Western Colorado: Grand Junction, Durango, Telluride, Mesa Verde & Beyond

Vast expanses of wild, rugged hills make up this country. The city of Grand Junction - so named for the confluence of two rivers - is the gateway to the wilderness and Utah's rugged terrain.Just east of Junction is Palisade, a valley lush with peaches and pears that abuts the 50-mile-wide flat-topped Grand Mesa, bursting with recreational activities. To the north are the Book Cliffs and eventually Dinosaur National Monument. Grand Mesa National Forest boasts 300 lakes and reservoirs. At an average elevation of 10,000 feet, hundreds of lakes, forests, and meadows attract wildlife to its conifer-covered mountainsides. Many million years ago, a flash flood or other natural disaster trapped a dinosaur colony living near present-day Green River within the surrounding canyon walls. Earth and water conspired to entomb this pack of dinosaurs in a sandbar where they would remain until they were discovered in 1909. Over the years, 1,000 tons of bones were excavated, most of which had been preserved in their pristine state. The rolling hills of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area are ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Wildflower-filled meadows and hidden little lakes fill this beautiful area. Southwestern Colorado revels in its historic roots. The ancient Anasazi Indians left behind their cliff dwellings and mysteries 700 years ago at Mesa Verde National Park, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, and Hovenweep National Monument, among other sites. The white men who came seeking riches built ornate Victorian structures, as well as railroads to haul their precious ore, at the end of the last century. Fine examples of this architecture can be seen today in Durango, Silverton, Ouray and Telluride. And 200,000 tourists ride the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad every year between these two cities, the only line left from all the rail routes that once serviced the remote mountain communities. The San Juan Forest covers nearly two million acres. Along the western edge of the forest the Dolores River slices through this borderland, pouring out of the most rugged range in the Rockies. The San Juans seem to plunge abruptly rather than blend into the 130,000 square miles of the Colorado Plateau, a region distinguished by sensational natural forms, sage-scented bluffs, deep, vertical-walled canyons, and the wind whistling through elegantly sculpted sandstone created over millions of years. Scenic splendor and a sense of history are the most obvious attractions here. There are hundreds of miles of trails for you to hike, backpack, mountain bike, and ride on horseback, with more miles of rivers to raft, canoe, or kayak. There are hot springs to soothe you, and the fish are biting in lakes and streams. You can wander through ruins or soar above it all on a scenic glider flight. Within the San Juan National Forest, the Weminuche Wilderness encompasses one of the biggest wilderness areas in the US, covering 459,000 acres, including 80 miles along the Continental Divide. The mountainous Weminuche boasts elevations averaging 10,000 feet and includes more than 400 miles of trails for hikers or horseback riders. Mountain bikes, motorized vehicles, chainsaws, helicopters, and all other mechanized reminders of civilization are prohibited. This guide covers all the places to stay and eat in Western Colorado, the adventures, the history, how to get around, and much more. Loaded with color photos.