# Fun Drives Near Grand Junction, Colorado > Hunt for the best twisty roads in Western Colorado! Explore amazing driving routes in Western Colorado, from red rock canyons to breathtaking mountain passes. Source: https://help.flyinmiata.com/en_us/hunting-twisty-roads-S19bBjcvWe Last updated: 2026-05-28T15:18:18.913Z Out here in western Colorado, there are a number of great roads that are well worth experiencing. Some of these require a good amount of time to fully explore, but if you have the time (or they happen to be on your way), they are well worth the drive!  This isn't an exhaustive list, but we've put together some of our favorite Miata drives within a few hours of Grand Junction, CO.   * * * ### Highway 65 over the Grand Mesa This iconic drive is loved and recommended by FM employees and Grand Junction locals alike. The Grand Mesa is a big part of life in western Colorado - both figuratively and literally - and it has the twisty, scenic roads and overlooks to back up its position as one of our top recommended drives.  Take exit 49 from I-70 eastbound onto Highway 65 to begin following Plateau Creek, winding along for several miles before turning south toward the diminutive town of Mesa.  The road starts getting steeper and twistier, and you'll pass the [Powderhorn Mountain Resort](https://maps.app.goo.gl/BGNUNWNyk7Gme8vE8) before reaching the [Grand Mesa Visitor Center](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hRFGhKz6WbcNn8866) at the top.  There are lots of places to pull off the highway for pictures overlooking the entire Grand Valley, so be ready to soak in the views! [https://maps.app.goo.gl/8QyHPsKeNWSpFAHLA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8QyHPsKeNWSpFAHLA) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/c65f2d56ffdb1baddff6bdcfe9ce1c9c.jpeg) * * * ### Monument Drive Another classic drive if you're visiting Grand Junction, the drive around the edge of the [Colorado National Monument](https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm) features breathtaking views around every corner - and there are LOTS of corners! Grab your camera because you'll want to snap pictures at every pull-off - stark cliffs, deep canyons, rock tunnels you can drive through, bighorn sheep, colorful lizards, and much, much more! Of course, the drive itself is terribly twisty and great for little sports cars, but be wary of wildlife and cyclists who can pop out at any one of the handful of blind corners along the way. Bring water and sunscreen, because you'll likely find yourself exploring this amazing (and also usually quite sunny and dry) outdoor wonderland for more than an hour. \*Note: There is an entry fee for the Monument. Passes can be purchased at the entrance gates [or online](https://www.nps.gov/colm/planyourvisit/fees.htm), and they are valid for a week. You can also use an "[America The Beautiful](https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm#america-the-beautiful-passes)" annual pass for entrance - they're a great deal if you want to visit other parks. They're also free for seniors, veterans, active military, and fourth graders. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/rKi8sNFVoGXsF93B6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rKi8sNFVoGXsF93B6) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/0a89bd1846556d75f278e9eaf0be7822.jpeg) * * * ### Highway 139 Heading north from Loma to Ranglely, the best section of this road starts around 10 miles north of Loma and goes until a few miles past the Douglas Pass viewpoint. Typically, you won't find a lot of traffic on this road, but there are deer, antelope, and usually a few cows present, and several drop-offs close to the road, so keep your wits about you.   [https://maps.app.goo.gl/5537SFtNeSVGR5Jt7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/5537SFtNeSVGR5Jt7) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/d041f8037b56be10873caa9f176097c4.jpeg) * * * ### Little Park Road This one is an alternate back road to access the Colorado National Monument from the southwest. The road can be a little choppy in some places, so for those of you with extremely low cars, you'll need to take some care in a few spots on this one. However, the payoff is a very windy road and little traffic. You will run across more deer and Bighorn sheep up here, so again, you'll need to stay aware. There are lots of sharp corners on this road with little warning, and some decreasing radius corners up and down hill as well. If you follow this one all the way up the plateau, it eventually joins up with D S Rd., which passes right through the middle of Glade Park. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/7QoBY8qfh9fmNmtU6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7QoBY8qfh9fmNmtU6) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/ae3840bb69954aed3bd23f33ec781c24.jpeg) * * * ### D S Road If you continue heading west on this road after coming up from Little Park Rd. or splitting off the Monument road (Rimrock Dr), you'll pass through Glade Park. It continues West for about 16 miles and features a smooth-flowing highway with slightly higher speed limits. Great views, and a good way to get out of the heat of the Grand Valley, especially during the summer. This road dead-ends at the Utah state line and becomes a gravel BLM OHV trail system, so you'll eventually turn around and head back to town. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/L6umPvpmqdK8aCGT7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/L6umPvpmqdK8aCGT7) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/05f1768180ef94cf486cf8f0ec4a853d.jpeg) * * * ### Highway 141 Headed down to Gateway and beyond, this one is another good way to try to beat some of the heat in the summer - it climbs to over 7000' before dropping back down to ~4600' in Gateway. Higher speed limits here, but a bit more traffic to match. The best sections of this road require additional driving beyond the town of Gateway towards Uravan and Naturita.  [https://maps.app.goo.gl/nzfAaSWgcdph5Jk56](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nzfAaSWgcdph5Jk56) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/b97c81f3bb9660364b89d004d82d5787.jpeg) * * * ### The Moab Loop To make a truly epic loop (and easily half a day of scenic driving), you could continue west from Naturita after driving there from Gateway (see above) via CO Highway 90, crossing over into Utah on Highway 46 (same highway, different state), and then head north on HWY 191 towards Moab. Once you've gotten through downtown Moab, be sure to take the turn onto Highway 128 headed east towards Cisco, _not_ following Highway 191 back to the interstate. This little section follows the Colorado River for a number of miles, and the road undulates back and forth. You can expect some more traffic on this route, as it is a popular camping and river rafting zone, but if you catch it on a weekday, you'll mostly have the road to yourself.  [https://maps.app.goo.gl/FMkbfLBsPom15Rch8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/FMkbfLBsPom15Rch8) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/0e81062a809f6d4eb81fccec5b57fe0d.jpeg) * * * ### Highway 92  Head east from Delta on Highway 92 through the quaint little towns of Hotchkiss and Crawford. This route starts off passing mostly through farmland (set in the scenic foothills of the Grand Mesa) until you get past Crawford and Maher. Past that, you'll find ~40 miles of glorious mountain roads with very little traffic. This stretch of highway is possibly one of the best-kept secrets in Colorado for sports-car mountain driving. However, be sure you have a full tank of gas before you start, as there aren't many gas stations nearby!  [https://maps.app.goo.gl/fRcUiydA2qZPNYVHA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/fRcUiydA2qZPNYVHA) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/4cf43bc9c0024bade77f5eed5e68eb2c.jpeg) * * * ### Highway 133  This highway meanders northeast from Hotchkiss all the way to Carbondale. This road is another hidden gem that typically sees little traffic but offers plenty of turns and scenery to enjoy. The view from the top of McClure Pass is pretty remarkable, and if you can make this drive in the fall during the color change, you'll just want to sit and stare at every viewpoint. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/htukZGfE7GSbqVnk7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/htukZGfE7GSbqVnk7) ![](https://cdn.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5eaadd5b7ea1da00197e0989/cc0cf59bb7744962cf5766117acd28f0.jpeg)