Abandon Glenwood Canyon...

[buffalobo]

Wife and I just came back from a trip to the Western Slope. We were camping at Grand Mesa.

Pros:

Absolutely gorgeous area!
Very few crowds
Weather was pleasant (on top of the mesa, that is, at 10,500'). Highs in the low 70's.

Cons:

7 HOURS to drive via 285 to Montrose and then up to Delta, through Cedaredge and up onto the mesa. My butt is still sore from the drive. Left at 8:08 this morning, got into Littleton around 3:30. Two stops, 20 minutes for lunch in Gunnison and 10 minutes for gas in Nathrop.
Fuel costs. This is a shot of what I paid for gas in Montrose:

SPEAKING OF FUEL, every gas station in Gunnison was either too crowded with RVs/tow vehicles out into the road, or out of gas (city market.)

The Grand Mesa and Surface creek valley have the best weather in the state for late summer. Even better if the fish are biting.

Those folks down in Gunnison valley/Grand Junction are getting nicely tanned/roasted.