True to its name, Orchard City is a fruit-growing paradise on the lush, south side of the Grand Mesa. While but a bump in the road (Colorado 65), Orchard City is among a network of tiny fruit-bearing towns in Delta County that when connected make an enchanting driving tour.
Farms around Orchard City and neighboring Cedaredge are famous for producing mouth-watering apples. Harvest times culminate each fall when residents of these hard-working communities and visitors come together to celebrate at the annual AppleFest in Cedaredge.
In addition to fruit stands and postcard-perfect pastoral landscapes, galleries, wineries, inns, museums and restaurants are tucked in and between these quiet communities. Rivers, such as the roaring Gunnison, also run near Orchard City, making this area a popular destination for fly fishing.
The stretch of road near Orchard City is so spectacular that it's now part of Colorado's Grand Mesa Byway. The byway tops out at 10,000 feet on the world's largest flattop mountain and features shimmering lakes, mountain vistas, orchards and vineyards and wild rock formations. Wildlife is abundant, as are trailheads into the Grand Mesa National Forest. The rolling trails are ideal for summer hiking and winter cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. |
