DELTA COUNTY, Colo. — Situated in Colorado’s North Fork Valley, Paonia is a town built around organic agriculture. Sound boring as a tourist destination? Well, it’s not.
Here’s some simple math. Agriculture = food and booze. Sounding more fun? Not only is Paonia home to some of the state’s micro hops farms, but it’s also home to one of the state’s most popular hard cider shops.
Wineries & Beer
Big B’s is located next door to Paonia in Hotchkiss. It has an Orchard & Tasting room, featuring a wide array of hard ciders. The cider makers at Big B’s create small batches with organic apples and other fruits. Cider samples are free.
Revolution Brewing is another hot spot four tourists. It’s located at 325 Grand Avenue in Paonia. The brewery touts the fact its ingredients have not been pasteurized, centrifuged or filtered. Revolution also has a tasting room for guests.
Wineries are also popular in Paonia. Among the town’s well-known wineries is Black Bridge Winery. Black Bridge features an 80-acre farm. The winery itself launched in 2003, but in 1997 Orchard Valley started growing its own grapes to prepare for Colorado’s emerging wine scene, according to its website.
To find more food and wine choices in Paonia, click here.
RELATED: All current stops on #COroadtrip
Everything Outdoors
On its website, the Paonia Chamber of Commerce lists several places to bike and explore. Including the following:
Bicycling
- Trail: Barrow Mesa Loop
Approx. Mileage: 6.9 miles
Route: In Hotchkiss, start at Hotchkiss Ave and Cedar Rd. Go north on Cedar for .5 miles, cross HWY 92 and the railroad tracks, continue and turn left on Maple. Go .2 miles and turn right on Barrow Mesa Rd. Go 1.2 miles and turn left on L50. Go 2.1 miles and turn right onto 3300 Rd. Go 1.6 miles, cross HWY 92 and turn left on J80. Go 1.3 miles staying on J80, it will empty into Hotchkiss Ave.
Description: Mostly farm land; paved roads. Pleasant ride.
- Trail: Black Bridge Tour
Approx. Mileage: Roughly 5 miles starting at Orchard Valley Farms
Route: Start at Orchard Valley Farms on Black Bridge Rd and go west to HWY 133 (.3 mi.). Turn right (watch for truck traffic), go .3 mi. and take the next left, Garvin Mesa Rd. Go up the hill for 1.2 mi. and turn left onto Reds Rd (or continue on to Terror Creek Winery). Continue on Reds for .8 mi. as it veers to left and turns Farmers Mine Rd. Go 1.8 mi. and turn left onto HWY 133 (watch for traffic). Go .2 mi. and take next right to Black Bridge Rd. (.3 mi. back to Orchard Valley Farms.)
Description: Nice views of the Valley from Terror Creek Winery. Mixture of paved and gravel roads. Over 400 foot elevation gain while on Garvin Mesa, a gravel road – watch for vehicles. You can start in Paonia by taking 7th Street from Fork Ave. east for .1 mi. when it becomes Black Bridge and go 1.2 mi and turn left at Grange Rd. to stay on Black Bridge. Go .3 mi. to Orchard Valley Farms.
- Trail: Black Canyon Tour
Approx. Mileage: 12 miles
Route: Start at Crawford’s Stone House Inn on HWY 92 and Cedar and go south for 3.2 miles past the Reservoir and turn right onto Black Canyon Rd. Stay on Black Canyon Rd. (watch signs) and go 4 miles. Turn right onto 7745 Rd., a gravel toad. Go 1.2 miles and continue straight onto Fruitland Mesa Rd. Go 3.4 miles and turn right onto Cedar. Go .2 miles to HWY 92.
Description: Great views of the West Elks. Paved and gravel roads. Instead of turning right onto 7745 Rd. you can stay on Black Canyon to get to the Canyon itself.
- Trail: German Creek Loop
Approx. Mileage: Roughly 5 miles
Route: Start in Paonia and from 2nd St. and Colorado take Colorado Ave. south. After .3 mi. it will become Minnesota Creek Rd. Go .6 mi. and turn right on Dry Gulch Rd. Ride .8 mi. and veer right onto Foothills Rd. Go 2.2 mi. (Foothills Rd becomes Lamborn Mesa) until you come to 4100 Rd. turn right. Go north for a mile; Lamborn Mesa will take you to 2nd St.
