Colorado Highway 65

It truly is the “Grand” Mesa Well known as the world’s largest flat top mountain, Grand Mesa needs to be at the top of your list of “places to see.” This mountain has so much to offer everyone, from local residents and travelers of the Western Slope, to all the magnificent wildlife that depend on the natural resources of the land. It reaches into the sky at over 11,000 feet, and including the Grand Mesa National Forest, spreads across 564 square miles. One of the best features it has to offer its admirers is The Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway 65, which is open year round. You can witness some of the most glorious views from this 63-mile highway that will wind you through a perfectly painted picture of Mother Nature at her best. Each of the four seasons presents its own individual beauty and activities for the true nature lover. The season of autumn is probably the favorite of most local residents. That’s when the mountainsides flow with brilliant shades of gold, orange, red and green, straight from Picasso’s palette. Winter brings a beautiful vision of white and endless pleasure for anyone who likes to play in the snow. Spring breaks through with its warm sun, and transforms the mountain streams into spectacular water displays, while quietly melting the blanket of fallen snow. Then summer arrives with its lovely fields of wildflowers exhibiting every color of the rainbow. The 300+ lakes and reservoirs on the mountain thaw to expose their tranquility as they glisten in the sunshine, and the doors to approximately 700 miles of amazing trails open wide to those who wish to explore this grand mesa on more of a one-on-one basis. The Crag Crest National Recreation Trail is a must for the one who truly wants to experience the grandeur that the mesa has to offer. Though it is not the most challenging trail on the mountain, it possesses captivating panoramic views, together with “on top of the world” sensations. This trail alone can provide scenery that exposes at least 10 million years of the Grand Mesa’s history. Volcanic action, glaciations, uplift, deposition, and erosion are just some of the geological processes which created this incredible mountain over the last several hundred million years. The Crag Crest Trail is open from early June through late September, depending on the snowfall. For those who only have time to stay on the road, or are not able to hike the adventurous trails, you can wander off Hwy. 65 onto Land’s End road. Land’s End is located on the southwest rim of the Grand Mesa and can give you a wide-open southern vista from east to west. The breathtaking views along with friendly chipmunks make this little detour off the main highway well worth the extra time. It truly is the “Grand” Mesa in every aspect. I hope that you will stop by the Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce office or any of the visitor centers for more detailed information such as trail maps, pamphlets on winter & summer activities like fishing, hiking, horseback riding, ATV'ing, downhill & cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing, guides to events such as the sled dog races, and brochures in general regarding Grand Mesa.