Rocky Mountain Hotel near Ski Trails and Colorado National Monument

Grand Junction is where the Rocky Mountains meet the high desert on the Western slope of Colorado. The city's picturesque setting—studded with red-rock canyons and rushing rapids—appeals to a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts who descend upon the rugged landscape year-round. Grand Vista Hotel is in the heart of this recreation center, near sites for downhill and cross-country skiing and famous natural attractions, including the Colorado National Monument, where bighorn sheep and golden eagles share the sandstone cliffs.

This region is well known for its skiing—especially at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Located about 40 miles from the hotel, this family-friendly ski area features beginners' trails, forest glade runs, and terrain parks. Afterward, unwind in one of the Grand Vista Hotel's newly renovated standard guest rooms, which are outfitted with comfortable chairs and cable TV.

Oliver's Restaurant, located just off the lobby, serves breakfast from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Offerings include scrambled eggs, waffles, and fruit. The dinner menu features assorted entrees priced between $10 and $11. At the lively Bailey's Lounge, bartenders whip up a complimentary cocktail for each guest. The pub stays open until 1 a.m. Thursday–Saturday and hosts themed happy hours and karaoke nights.

Grand Junction, Colorado: Dramatic Mountain Ranges in Colorado Wine Country

Grand Junction is located on Colorado's Western Slope, between Denver and Salt Lake City. Massive rock formations surround its high-desert landscape—to the south, the Grand Mesa, and to the north, the Book Cliffs, a desert mountain range. Paved roads and well-marked trails connect many of the mountain ranges, so you can bike or hike your way through the rugged terrain in warmer weather. When the snows falls, cross-country skiers and snowshoers head to the backcountry slopes of the Grand Mesa for picturesque, groomed trails. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is a local favorite. It averages 250 inches of snowfall per year and has 63 trails for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

Thanks to its optimal grape-growing conditions, Grand Junction is a critical part of Colorado's wine country. Throughout the Grand Valley region are more than 20 vineyards and wineries that serve samples of award-winning chardonnays and merlots. Within a two-hour drive, you'll also find the natural hot-spring pools of Glenwood Springs and the 1,000-foot-deep gorges of Moab, Utah.

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