Most Popular Sports Activities on the Western Slope

Colorado’s Western Slope is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and includes thousands of acres of national forest access, making it an ideal area for outdoor recreation. It should come as no surprise that this region is a hotbed for sports activities, as there are virtually limitless options at your fingertips. There’s truly something for everyone, regardless of the sports you typically participate in.

While the primary draw for Colorado Advanced Orthopedics is the top tier medical care we provide, our clinic has also become a popular medical tourism destination due to the many sports activities available. Many of our patients visit us from the Front Range, and even from other states, to take advantage of our exceptional surgical team. Many of these out-of-town patients also bring their families along so that they can enjoy a fun mountain vacation filled with some of their favorite sports.

If you’re an out-of-town patient planning on bringing your family when you come to CAO for orthopedic surgery, the following guide will help you navigate the most popular sports activities on the Western Slope for your family to enjoy.

Most Popular Warm Weather Sports Activities

If you’re visiting Colorado Advanced Orthopedics during the warm weather months, there’s no shortage of sports activities to enjoy along the Western Slope.

Hiking

Located in the heart of the White River National Forest, the Western Slope offers a variety of trails for hikers of all ability levels. The diverse landscape in the area gives you access to trails with a wide range of picturesque features to enjoy along your hike. Some of the most popular hikes on the Western Slope to explore include:

• Palisade Rim Trail – A moderate hike near Palisade that provides great views of the Grand Valley
• Lunch Loop Trailhead – This area near Grand Junction provides nice hikes with spectacular views and moderate levels of difficulty
• Chasm View Nature Trail – A kid-friendly hike near Gunnison with a scenic canyon overlook
• Mee Canyon – This trail along the Colorado River between Grand Junction and Fruita is packed with arches, windows, spires and alcoves, but the steep descents and exposed cliffs make it better suited for experienced hikers
• Ice Lakes Trail and Blue Lakes Trail – Two stunning trails in the San Juan Mountains with spectacular views of waterfalls, wildflowers and alpine lakes

The Western Slope is also home to some of Colorado’s legendary 14ers (14,000 mountain peaks). For experienced hikers who are in good enough shape to summit a 14er, the following peaks are within driving distance of Meeker:

• El Diente Peak
• Mount Wilson
• Wilson Peak
• Uncompahgre Peak
• Handies Peak
• Castle Peak
• Capitol Peak
• The Maroon Bells (Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak)
• Pyramid Peak

Rafting

River enthusiasts can take advantage of the great rafting available on the Western Slope. The rafting options in the area are quite varied. You can choose from family-friendly floats to high-adventure white water experiences. Some of the best rafting locations on the Western Slope include:

• North Fork of the Gunnison River (Paonia) – This river offers a 10-mile trip with Class II/III rapids and is suitable for beginners and families.
• Eagle River (near Vail) – The Lower Eagle River provides a family-friendly rafting experience with Class II and a few Class III rapids. The trip meanders through lodge pole pines, aspen forests and high desert terrain.
• Colorado River (Little Gore Canyon) – This section of the Colorado River just southwest of Kremmling features Class II/III rapids that are ideal for families. The Gore Canyon also has Class IV/V rapids for more advanced rafters.

There are several rafting outfitters along the Western Slope, including Blue Sky Rafting in Glenwood Springs and Western Slope SUP on the North Fork of the Gunnison River. These outfitters will make it easy for your family to enjoy a thrilling day on the river.

Biking

Cycling enthusiasts can take advantage of the exceptional road biking and mountain biking along the Western Slope. Whether you bring your own bike or rent one in town here in Meeker, there are no shortage of trails and routes to enjoy.

