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The Grand Mesa, ColoradoAt 10,000 feet, Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world, rises more than a mile above the valley floor above the communities of Cedaredge, Crawford, Hotchkiss, Paonia and Delta. The cool, green slopes covered with aspen, Engelmann spruce, and sub-alpine fir. The mesa was formed as lava seeped upward through fissures in the earth 10 million years ago. Discover flowered meadows and over 200 cool clear lakes offering fantastic fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout. Some lakes have boat launches and you can reach many of them from the highway. For the more adventurous, visit the lakes only accessible by four-wheel drive, foot or horseback. The Ute Indians called Grand Mesa the "Home of the Departed Spirits". President Benjamin Harrison created the Grand Mesa National Forest on December 24, 1892. It was first called the Battlement Mesa Forest Reserve and was the third such reserve to be created in the nation. Hikers will want to trek along the Crag Crest National Recreation Trail, a 10-mile circular trail rising from east and west trailheads. This trail stretches across the top of Crag Crest and is open to foot traffic only.
Grand Mesa's south-facing slopes boast a magnificent collection of 18 lakes, all within walking distance of each other. Enjoy each of them and view all of them by visiting the Land O' Lakes overlook just above Island Lake. The Grand Mesa Visitor Center is the hub of the Land O' Lakes Area and has interpretive exhibits, public restrooms, a bookstore, a unique High-Altitude Native Garden, and Forest Service staff to answer your questions. Excellent fishing and boating in the summer turn to excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. On the northern slopes of Grand Mesa, the gorgeous Mesa Lakes surround you in spectacular stands of aspen and evergreen. An extensive trail system provides outdoor recreation opportunities year-round. Fishing and boating are summer's fun while winter brings moonlight skiing for cross-country enthusiasts. Cottonwood Lakes, just east of Mesa Lakes offers true backcountry fishing and camping. The Mesa Creek Ski Area is still used today by winter sledders and boarders. Just down the road, Powderhorn Ski Resort, with over 250" of snow each year, brings skiers and boarders from everywhere. Powderhorn is family-oriented and has also become known as a forest-friendly ski area that cares about our Scenic Byway. In its unique location, where the desert meets the mountain, Powderhorn is best known for its stress-free atmosphere and variety of terrain. Nestled on the north edge of the Grand Mesa, Powderhorn sits at 4,000 feet above the valley floor. We promise you won't find views like this anywhere else. Cruise the corduroy, dash into the aspens for the glade skiing, plow the waist deep powder, hit the bumps, or jib your way through the terrain parks. Everyone has their own secret trail or powder stash so come discover yours! And at the end of the day you can relax in one of the restaurants or soak up the sun on the large daylodge deck. Summer at Powderhorn is a beautiful, peaceful time. The stunning views of the Western Colorado valleys combined with the lush forest and wildflowers, make Powderhorn the perfect setting for a romantic mountain wedding. Get out of the heat and bring your business meeting to the top of the world. With a variety of meeting spaces and full service catering department, your event will take center stage at Powderhorn. |
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