Not everyone realizes you don’t have to travel out of state to explore wine country.
An expansive offering of vineyards and wineries is just one of many allures to Palisade.
The lushest corner of Colorado’s Western Slope, if not the most agriculturally rich swath of land in the entire state, Palisade is home to some of the world’s tastiest peaches, a handful of farm-to-table eateries, a brewery, a distillery, and outdoor adventures you can’t find anywhere else.
Framed by the picturesque Book Cliffs with the majestic Grand Mesa looming above, a weekend here feels like immersion in another world.
Alpacas look curiously around their enclosure at SunCrest Orchard Alpacas on April 20, 2016, in Palisade. The farm specializes in alpacas, fiber processing and finished alpaca products. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)Adventure
On the more low-key end of outdoor pursuits, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in a peach-full environment than with a fuzzy friend in hand (No, not a peach).
The family that owns and operates Suncrest Orchard Alpacas and Fiber Works has been one of the area’s greatest peach growers for decades. The orchard has almost 4,000 peach trees.
You can walk among the resident alpacas, whose fur is used onsite to create beanies, yarn, and other products. For $20, you can spend up to an hour strolling the grounds with an alpaca.
Animal lovers with a special affinity for hoofed creatures can venture south of town into the Little Book Cliffs. If you’re lucky, you may spot a wild horse or two. This area has hundreds of wild horses and several hiking or mountain biking trails.
Palisade’s wineries and orchards stretch for several miles along both sides of the Colorado River. A great way to visit several wineries in one day is by bike. There are three established Fruit & Wine Byway loops that measure 5, 9, and 25 miles, allowing you to access nearly every winery in the area. Each route is mostly paved, and you can navigate it with any bike.
That said, a road or e-bike is recommended for the longest route, which takes you through farms and vineyards on both sides of the river, rolling over hills with more than 700 feet of climbing that you won’t notice too much as you take in the sweeping mesa views.
The 9-mile route stays on the north side of the river, passing by a high concentration of wineries and through Riverfront Park and the heart of Palisade.
The 5-mile loop starts and finishes near downtown and is mostly flat and manageable on a cruiser bike. It takes you on a scenic spin along the river south of town, with one of the area’s tastiest and most beautifully set wineries—Colterris—conveniently located on the home stretch.
A rider drops into a section known locally as the toilet bowl within the lower section of the Palisade Plunge that can be reached by a connection to the Palisade Rim Trail just outside of Palisade on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)Hiking and mountain biking
On the opposite side of the adventure spectrum, the most extreme you can get sits the Palisade Plunge. Arguably the most impressive and officially among the longest downhill bike trails in the world, the Plunge takes you from atop the Grand Mesa down 6,000 vertical feet and 32 miles.
Don’t be fooled about just being along for a ride, though. This trail is designed only for skilled (and brave) riders. There’s a good amount of pedaling and a few exposed, high-stakes areas.
The upper half of the trail is open to hikers, equestrians, and leashed dogs. Palisade Rim is an iconic hike and bike trail that is easy to access. The trailhead is next to the river just east of town.
The journey, technical on a bike with high exposure in some places, takes you straight up the cliffs, past a handful of ancient petroglyphs, to phenomenal views of wine country below. The loop is about 9 miles long and involves 1,500 feet of climbing and descending.
Farmer Tricia Sproles smells sweet Red Globe peaches as she picks them to box up and ship to market at Papa Brown’s Orchards on August 18, 2016, in Palisade. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)Eat
Start your day with an egg sandwich and turmeric latte at The Milky Way, which also serves amazing homemade gelato.
Speaking of sweet treats, Slice O Life Bakery’s peach blueberry cinnamon rolls or lemon lavender scones are a must-try.
Don’t be fooled by its sports bar vibe; 357 Bar & Grill is open for breakfast and serves the heartiest breakfast (bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, stack of pancakes) in town.
Regularly named one of Colorado’s tastiest and most foodie-geared restaurants, Pêche is situated in the heart of Palisade and is a must for dinner.
Opened in 2019 by Ashley Chasseur (general manager/owner) and Matthew Chasseur (chef/owner), Pêche has been widely lauded for its outstanding cuisine. Its menu changes frequently depending on what’s fresh for the season, but always includes charred fruits, locally sourced meats, and home-baked sourdough bread.
The stylish but unpretentious haunt was a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category.
Also located in the small downtown vicinity, don’t miss the gourmet tacos at Fidel’s Cocina & Bar. Made with the freshest possible ingredients (locally sourced elk chorizo, peppers roasted onsite, and made-from-scratch tortillas from La Milpa up the road), tacos and thoughtfully crafted plates (chile relleno, enchiladas) rank among the Western Slope’s tastiest. Fidel’s also offers an impressive selection of tequilas, mezcals and creative cocktails.
broke ground in 2007 and has grown to become a comfortable farmhouse retreat among the vineyards for overnight visitors. Its restaurant,
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