Some of the most popular road biking spots include:

• Ohio Creek Road (Gunnison) – A partially paved road with views of the Anthracites in the West Elk Mountains
• Taylor Canyon (Crested Butte) – A scenic 63-mile round trip from Crested Butte featuring winding roads through a rugged canyon along the Taylor River
• Gothic Road (Crested Butte) – For those who prefer shorter rides, this 8.5-mile round trip offers stunning valley views and challenging climbs

If you prefer mountain biking, you may want to explore these popular locations:

• China Wall Trail (Meeker) – This trail is part of the Meeker Trail System, which includes additional trails like the Meeker Flow Trail and the East Ridge Trail, offering a variety of options for mountain bikers of different skill levels.
• Fruita – This town near Grand Junction is home to hundreds of miles of world-class trails and is considered the best mountain biking spot in Colorado
• 18 Road Trails (Fruita) – Popular trails such as Chutes and Ladders and Zippity Doo Da highlight this area, which offers thrilling rides for a variety of skill levels
• Kokopelli Loops (Loma) – This trail system offers scenic views of the Colorado River, including popular loops such as Steve’s and Horsethief Bench
• Lunch Loop Trailhead (Grand Junction) – This area has a large network of mountain biking trails, offering options for just about any skill level

Pickleball

Pickleball is currently the fastest growing sport in the country, and the Western Slope has jumped onto the pickleball scene in a major way, thanks to the Western Slope Pickleball Club (WSPC) in Grand Junction. The WSPC hosts the largest pickleball tournament on the Western Slope each year, making Grand Junction the heart of the scene in this area. However, there are plenty of pickleball courts all over the Western Slope, including some in Meeker, so you don’t have to drive all the way to Grand Junction from CAO to enjoy this popular sport.

Most Popular Cold Weather Sports Activities

Winter is a great time for outdoor enthusiasts to visit the Western Slope as well. With our close proximity to the mountains, there’s no shortage of winter sports to enjoy. If you’re coming to Colorado Advanced Orthopedics during the winter, your family can explore some of these popular sports.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Several of Colorado’s world-class ski resorts are a short drive from Meeker, making it easy for your family to get in a great ski vacation. The following ski resorts are a day trip from Meeker:

• Steamboat
• Crested Butte
• Aspen
• Vail
• Beaver Creek
• Telluride
• Sunlight Mountain (located in Glenwood Springs)

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

The White River National Forest is located along the Western Slope, and it contains thousands of trails. While these trails are popular hiking spots in the summer, they also double as great snowshoeing and cross-country skiing terrain in the winter. Some of the most popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing destinations on the Western Slope include:

• Grand Mesa National Forest – There are several great trail systems in this forest area. Snowshoers can hike virtually anywhere cross-country skiers explore, as long as they walk next to, not on, the groomed Nordic trails.
• Montrose Area – Dave Wood Winter Recreation Area, just south of Montrose, has about 4.4 miles of ungroomed cross-country ski/snowshoe trails that are all marked by difficulty. Dogs are allowed on these trails, making it a great spot for snowshoers who want to bring their pup along on the adventure.
• Crested Butte – This town is known as the “Nordic ski capital of Colorado” and has miles of scenic cross-country ski trails, including about 31 miles of groomed trails.

Ice Climbing

Ice climbers will be in heaven. Ouray is renowned as the ice climbing capital of the United States, offering world-class opportunities for climbers of all skill levels. The Ouray Ice Park is the main attraction to the ice climbing scene. It features over 200 ice and mixed routes containing terrain for all skill levels. You can also take advantage of local guide services offering instruction for all skill levels.

If you’re visiting CAO in January, you should make a trip to Ouray for their annual Ice Festival. This event draws approximately 3,500 visitors each year and features competitive climbing, gear demonstrations and clinics.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help You Plan Your Medical Tourism Visit

If you’re an out-of-town patient looking to bring your family to Meeker for a nice vacation while you undergo orthopedic surgery, our team at Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help you plan your visit. We can help you choose the right hotel to meet your family’s unique needs, and we’ll provide recommendations on all the best restaurants in town to explore. If you’re looking to enjoy the many outdoor sports activities on the Western Slope, our team can also guide you to ensure your family has the best possible experience.

Since opening in 2020, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics has developed a reputation as the premier orthopedics clinic on the Western Slope. Our staff includes some of the most experienced board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors in the state, enabling us to deliver the same quality of care that is typically only found in major metropolitan areas. Our exceptional patient outcomes have earned CAO numerous awards, including a spot on the Healthgrades Top 100 Hospitals for Joint Replacement list.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope. We also serve out-of-town patients.