Grand Mesa in western Colorado is about as far as I want to drive on an ambitious 2 day weekend. Our destination, Cedar's Edge Llama's Bed & Breakfast in Cedaredge is about 300 miles away.
On Friday night, we drove west on I-70 to Rifle, Colorado where we had booked a room at a Super 8 motel (recommended, a nice newer motel with excellent rooms and beds at reasonable prices).
On Saturday, our only full day in the area, we drove west on I-70 thirty miles to the DeBeque exit and headed south towards the 10,000 foot elevation flat-topped mass of Grand Mesa. Instead of the paved highway through the badlands, we drove on an obscure back road (V Road) for a more scenic and slower route to the tiny town of Collbran in the Plateau Creek Valley at the base of Grand Mesa.
V Road is a rutted clay dirt road that would be bad news in wet weather. It was sun baked into hard surface. We saw no other vehicles or sign of habitation for at least 1 hour. Definitely a lonely place.
On V Road
Eventually we emerged from the desert landscape into the lush green Plateau Creek Valley near Collbran. As you look around, Plateau Creek creates a green corridor of trees and farms survive in the narrow valley.
The Plateau Creek Valley
Upstream, Vega Reservoir [and State Park] holds water to keep Plateau Creek full and life-giving. Built in the 1950s, the reservoir was the result of determined local ranchers and farmers to ensure a more stable water flow for more reliable crops. Today Vega Reservoir and State Park is a recreational draw, despite being at the very end of the Plateau Valley and quite far from the bigger towns in western Colorado.
After a quick look at Vega State Park, we doubled back to Collbran and drove 3500 vertical feet to the flat top of Grand Mesa. A steep relentless climb for our little car!
Sally fishing at Weir and Johnson Reservoir, Grand Mesa
Grand Mesa: high elevation + lots of water = lush & green.
Many large groves of aspen, especially on the south side of Grand Mesa - will be beautiful in the fall !
We stayed at Cedar's Edge Llamas Bed & Breakfast in Cedaredge. Ray the innkeeper, is a particularly pleasant and gracious host. He and his wife, Gail have created a quiet oasis for guests. Four different rooms are available. We stayed in the Peachtree Room.
Cedar's Edge B+B
The Peachtree Room.
A friendly llama.
Lizzie, the resident dog, is sweet and playful.
All photos, except the Peachtree Room were taken with the Panasonic LX3 camera.
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