Delta County is located on Colorado’s western slope at the base of Grand Mesa, one of the largest flat top mountains in the world, and is surrounded by public lands that include Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, the Grand Mesa National Forest, other BLM lands, and three State Parks.
Your GUIDE for experiencing Delta County; let us show you how the locals live!
Delta County has three distinct areas of interest for our visitors. Delta, with the Dominguez Escalante and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Areas (NCAs), is the local gateway into the canyons. The award winning Devil’s Thumb Golf Course , historic Egyptian Theater and an up and coming food scene make Delta a fun spot to call home base while enjoying the massive outdoor recreation.
The Surface Creek Area is home to the first Little Britches Rodeo, the highest elevation apple orchard in North America, Cedaredge Golf Club and Pioneer Town. All of these wonderful attractions are the gateway to the Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world. With over 300 lakes and numerous creeks and streams, it makes a angler’s paradise year round and in the winter has miles of groomed and mapped trails for all of your snow toys from snowshoes to snowmobiles.
Finally the North Fork Valley, an eclectic region in the county offering farm-to-table dinners, wineries, the North Fork Creative District, Jumbo Mountain Bike Trail, and the entrance to the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. A region that celebrates mining history, the cowboy way, organic farming and the unique qualities of it’s residents.
Delta County is one of the most beautiful landing spots, in Colorado; it’s truly an outdoor enthusiasts dream come true. We do ask, however, that you treat our communities as you would like yours to be treated–with lots of TLC. Please be kind when you are out hiking on trail, at one of our 3 State Parks, enjoying the adobes, or taking a ride on your bike or OHV.
Headed camping? Please be sure to check with local authorities or visit westslopefireinfo.com to see if there are any fire bans in place! If you do have a campfire – please be sure to thoroughly extinguish it with LOTS AND LOTS of water! And please carry out all of your trash.
For more suggestions visit: www.colorado.com/do-colorado-right
After a day of hiking in fresh mountain air and enjoying the bounty from a local farm, you will be ready to slide into a wonderful bed and rest your head on the pillow.
Our hosts provide ample selection for accommodations. Rustic cabins, luxury cabins, quaint B&Bs, farm-to-table B&Bs, retro motels, 100 year-old hotels and more. It won’t be traditional, but that’s not why people come to visit.
A glass of local wine and a good book by your side and soon you will be sleeping like a baby.
WARNING: bring “city sounds” if you can’t sleep when it’s too quiet!
Outdoor recreation here has no other equal. Gold Medal fishing streams of the Gunnison River are unparalleled in North America. The Grand Mesa, which rises over Cedaredge, is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world offering tremendous choices for playing – mtn biking, fishing, hiking, hunting, atv use, snowmobiling, nordic skiing, camping, boating and, and, and! Jumbo Mountain is right outside of Paonia and provides endless views on the hiking and biking trails.
The history and heritage of this region is rich with pre-historic dinosaurs, dwellings and sites. The historic record shows trails and routes through here that include Dominguez and Esclanate, Kit Carson, Chipeta and Ouray, the McCarty Gang, olympic skiers, actresses and actors, and last, but not least a few US Presidents.
Museums are a sense of pride in our communities. They are well curated and house some amazing artifacts. Saddlery from Tom Horn, a clock from Prince Phillip, a mosasaur skull, an extensive spear point collection, said to be one of the best collections in the western US.
Wildlife in Delta County is diverse and plentiful. Home of the First Important Birding Area Designation, Hart’s Basin, aka Fruitgrower’s Reservoir, has over 200 bird species that have been identified and noted. Each March the Sandhill Crane migration follows a path through. Cranes have also take up residency in some of the fields west of Delta.
Bull Elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, bobcats and Desert Pronghorn are also found here. Hunting is a popular activity due to the chances of success bagging your prey.
Farm-to-table dinners were almost born here, when it comes to the Colorado scene. We have a variety farmers and winemakers who offer dinners, special events and tours. Learn to felt slippers or mittens. Pick your own fruit or sip on some local wines.
Agritourism is a growing activity in Colorado and for good reason. The Know Your Farmer, Slow Food and Eat Local movements have created a real interest in our food systems and how food is grown and made. This isn’t just about teaching kids where their milk comes from, but learning about water systems and soil health.
If you just want to eat, we’ve got you covered. If you want to learn how to grow a great garden, we’ve got you covered. Some great options include:
One of the biggest attractions for Delta County is our small town charm – and we have six of them. All are unique and can provide a new and unique experience. One visit and you will be sure that time has been kind here and slowed us down a bit.
Pop in for breakfast at one of the local diners and you will see it immediately. It’s all about the Folks! Locals here are willing to be helpful and offer suggestions to make your trip really memorable.
Life may be lived slower here, but business is not. With 5G internet, Hwy 50 and shipping options allowing for competitive business, you might just have found your new home for doing business.
