The Tamesis
3pm Tramp on the hooves to see the wild horses
Watching a small herd of around 100 horses roam the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range is almost as exciting as watching wild animals on a safari. The horses can trace their lineage to horses raised by the Utes until the group was forced to relocate in the early 1880s. The 36,113-acre ranch (admission is free) is one of only three ranches in the United States dedicated to wild horse conservation. Explore the mountains from the Coal Canyon Trailhead, 18 miles east of Grand Junction. Hike a mile or two into the main canyon on a well-maintained trail. Even if you don’t encounter any horses, you can enjoy the rugged, open landscape dotted with fragrant sagebrush, pine, and juniper trees.
5:30 pm drink a peach
Palisades, a town 14 miles east of Grand Junction, is surrounded by orchards and produces peaches known for their juiciness and tangy sweetness. But it doesn’t have to be the middle of summer to enjoy this flavor. Grab a seat at the country-style bar at Peach Street Distillers, one of Colorado’s original boutique spirits makers, and try a peach-picking mule, which includes brandy and nectar made with Palisade peaches ($13). Or sample the distillery’s other spirits – whiskey, gin, vodka and more.
7pm Enjoy a simple and elegant feast
Just a two-block walk from the winery is Pêche, where Matt and Ashley Fees Chasseur, a Michelin-starred restaurant veteran, have been running the menu for nearly seven years, with ingredients sourced from the region’s many farms and ranches. In the small, bright restaurant, try fresh wild mushroom pasta ($38) or perfectly grilled lamb chops with eggplant, grilled focaccia and creamy ricotta ($68). The occasional smoke drifting from the restaurant? It comes not from the open kitchen, but from the tableside crème brûlée ($10). The Chasseurs plan to open another restaurant, Tiki Bird, in downtown Grand Junction later this year.
