Top places to live on Colorado's Western Slope

Colorado is not only a great place to visit, but also to live, especially the Western Slope of Colorado. Most of Colorado’s natural resources can be found here, which is great for those with an adventurous spirit looking to explore all the wonders of the great outdoors.

As a home inspector, I see a variety of properties all over the western slope. Following is a summary of some of the great cities and towns here:

Grand Junction

Grand Junction has some of the best areas for mountain biking. While there are some rougher trails for more experienced mountain bikers, there are also trails that are easy on beginners and kids, which is great for family exploration.

Aside from mountainous adventures, you can also explore Downtown Grand Junction where you can have one of the most unique shopping experiences. You can find locally grown food here, unique boutiques, salons, and more. There is also plenty of dining here, which means the area can be great for a full day of fun.

Some of the benefits of calling this area home include:

  • Close proximity to outdoor adventures in your own backyard. This includes hiking trails, mountain biking, cliff jumping, and more.
  • The weather is moderate year-round meaning outdoor activities aren’t completely limited, even in the winter.

Montrose

Montrose has a vast amount of both indoor and outdoor activities. This is where Black Canyon National Park calls it home. In the warm season of summer, you can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, river exploration, and more while in the colder season of winter, you can enjoy skiing and other snow adventures in the same area.

Montrose is a very historic town, so you definitely want to check out some of their museums, as well. This includes the Museum of the Mountain West. Here you will find artifacts that date back to the 1800s, as well as accurate representations of what it was like to live in town back in the day.

Here are a few reasons you might want to call this area home:

  • The small town atmosphere.
  • Access to larger cities for day-trips, such as Denver.
  • Great area to raise kids with access to many parks, rich culture, and a vast library.

Ridgway

Ridgway is the gateway to the San Juan Mountains, which means many more outdoor adventures to find. Hiking trails, abundant lakes, and wildlife scatter the area, which is definitely the perfect backdrop for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Ridgway is also the sight of filming “True Grit,” which encouraged the opening of the True Grit Cafe. Here they offer “the best chicken fried steak.”

Why call Ridgway Home?

  • It’s a small, quiet town of less than 1,000 surrounded by mountains.
  • A strong community upholding the history of the town.

Durango

To put it simply, Durango is one of the best areas for anyone to visit. There is so much to explore, including National Parks, such as Mesa Verde National Park. Perhaps one of the most popular things to explore, though, is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Here you can experience a vintage train ride and get to know the wonderful old Western history of the area.

A few reasons to call Durango home:

  • Hosts many large events, so there’s always something to do.
  • The crime rate is low making the area that much more kid friendly.
  • Each season fully blooms in this area giving you perfect fall colored leaves in the fall and fresh winter snow in the winter.

Buena Vista

Buena Vista is Spanish for “good view,” so you know that nature is prevalent here. Whitewater rafting is perhaps the most common reason tourists visit the area. However, there is much history to the area, which is why events, such as the Gold Rush Days in August are put on. During this time, you can watch historic re-enactments, but also enjoy good food, live music, games, and more.

  • Moderate weather year round, including minimal snowfall in the winter.
  • A slow-paced, small town lifestyle.

Are you looking to make any one of these areas your own backyard? If so, contact us today to learn more about home inspections to guarantee you find the perfect home to complete your new life in the Western Slope of Colorado.