Grand Junction sits where the Gunnison River flows into the Colorado, in the high desert of western Colorado, and it takes its name from that meeting of waters. Red sandstone mesas close it in on one side, the Book Cliffs on the other, and in between is a fertile valley full of orchards and vineyards. Peaches from nearby Palisade are famous in Colorado, and the town of Palisade has become a small wine region, with tasting rooms among the fruit farms. Orchard Mesa, a short way south, is part of the same agricultural belt.
The surrounding landscape is full of dinosaurs. This part of the Colorado Plateau was a floodplain in the late Jurassic, about 150 million years ago, and the rocks of the Morrison Formation have given up some of the most complete skeletons ever found. The Dinosaur Diamond, a loop of scenic roads through western Colorado and eastern Utah, links museums and quarries, and a number of fossil trackways and bone quarries are open to visitors. Dinosaur Journey, a museum in the area, is a good introduction.
Another natural wonder is the Colorado National Monument, just west of town, a canyon landscape of tall red monoliths and sheer cliffs. Rim Rock Drive, a road built in the 1930s by workers of the Civilian Conservation Corps, runs along the edge with tunnels cut through the rock, and it is one of the best short rides in the state. The bends are open, the surface is good and the views stretch for miles, though bicycles and tourists slow traffic in summer. In the heat of July, the red rocks radiate warmth, and it is best to ride early.
Grand Junction is a city of sixty thousand, the largest between Denver and Salt Lake City, so fuel, food and repairs are easy. The road toward Vernal, in Utah, passes through very empty country, with long gaps between stations, so fill the tank here and again at any town you pass. Cash and water are good to carry. Mobile signal can be absent.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild days and clear light, while summer is hot and winter can be cold. Eat a good meal before you go, and consider a stop at a Palisade fruit stand for peaches in August.