Now I am a little biased since I was born and raised on the Western Slope of Colorado, but the Western Slope is one of the best places for camping that I have come across so far.
With all the camping I have done in my life, the range of activities and scenery for the perfect camping trip is clear.
Grand Junction, which lies in the perfect location, gives access not only to close areas for camping in the BLMs but is also driving distance from destinations like Moab, Ouray, Telluride, Denver, Crested Butte and so much more.
Though some of the more local and accessible places for students or any resident of Grand Junction are often overlooked, they harbor a magnitude of amazing sites.
The National Monument and Dominguez/Escalante Canyon area host camping areas for those that want the desert experiences. The beauty is clear, filled with red and tan sand, amazing canyon walls, cute lizards and pillars of rock that have been formed carefully over time. Not to mention, they have some of the best star gazing opportunities.
If you are also searching for a star-filled night for camping that is close by, look no further than the Grand Mesa. A unique geological formation that looms over Grand Junction, it is hard to go unnoticed, but many students never take the opportunity to explore it.
It boasts over a hundred lakes, some with fishing and some that are just natural beauties. For example, Deep Ward Lake has some of the best camping spots that overlook the lake, painting a perfect view for watching a sunrise.
Along with the hikes, there are so many options for recreators to do including snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking and just hanging in a hammock under an aspen and pine tree. It really is the perfect place for a weekend getaway from school and the desert heat.
Another underlooked area that only lies an hour away from Grand Junction is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park area. The north and south rims offer views of the dramatic canyon walls and give the opportunity to see wildlife.
The south rim, however, is accessed by driving through Montrose, CO. This is the side I would recommend to anyone that asks.
This area boasts access to trails that take you deep into the depths of granite, amazing climbing opportunities, fishing access if you’re willing to drive down to the east portal and amazing views of the San Juan range.
The other unique aspect of the Black Canyon is its notoriety as an “International Dark Sky Park,” which means people from far and wide visit just to see one of the darkest skies in the country.
These are only a few of the many amazing areas to camp at that surround Grand Junction, so all I can recommend is to get out and explore because you won’t regret wherever you end up.
