Start in the courtyard at 215 Ute Street: a smash burger at Joe’s, a scoop at Mimi’s next door, the game on at Delta Roadhouse. Then go see the Western Slope. These are the places we send our own friends.
Tell us when you’re coming and what you love. We’ll lay out the days hour by hour, with what the season, the roads, the sky and the weather will be doing, and what to do if plans change.
Every route starts or ends in the courtyard. Joe’s cooks Sunday to Wednesday; Mimi’s is open every day.
4–5 hours
11am–7pm, football season
8–10 hours
6–8 hours
2 days
Smash burgers and triple-cook tallow fries from the trailer.
See the menu →Homemade ice cream, shakes and sundaes.
mimissweettreats.com →The bar, the Tavern, live music and the game on the big screens.
deltaroadhouse.com →The City of Murals sits where the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers meet, with orchards and farm stands all around it.
18-hole mini golf, batting cages, darts simulators, pool, an arcade and a pizzeria under one roof, owned by Delta natives.
A 2,500-seat covered grandstand for rodeos, concerts, festivals and farmers markets. Check the calendar before you come.
Large-scale murals of Western Colorado history line downtown, with local boutiques, Western wear, antiques and vintage ranch finds in between.
Delta County peaches, cherries, apples, corn and honey. U-pick and farm stands line the roads in season.
Small-town and full of local flavor. Lunch and dinner are covered in the courtyard; here’s the rest of the day.
Homemade breakfast and lunch with daily specials. One of the most loved spots in town, so get there early.
Grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired plates that Delta regulars swear by.
A women-owned taproom with local craft beer, cocktails, a sport simulator, pool and a full events calendar.
The Olathe farmstead behind Mimi’s ice cream: artisan cheese, fresh milk and small-batch ice cream.
Montrose’s local brewery: ten house beers, pizza, a kid-friendly room and a dog-friendly patio.
Twelve rotating taps in the “Switzerland of America,” after the Perimeter Trail or the hot springs.
Sixteen beers, a full kitchen and a patio facing Colorado National Monument.
Colorado’s wine capital: dozens of wineries and tasting rooms on the Fruit & Wine Byway.
Canyons, a mesa with 300 lakes and Gold Medal trout water, most of it within an hour.
A national park whose walls drop nearly 2,000 feet. Drive the South Rim and walk the overlooks; plan three hours or more.
Rim trails, inner-gorge hikes and Gold Medal fly fishing on the Gunnison River. Rugged and remote.
The largest flat-top mountain in the world: 300+ lakes, 200+ miles of trails and big fall color.
Fremont petroglyphs, red rock walls and near-solitude along the Gunnison. A locals’ favorite.
Fishing, kayaking, picnics and birdwatching, minutes from downtown.
An 80-mile forested ridge: elk, aspen, hiking, mountain biking and four-wheel roads.
Easy riverside trails, fishing and picnics where the two rivers meet.
Trophy brown and rainbow trout in the Gunnison below the Black Canyon. Guides and rentals nearby.
Delta sits in the middle of some of the best roads in the state.
South through Montrose, then US-550 through Ouray and Silverton: alpine passes, cliff roads and mining towns. Allow a full day.
CO-65 climbs from Cedaredge past alpine lakes and spruce forest, then drops into the Grand Valley.
East on CO-92 to Hotchkiss, then CO-133 to Paonia and Somerset: orchards, organic farms and canyon walls.
US-50 east past Montrose to Blue Mesa, Colorado’s largest body of water. Marinas, fishing and kayaking.
Vineyards, orchards and tasting rooms around Palisade. Best in the fall.
Rain or shine, there’s plenty for kids within an hour.
A reconstructed fur-trading post on the river with costumed guides and rendezvous festivals.
Rodeos, 4-H shows and the county fair every summer.
An indoor pool with lap lanes and water features for a day out of the weather.
Full skeletons, robotic dinosaurs and a working fossil lab in Fruita.
Calm floats to whitewater on the Colorado and Gunnison, with outfitters around Grand Junction and Gunnison.
Delta is right in the middle of the Western Slope’s best towns.
Gateway to the Black Canyon, the Ute Indian Museum and Horsefly Brewing.
Colorado National Monument, red rock canyons, Main Street dining and the river trails.
Hot springs, the Perimeter Trail, Box Canyon Falls and the start of the Million Dollar Highway.
The world’s largest hot springs pool, Glenwood Caverns and Hanging Lake.
The free gondola, Bridal Veil Falls and a festival calendar all summer.
The narrow-gauge railroad to Silverton, the Animas River trail and the gateway to Mesa Verde.
Time your visit with one of these.
Music, games, football Sundays and specials across Joe’s, Mimi’s and Delta Roadhouse.
Livestock shows, rodeo, carnival rides, local food and live music.
The Western Slope’s most famous crop, with food, wine tasting and music.
Lavender fields in bloom against the canyon walls, with vendors and music.
Order ahead and your food is ready when you get back to the courtyard.
Places outside the courtyard are independent businesses. Check their hours before you go.