Summer Day Trips from Denver: Palisade
Ready for a Colorado day trip that feels surprisingly un-Colorado? Head west to Palisade, where vineyards, orchards, warm sunshine, and dramatic desert cliffs replace pine forests and alpine lakes.
About four hours from Denver, Palisade is definitely a commitment for a day trip. But during late summer, when the peaches are ripe and the vineyards are buzzing, it's a pretty delicious excuse to get an early start.
Why We Love It
Palisade is Colorado's wine and fruit country, tucked between the Colorado River and the towering Book Cliffs. The area's warm days, cool nights, and agricultural roots have created a destination that feels completely different from the mountain towns closer to Denver.
You can visit a peach orchard, tour local wineries, wander downtown, and add a drive through Colorado National Monument for some truly spectacular scenery.
Wine, peaches, red rocks. Colorado contains multitudes.
What to Do
Explore Palisade
Start your day in downtown Palisade, where you'll find locally owned shops, restaurants, galleries, tasting rooms, and plenty of small-town charm.
The surrounding countryside is filled with vineyards and orchards, so it doesn't take long before downtown gives way to rows of grapes, peach trees, and wide-open views.
Tour Colorado Wine Country
Yes, Colorado has wine country. And no, we're not just talking about one vineyard somebody planted in their backyard.
The Grand Valley is home to dozens of wineries and tasting rooms, many clustered around Palisade. Spend the afternoon touring vineyards, tasting locally produced wines, or simply relaxing outside with views of the surrounding mesas.
Several companies also offer guided wine tours, which is a particularly good idea if everyone in your group wants to participate in the tasting.
Go Peach Hunting
Late summer means one very important thing in Palisade: peaches.
Palisade peaches have become a Colorado summer tradition, and visiting during harvest season gives you the chance to buy them about as close to the source as possible.
Look for farm stands and orchards offering fresh peaches and other locally grown produce. Depending on the farm and time of year, you may also find opportunities for tours or U-pick experiences.
Just remember to leave room in the car. Buying one box of Palisade peaches requires a level of self-control many of us simply do not possess.
Visit Colorado National Monument
If you're already making the drive west, don't skip nearby Colorado National Monument.
Located about 30 minutes from Palisade, the monument's towering red-rock canyons, sandstone formations, and high-desert scenery feel more like Utah than the Colorado most Denverites see every day.
Drive the scenic Rim Rock Drive, stop at overlooks, or squeeze in a short hike before heading home.
Plan your visit:
Bike Through the Vineyards
Want to earn those peaches?
Palisade's relatively flat country roads make biking a popular way to explore the area's vineyards, orchards, and farms. The Fruit & Wine Byway offers several routes through the Grand Valley, allowing you to make the journey itself part of the adventure.
Just remember that wine tasting and cycling require some common sense. Consider a guided tour or designated driver if wineries are a major part of your plans.
Pro Tips
Leave Denver early. At roughly four hours each way, this is the longest "day trip" in our series.
Late summer can be hot in Palisade, so bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Check individual winery hours and reservation policies before visiting.
Peach harvest timing varies from year to year, so check with orchards before making a special trip.
If you're tasting wine, designate a driver or book a guided tour.
Consider staying overnight if you'd rather enjoy a leisurely afternoon than spend eight hours in the car.
Drive Time from Denver
Approximately 3¾ to 4 hours each way, depending on traffic.
Is that pushing the definition of "day trip"? A little.
But this is our Bonus Hidden Gem, so we're allowing it.
Perfect For:
Couples
Wine lovers
Foodies
Scenic drives
Peach enthusiasts
Weekend adventurers
Anyone looking for a completely different side of Colorado
One More Thing...
Palisade is one destination where turning your day trip into an overnight getaway makes a lot of sense.
But if you're willing to start early, you can pack vineyards, fresh peaches, downtown Palisade, and Colorado National Monument into one very memorable summer day.
And after weeks of mountain lakes, hiking trails, and pine trees, ending our summer adventures surrounded by vineyards and peach orchards feels pretty sweet.
Want to learn more about things to do in Denver? Book a Discovery Meeting with us today.
