Autumn Adventuring

Fall is Colorado’s best-kept secret. The roads are quiet, mountain passes are still open and hotels and restaurants often offer discounts, all the better to enjoy the brilliant foliage and crisp, (usually) sunny weather. At the stunning, Southwestern-style Gateway Canyons Resort in Unaweep Canyon—just one hour west of Grand Junction—you can experience the best of Western Colorado, sans the crowds. The “sustainable outdoor recreation resort,” spa and conference center offers everything from horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and sport shooting to air tours and Jeep and Bentley rentals for stylish exploration of the region’s scenic byways. At Entrada Restaurant, Executive Chef Thomas Hartwell focuses on regional meat and produce with a Cuban influence (elk chiles rellenos, dry-aged bison rib eye). Accommodations include private casitas and two separate adobe lodges. For reservations, visit GatewayCanyons.com.