Description: Colorado Ave is a hard-packed dirt road. You’II be riding in the shadows of Mt. Lamborn. Paved and gravel roads.
- Trail: Needle Rock Mini Loop
Approx. Mileage: 7.6 miles
Route: Start at Crawford’s post office on HWY 92 and Dogwood. Go east on Dogwood for .1 mile. It will turn into Needle Rock Rd. Go 2.2 miles and go straight onto 4200 Rd. Go .5 miles. Turn right on Cottonwood Creek Rd. Go 1 mile and turn right right on 4300 Ln. Go .3 miles and turn right onto Needle Rock Rd. Go 1.1 miles and turn left to stay on Needle Rock. Go 2.4 miles to return to the post office.
Description: Loops around Needle Rock. Pretty much gravel road.
- Trail: Needle Rock Road Rally
Approx. Mileage: 11.7 miles
Route: Start at Crawford’s post office on HWY 92 and head west/north. Go 1.4 miles and turn right onto Crawford Rd. Go 3 miles and turn right onto Cottonwood Creek Rd. Go 2.4 miles and turn right onto 4200 Rd. Go .5 miles and go straight on Needle Rock Rd. Go 2.4 miles to return to the post office.
Description: Takes you through the adobes. Nice view of the West Elks. Some stretches of gravel road. Can extend the ride by taking the Mini Loop described above.
- Trail: North Fork Ramble
Approx. Mileage: Over 17 miles
Route: Start in Hotchkiss at the HWY 92 and 133 split. Stay on 92 and go 1 mile. Turn left on Back River Rd. Go 6.5 miles and stay straight when Back River becomes Stewart Mesa Rd. After approximately a mile, turn right onto Crawford Rd. Go approximately 5 miles and turn right onto Fobare Rd. Go .8 miles and turn right onto HWY 92. Go 3.4 miles to return to Hotchkiss.
Description: All paved roads. Valley and adobe views.
More bike trails and outdoor activities: http://paoniachamber.com/outdoors/
Upcoming Event
Event: Cherry Days
Dates: July 3 to 5
Below is a day-by-day schedule of Cherry Days
July 3
Downtown
- 10 am to 3 pm: Booths and activities from various businesses on Grand Ave. and beyond
In the Town Park
- 11am: Dusk the Xtreme Zone is open
- 11am -9pm: Food & Vendors are open
- 11am-2pm: Music from Bill Obrien, Devon Meyers in Poulos Park
- 3pm-4:30pm: Gazebo Stage-Gustavo Brett
- 5pm-6:30pm: Gazebo Stage-Mike Gwinn with David Snider
- 7pm-9pm Gazebo Stage-The Scones
- 7pm: North Fork Bull Riding Challenge at Horse Patrol Arena on Mathews Lane
July 4
- 6am-9am: Pancake Breakfast at the Town Hall
- 7am: Cherry Day 5K Race
- 10am-11am: Parade route down Grand Ave. to the town park
- 11am: Park opens Food and Craft Vendors
- 11am: Dusk Xtreme Zone is open
- 11:30am: Karate Demo with Sensei Rick on the Gazebo Stage for 20 minutes.
- 12-12:15pm: Flag Ceremony-Gazebo Stage
- 12:15-12:30pm: Royalty Crowning-Gazebo Stage
- 12:30-1pm: Sultan’s Pride Middle Eastern Dance Troupe
- 1pm: Cherry Baking Contest Judging at Cherry Day Booth
- 1-2:30pm: Harry Harpoon with Yogi-Gazebo Stage
- 1:30-3pm: Coal Shoveling Contest – by Bleachers at edge of football field
- 3pm-3:30 pm: Pie eating Contest
- 5pm-6:30pm: Solar Brothers
- 7pm-9pm: Niceness
July 5
- 10am: Vendors open
- 10:00am: Church in the park
- 11am-5pm: Xtreme Zone open -Pay to ride only, no wristbands
- 12-1pm: Talent show
- 1-2:30pm: Devon Myers
- 2:30-3pm: Wood-splitting contest
- 3-5pm: The David Starr Band
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#COroadtrip
Anne and Kevin will be travelling traveling 800 Rocky Mountain miles in all this week, visiting some pretty gnarly small towns. Along the way they’ll give their best recommendations and introduce you to some memorable characters.
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