Grand Junction

[Great-Kazoo]

Plus, at the end of the day, if driving to California, I'll take 11 hours from GJ vs 15 from here any day. Those 4 hours at the end of a long trip add up.

One reason the spouse is looking west. Shaves 4 + drive time hours off the trip. Have to say some areas off 15 in UT look interesting. The tallest object we noticed in 4 towns was the American flag.
It's too bad CA is so screwed up. Between gun laws, taxes, Illegals, FSA entitlements etc. Central CA just outside Sequioa nat'l park is fantastic AND affordable.

[Great-Kazoo]

Just laying tile in our shop. If you run through town, and you happen to go by the south end (HWY 50) we're just west of the new maverick station. "Snipper Shoot". Make sure you let me know you're from here cause I don't know dick from tom.

Nursing: good
Banking: Okay
Job prospects MSCO: Moderate
New Sheriff: Problem, 4th amendment violations (but better than Steve King)
Night life: Hell I don't know I work all the time.
Economy: Largely oilfield support but fairly diversified. High tech jobs are lacking out here.
Desert access: Very nice

DAMN. we drove past there, however it was after 5 and on a schedule. The spouse said Hey that looks like a place to stop by .

[hurley842002]

Go south from GJ. After Delta and Montrose, you either go to Silverton and Durango or go west toward Telluride. Ouray is a nice little tourist trap and the drive up the pass is fun when it isn't snowing and iced over. Just avoid Gunnison

Lots of great places on the western slope. I think finding jobs will be your first and biggest hurdle.

Good luck with your search.

Thanks for the info!

[The Norseman]

My FIL lives in Cedaredge. If had to move out of Durango, this is where I'd end up. Smaller and quieter than most places on the western slope. Higher up than GJ and spectacular views. Quick access to the Grand Mesa where there are a lot of things to do in all the seasons. Tons of fresh produce and tons of orchards. Good living there.

[Hummer]

Thanks a lot for the info Danimal.

One more question for you guys. I've only ever driven through GJ via I70, so I know what is available to the east. What's the best access to decent mountains? Is it going to be heading back east on 70, or are there other closer options?

Lack of decent mountains are my wife's only concern, not a deal breaker at this point, but I'd like to try and ease her concern.

The Grand Valley is surrounded by mountains. The Grand Mesa is about ten miles from my house and about a 45 minute drive east from GJ to the top. It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world with a high elevation of 11,332'. It has over 300 lakes, forest roads and trails for four wheeling, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, the Powderhorn ski area and resorts, cabins and campgrounds. On the north about 6 miles from my house is Mount Garfield and the Bookcliffs that sweep north and west into Utah. The south facing slopes appear barren but just beyond is juniper and pinyon forest with endless BLM land and backcountry roads. To the west is the red rock country of the Colorado Plateau that extends to Moab along the Colorado River, the cliffs and arches of Rattlesnake Canyon, the Colorado National Monument and south from Pinon Mesa to the Uncompaghre Plateau, all "decent" mountains with pinyon-juniper to Gambel oak in the shrub belt and higher elevation spruce-fir forest.

The Gunnison and Colorado Rivers are great for river running. I've traveled by canoe and kayak from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to the Colorado River 109 miles to Westwater, UT, and shorter portions of it many times. No one will lack for outdoors opportunities here.

The Grand Valley is dry of snow now but these pics are from my computer desk at home looking east to the Grand Mesa and north to the Bookcliffs. The wide angle lens makes the mountains appear about twice as far away than they are.

[Ah Pook]

Subscribing to this thread. Where did the last GJ thread go?

Lots of good info here. Thanks!

[hurley842002]

The Grand Valley is surrounded by mountains. The Grand Mesa is about ten miles from my house and about a 45 minute drive east from GJ to the top. It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world with a high elevation of 11,332'. It has over 300 lakes, forest roads and trails for four wheeling, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, the Powderhorn ski area and resorts, cabins and campgrounds. On the north about 6 miles from my house is Mount Garfield and the Bookcliffs that sweep north and west into Utah. The south facing slopes appear barren but just beyond is juniper and pinyon forest with endless BLM land and backcountry roads. To the west is the red rock country of the Colorado Plateau that extends to Moab along the Colorado River, the cliffs and arches of Rattlesnake Canyon, the Colorado National Monument and south from Pinon Mesa to the Uncompaghre Plateau, all "decent" mountains with pinyon-juniper to Gambel oak in the shrub belt and higher elevation spruce-fir forest.

The Gunnison and Colorado Rivers are great for river running. I've traveled by canoe and kayak from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to the Colorado River 109 miles to Westwater, UT, and shorter portions of it many times. No one will lack for outdoors opportunities here.

The Grand Valley is dry of snow now but these pics are from my computer desk at home looking east to the Grand Mesa and north to the Bookcliffs. The wide angle lens makes the mountains appear about twice as far away than they are.

Thanks a ton for that! I had no idea the Grand Mesa was so, well GRAND! Lol

[Danimal]

Deleted

[hurley842002]

Hummer covered it pretty well. Other places I'll add: 5 miles to the south is whitewater (po-dunk) with a turnoff into HWY 141 (gateway canyon) with a lot of mountain options as well - divide road, etc. There is also Dominguez canyon 10 miles south - desert wilderness with 30' and 50' waterfalls. My wife went over the 30'

10 miles west, there is Colorado national monument- in part. Monument road to get there originates in Grand Junction, with great trail access (hiking,biking,foot) there. The road goes on top of the red rock cliffs, with a lot of hiking opportunities like uncompadre canyon with it's own waterfall, and serpents trail. Eventually, the main road goes into a small high elevation community called "glade park". From there, you can access "pinion mesa" to the south (45 minutes from Grand Junction, high elevation forest, OHV okay) or a red-rocks wilderness area to the north around "black ridge" (40 minutes from Grand Junction) with a lot of juniper / cliff trail action (OHV ok). To the west, you have Fruita 11 miles outside of grand junction, a suburb really with (in some places) upscale, affordable homes.

Only half of the valley is occupied. The north half of the valley is adobe badlands. Prarie dogs, coyotes, rabbits, etc. One public BLM shooting range with good berms 1000 yard gongs out there (relatively well maintained). There is another BLM shooting range closer to the Colorado river on the east edge of town, though it isn't as cared for. One indoor range now, very nice, rifle/pistol 25 yards, $360/y membership. IDPA, USPSA, Cowboy action have a strong presence here at a private range in whitewater.

You know moab well of course. Into the bookcliffs you can get mountain access on baxter pass and on Dolores pass - 45-55 minutes from Junction.

Moab:


(For the record, that picture is to scale)



On top of the colo natl monument (Liberty cap, hopping cracks in the rock)


Dominguez Canyon:


North Desert (By the bookcliffs, looking south-east towards Grand Junction)



Dominguez Canyon:


Baxter pass:

Wow, a picture is worth a thousand words, and you nailed it, thank you!

Basically my wife was 100% sold on it, then she did a Google image search and didn't see much in the way of mountainous terrain.

[drew890]

Let us Grand Junction members know when you are planning on visiting or moving out and I'm sure that we will meet up with you and show you around.