3 Quiet Western Colorado Hideaways Locals Love

Travel season in Colorado means traffic crawling up the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, a line of cars stretching back from the Monument gate, and folks parking along I-70 to reach Mount Garfield.

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Even though the watercraft season has ended, Highline Lake State Park is still a peaceful place to unwind without the crowds. Since the 1960s, the park has closed the lake to boats each fall to give migratory waterfowl a place to rest—making it a goldmine for birdwatchers. Boating season returns March 1, weather permitting.

Picnic areas and trails stay open year-round, and nearby Mack Mesa Lake welcomes non-motorized boats like kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Check the box when renewing your vehicle registration, and you’ll have access to Colorado’s state parks all year long.

Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area (near Delta)

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While the tourists head for the ski lodges or to Moab, Coloradans on the Western Slope know we can find petroglyphs, red sandstone walls, desert bighorn sheep, and a series of small waterfalls and swimming holes all on one four-mile trail. From the Big Dominguez Canyon Trail to the Escalante Canyon Road, the Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area is a great place to escape to, and one of the least crowded.

Island Acres – James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (near Grand Junction)

Most people drive right past the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (Island Acres) without realizing what it is—and that’s fine. Let them keep going. It’s one of my favorite spots to sit and listen to the Colorado River.

You’ll hear fish splash, spot eagles overhead, and rest under some of Colorado’s oldest cottonwoods. Island Acres is another reason I always add the state park pass to my vehicle registration—my small way of helping keep this place around.

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