Story By: Geon Nielsen, Outdoor Recreation Editor
Photos By: Sofia Villareal
Grand Junction is one of the more active places in Colorado. There are many different options for activities, from motorcycling and hiking trails to river rafting, climbing, golf, and any cycling you can imagine. Many of these activities cost over a hundred dollars for the afternoon. In this article, we will discuss three of the best free outdoor activities that you can do while you are in Grand Junction.
These activities start with the beautiful disc golf courses around Grand Junction. There are three to choose from: one on the CMU campus, one by Las Colonias Park, and most importantly, the one at West Lake Park off Orchard Ave. This course is just about 0.7 miles from the CMU campus and not too far from Main Street. It mainly has short and easy holes for beginner-level players or people coming for the first time.
Located at 325 W Orchard Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81505, the Westlake Disc Golf Course is a peaceful, short course perfect for disc golfers of all levels. Villareal, April 10 2024.
Tanner Korell is a GJ resident who plays the West Lake disc golf course almost daily.
“It is my favorite disc golf course in the Grand Valley. The nice course has all grass instead of dirt and an endless variety of holes,” Tanner explains his time at the West Lake course.
The West Lake course was designed and built in 2001. The whole course varies from the nine different holes they offer. With concrete tees at each hole, you have traction and do not slip or fall when throwing your disc, unlike the other courses in Grand Junction. With the three acres of disc golf right in the heart of Grand Junction. It is a pet-friendly environment with the best of the best ChainStar Pro nets on each hole. While also having running water and restrooms available to the public.
West Lake Park is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Its great disc golf course, animal friendliness, running water, and frequent course updates are the reasons West Lake Park makes the list.
The first hole at the Westlake Disc Golf Course. Villareal, April 10 2024.
The next park on our list is on the CMU campus. The CMU pump track broke ground in late 2019 and was built by the same people who built the 2016 Rio Olympics BMX track.
The Pump Track Bike Park is located on the Colorado Mesa University campus at 875 Elm Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Villareal, April 10 2024.
This dual-lane asphalt pump track is durable and can be ridden year-round. It is an excellent addition to the campus for students and the surrounding people who live in Grand Junction. This pump track is free and open to the public, being an excellent thing for the surrounding public to ride and utilize. A Grand Junction resident and cyclist, Colin Hudson competes in the Red Bull pump track world championship almost yearly. He rides this pump track just like anyone else.
“This pump track is a great place for me to train and get back in the swing of things while also being a great place for kids and family to have fun and ride,” Colin states about the pump track being built.
The Bike Park features two identical paved tracks and a dirt track. Villareal, April 10 2024.
One of the most significant parts of the pump track is that even if it is your first time riding it, you may see Colin or one of the 60 CMU Cycling riders who often frequent it. That would be more than happy to lend a helping hand and answer any questions you may have.
The pump track dramatically benefits the community for the kids and families that ride it in Grand Junction instead of traveling to the nearest one in Carbondale, Co, which is almost two hours away.
The CMU pump was almost built four years ago and is still in prime condition. It is family-friendly, accessible, and on the beautiful and safe CMU campus—a perfect and free place to spend a nice afternoon.
The Bike Park features two identical paved tracks and a dirt track. Villareal, April 10 2024.
Lastly, and indeed not least, it is the last park on the list and the biggest park in Grand Junction. Las Colonias Park is a centerpiece in the Grand Junction community, with 130 acres of land from downtown GJ to being right against the Colorado River; there are endless options that you can do at this park, from swimming in the river to kayaking to paddle boarding, even just going out and a nice jog.
The river park at Las Colonias allows people to float down a side section of the Colorado River. Villareal, April 10 2024.
Las Colonias also has the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens, which make for a perfect afternoon spent admiring the beauty of nature. This park not only has the river at your disposal but also a few ponds. However, the newest and most used is the Butterfly Pond, which is shaped like a butterfly.
Photo taken by City ofGrand Junction and can be found on the facility’s page on their website
Hannah Petterson, a CMU student, likes to spend her afternoons taking in the lovely air as she is on her paddle board in the butterfly pond.
“Las Colonias is an amazing place; I like to go there when I am stressed about school. I can just float around on my paddle board and relax.” Is how Hannah explains her time at Las Colonias.
Los Colonias Park also has many other amenities, including three dog parks, an amphitheater that hosts free events several times a month, and a Dos Rios bike park with trails, obstacles, and jumps for all ages.
The dog park at Las Colonias provides a safe space for dogs to socialize and play together. Villareal, April 10 2024.
Grand Junction has many free parks; picking just three for this list considers alot. However, the countless amenities, acres, scenery, running water, and activities you can do at these parks make it a no-brainer that these are the top three best free parks in Grand Junction. So the next time it is nice out, and you have a free afternoon, check out one of these parks!
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