Palisade Colorado Recreation

With a mild climate and plenty of diverse terrain, Palisade, Colorado is the perfect destination for any outdoor enthusiast. Palisade borders the Bookcliffs and Grand Mesa National Forest, which offer hiking, biking, camping and much more. If you’re looking to hit the slopes, head to nearby Powderhorn Ski Resort for some steep and deep skiing or snowboarding. Whether it’s hiking at a state park, biking on the Palisade scenic bike route or taking in the wild life at the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area, Palisade is sure to please.

Powderhorn Ski Resort

SKIING, BIKING, HIKING: Located less than an hour away from Palisade, Colorado, Powderhorn Ski Resort is a fantastic family resort that offers a vertical drop of 1,650 feet and 600 skiable acres. The average snowfall is 250 acres with 20 percent of the trail dedicated to beginners, 50 percent for intermediate skiers and 30 percent for advanced and expert.

In the summer, mountain bikers and hikers can escape the heat by hitting the slopes. Powderhorn Resort offers cross-country trails that are 6 miles in length, primarily for mountain bikers but are also open for hiking. Trails range from intermediate to advanced and bikers will experience an elevation change of about 800 feet. Trail maps and condition information are available at the trailhead.

To get there, take I-70 east toward Denver. Take Exit 49, which is Highway 65. About 20 miles on Highway 65, you’ll find the entrance to Powderhorn Resort, which is also known as Powderhorn Road.

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Climate

Winters are moderately cold with daytime highs averaging about freezing and dropping to the mid-teens and low-20s at night. Snowfall averages about 12 inches in Palisade, but seldom stays around for any length of time. On the Grand Mesa, expect 6-10 feet of snow annually.

In the spring and early fall, temperatures are in the mid-60s to low-80s and the Grand Valley sees a frost-free period of 160-180 days annually, which is three weeks longer than the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.