
Photo: David Spinowitz
Photo: David Spinowitz
Great trip report! Trevor and Sienna are about the BEST tour guides you could ask for.