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The North Fork ValleyThe communities that nestle around the base of the West Elk Mountain mountains, and the communities that formed along the rivers that flow out of these mountains, make up an area known as the North Fork Valley. The name comes from the main river in this valley, the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Two sides of the North Fork Valley are National Forest: the Gunnison National Forest to the east, which includes the West Elk Wilderness; and the Grand Mesa National Forest to the north. The southern boundary is the Black Canyon. The North Fork Valley is a great place to live because of its proximity to the mountains. There's hardly any place that doesn't provide spectacular views of the mountains, or a 360 panoramas from one the many mesas. The climate is four seasons, allowing for a long growing season. Often one can see snow-covered peaks while experiencing a warm, sunny day in the valley. Recreational opportunities are everywhere. One can hike, bike, hunt and fish, ski, snowmobile, ride horses and 4-wheel. Surrounded by public lands, the North Fork Valley is a base area for explorations. Climb a mountain or climb down into a canyon! Fly fish a stream or canoe across a mountain lake. Ride past a desert landscape of sagebrush and pinion into a forest of aspen and pine. Very Accessible While tucked into its own corner of the world, Paonia and the North Fork Valley are also very accessible. From Interstate 70 to the north, the North Fork Valley is about 1 1/2 hours, either from Grand Junction or Glenwood Springs. Highway 133 starts at Hotchkiss and goes over McClure Pass to the towns of Marble, Redstone, Carbondale and Aspen. Another mountain road, Kebler Pass, is open only in the summer. It's entrance is from Hwy. 133 just below Paonia Reservoir, where Muddy Creek and Anthracite Creek join to form the North Fork of the Gunnison. Kebler Pass allows access to the West Elk Wilderness and takes one to the mountain town of Crested Butte, and further on to the town of Gunnison. If one goes east, Hwy. 92 heads into Delta, which is only an hour from Grand Junction, the largest city on the Western Slope. A turn north on Hwy. 65 follows Surface Creek and the small towns that make up Orchard City, until reaching Cedaredge, at the base of the Grand Mesa. Rural Way of Life This is a quiet corner of the world, where people experience a rural way of life. Cattle graze on irrigated pasture. You can buy grass-fed beef or pork. People raise chickens and you can buy fresh eggs everywhere. There is an organic food growing organization, farmer's markets, and highway vegetable and fruit stands. The many miles of orchards in the North Fork Valley are a lovely sight in the spring when they are in bloom. Responding to the breezes that make the hot summer sun bearable, the trees produce apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and apples. Harvest starts in July for cherries, and ends in October for apples. A renaissance of winemaking is occurring in the North Fork Valley. It's the combination of Colorado's famous sunshine, the warm days and cool nights, and low humidity. Many small, family-owned wineries are taking advantage of the place and climate to produce excellent wines. This is one of the rare places that can successfully grow pinot noir grapes People are discovering Western Colorado and the North Fork Valley. Businesses cater to a wide range of tastes, and restaurants vary from traditional to eclectic. Work ranges from ranching and cowboys to coal mining, from organic growers to retired baby boomers. You can find everything here: an art foundry producing sculptures, the High Country News environmental newspaper, the Chaco sandal factory, elk farms, antique and craft stores, vineyards, cowboy bars, barbecue beef sandwiches, massage therapists, artists, and thrift stores. Music and art are encouraged in the North Fork. KVNF "mountain grown" public radio is an example of this, as it has been run entirely by volunteers for 25 years. Festivals, such as the Apple Fest in Cedaredge, Pioneer Days in Crawford, Cherry Days in Paonia or the Delta County Fair in Hotchkiss also showcase local talent. |
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