Airstreams near Fruita with showers

Located on the edge of the Colorado Plateau near the Utah-Colorado border, Fruita has made a name for itself as one of America’s top mountain biking destinations. It’s a less crowded alternative to neighboring Moab and offers much in terms of hiking, camping, and sightseeing. Fruita sits at the western entrance of Colorado National Monument and only 90 minutes from Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Arches, and Canyonlands national parks. Campers will find plenty of options around Fruita from amenity-packed RV parks and scenic national park sites to primitive sites with easy access to popular mountain bike trails.

North Fruita Desert

The North Fruita Desert is where you’ll find Fruita’s most famous mountain biking trails. The North Fruita Desert area hugs the Book Cliffs just north of town and offers over 250 miles of designated trails including the world-class “18 Road'' trail system. The North Fruita Desert Campground offers convenient access to the trails and dispersed camping is allowed in designated sites just outside the mountain bike trail system. 

Colorado National Monument

Sitting on a high plateau, just minutes from Fruita, Colorado National Monument is a striking red rock landscape of sheer cliffs, towering sandstone formations, and dizzying canyons. The park’s top attraction is the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, which hugs the edge of a cliff and provides access to several trailheads and scenic viewpoints. The Saddlehorn Campground is the only designated campground in the park and sites can be reserved up to six months in advance.  

Grand Mesa National Forest 

Situated high above the Colorado River’s Grand Valley, about 40 miles east of Grand Junction, Grand Mesa National Forest offers a cooler temperature escape in summer. This unique flat-topped mountain is filled with hundreds of gorgeous alpine lakes and over 200 miles of trails to explore. Campers will find several lakeside campgrounds and tons of opportunities for dispersed and backcountry camping. 

The best seasons for mountain biking and camping in Fruita are spring and fall. Fruita gets a bit too hot in summer to thoroughly enjoy the trails. It’s not uncommon to see triple-digit temperatures in summer. Fall is a particularly nice time to visit Fruita. That’s when peaches, pears, and other delicious fruits are harvested in orchards around Fruita. Winter can also be a pleasant time to visit Fruita as long as you come prepared for chilly nights. Fruita gets very little snow in winter.   

1. Fruita has grocery stores, bike shops, breweries, and restaurants. Nearby Grand Junction offers a wider variety of services. 
2. Multi-day mountain bike rentals are available at several bike shops in Fruita. 
3. Some dispersed camping areas near Fruita require a portable toilet and fire pan for overnight stays.  
4. Fruita’s home of the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival. If you happen to visit in late May, don’t miss this yearly celebration that honors a chicken that supposedly survived without a head for nearly two years.