Today, June 17, is opening day for the bike park at Western Colorado's Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Even as a heat wave scorches the valley, biking on the Grand Mesa sounds like a cool place to be.

What happens at Powderhorn during the summer months? You may be surprised.

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Confession To Make

I'm a lifelong resident of Western Colorado, and to date, have never been to Powderhorn outside of winter. The closest I've come was the Restless Heart concern we produced several years ago. That was held in the parking area next to the main lodge. I've never gone up to the trails in summer.

What Do You Do Up There In The Summer?

According to Powderhorn.com, summer features a 13 miles of downhill mountain bike trails and 5.2 miles of hiking trails

What's It Like Up There In Mid-June?

Looking at the National Weather Service webpage for today, Thursday, June 17, 2021, the high temp at Powderhorn will be 86, with a low temp tonight of 65. Tomorrow's high will be 83, with Saturday's high barely reaching 80.

Those temperatures are certainly better than Grand Junction's expected highs of 105 for today, 102 for Friday, and...hey, it looks like we get a break, 98 on Saturday.

What Services Do They Offer?

Okay, so what do you do when you get up there. According to yesterday's (June 16, 2021) press release, summer 2021 includes:

  • Rocky Mountain bikes in the rental shop
  • New menu items at The Umbrella Bar
  • Thunderbird Tacos
  • 300 Lakes Village Tiny Homes located at the base of the resort

How Much?

Let's say you want to check it out. A Thursday/Friday Bike Park ticket will run you $34. A Saturday/Sunday Bike Park Ticket is $39. You can also do a scenic chair ride for $19.

Season passes are also available:

  • Adult Bike Park (13+) - $179
  • Youth Bike Park (12 and under) - $129

When To Enjoy The Fun

Days are short. The summer hours of operation at Powderhorn are:

  • Thursday/Friday - 11am-4pm
  • Saturday/Sunday - 10am-4pm

This might be just what the doctor ordered. I'm looking to get out of the house, but not necessary for an extended period. A trail ride is always fun, but it would be nice to explore new trails. The idea of riding the chairlift and let it do the work of getting me up the hill is an added bonus.

WORTH THE TRIP: Take the Amazing Hike at Rifle Falls

 

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