Is Grand Junction the Best Mountain Biking Town in the U.S.?

It’s a bold claim to be sure, with plenty of competing claims from famous meccas like Pisgah, Moab, Bend, Sedona, the list goes on. But, there is plenty of street (trail?) cred to this town in western Colorado that backs it up.

Whether we're talking skinny tires or fat, the cycling scene in general is active and passionate. The town itself is home to several bike shops that are excellent places to gear up, get ride info and the scoop on trail conditions. There are also dedicated coalitions that build and maintain the trails in the area. Their love for their work shows in the pure quality of the trail systems.

Proof of the vibrant scene is the sheer amount of events that happen throughout the Grand Valley in the spring. April brings the Fruita Fat Tire Festival and the

USA Cycling Collegiate & Para Cycling National Championships. May hosts the Rose Hill Rally Bicycle Ride and the Grand Junction Off-Road Mountain Bike Endurance Event and Downtown Music Festival. That last one is not to be missed. It’s three days of riding, racing, music, food, and activities for riders of all levels and for the whole family.

For the lovers of singletrack, there are miles and miles of it, from fun flow fests to super-techy challenges; lung-busting climbs to white-knuckle descents; and from hour-long spins to all-day epics. The only question is, how long is the trip? 

Start with perhaps the most famous, the Tabeguache, better known as the Lunch Loops. They’re right outside of town, named by locals that could bust out of work and get a quick ride in during lunch, it’s turned into a full blown destination in and of itself. Trails range from beginner to full-on black diamond, downhill-only and everything in between. The area is a spiderweb of loops, the only limit is the imagination and number of daylight hours left. Ride among towering desert formations, across green bands of bentonite, and red, iron-laden slickrock. Top out on gorgeous mesas with views that stretch endlessly in all directions. Negotiate tight singletrack and have a ball in large free-form playgrounds with all sorts of natural obstacles like natural halfpipes, insanely steep descents, and ridiculously fun wall rides.

When ready to tackle the local test piece, it’s time to hit the Ribbon. Best as a shuttle, this is a 1,500-foot descent down some of the most gorgeous, interesting and technical slickrock and washes east of Moab. Bring the camera for this one. Link it up to Holy Cross and revel in some of the most challenging, fun riding out there. Then, buy new brake pads. 

Grand Junction has plenty to do on the road too. The 33-mile ride through incredibly scenic Colorado National Monument tests the legs and lungs, and can fill a camera’s memory card. It’s also historically significant in that it was part of America's’ first big road race, the Coors Classic. It launched the careers of some of the world's greatest cyclists like Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault, and blazed the trail for road racing's growth in the U.S. It was also featured in the classic 1985 movie American Flyers. 

Looking to get some climbing in? The Grand Mesa is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, and proudly taunts riders with two climbs on the Top 100 climbs in the U.S. list. Check out Grand Mesa North, it’s 22 miles long with over 5,700 feet of elevation gained. The first 13.8 miles average a 6.5% grade, then slacks off a bit to 3.5%. The next day, hit Grand Mesa South. That’s 19 miles with over 4,600 feet of climbing with an average of 4.8%. They both top out at over 10,800 feet. Not enough? Do them both in a day.

After all this riding, it’s time for a rest day. Of course “rest” is a subjective term to outdoor athletes. Good thing GJ has other outdoor recreation opportunities galore like rock climbing, bouldering, camping, hiking, running, rafting, golfing, off-roading, and even disc golf. 

One of the most unique things the area offers is biking through Colorado’s wine country. There is a bike path that meanders alongside the mighty Colorado river and showcases spectacular vistas of Grand Mesa and the entire Grand Valley. It’s lovingly called the “Fruit and Wine Byway.” It starts in nearby Palisade, and winds through more than 30 stops, including wineries, fruit stands, farms, and orchards. Do it in August and sample a famous Palisades Peach.

More into beer than wine? Colorado is well-known to have a prolific craft brewing culture, and GJ is right there with it. Check out local Grand Junction breweries like Kannah Creek Brewing Co., Rockslide Brew Co., or Edgewater Brewery. Nearby, in Palisade, there's the Palisade Brewing Co., and in Fruita there is Copper Club Brewing Co. and Suds Brothers Brewery.

So, unparalleled mountain biking, world-class road riding, virtually unlimited rest-day fun, and there hasn’t even been a mention of Grand Junction’s enjoyably walkable downtown. It’s filled with eateries, coffeeshops, educational museums, cool watering holes, and fascinating boutiques. 

Obviously, saying GJ is the “best” biking town is highly subjective, but if the above doesn’t offer up enough proof that it’s at least in the running, there’s only one thing left to do: Get out there and put the tires to the dirt.