Parachute, Colorado

High-Desert Beauty on the Colorado River

Tucked along the Colorado River on the western edge of the Rockies, Parachute is a true Colorado small town in the Grand Valley with big outdoor access. Located in the middle of two major western Colorado locations, just 45 minutes west of Glenwood Springs and 45 minutes east of Grand Junction, it offers wide-open landscapes, uncrowded river access, and some of the state’s best scenic floats, hiking, biking, and hunting terrain.

Parachute is where high desert meets alpine wilderness, a gateway to the Grand Mesa and Battlement Mesa. With sunshine-filled days, dramatic canyon views, and authentic Western character, it’s an ideal basecamp for our high desert river adventure without the resort crowds.

If you’re looking for real Colorado rugged, scenic, and wide open vistas this area delivers.

The River

The Parachute section of the Colorado River offers a scenic float through the heart of western Colorado’s high desert. Framed by the striking cliffs of the Book Cliffs to the north and the rolling hills of Battlement Mesa to the south, this stretch winds through a landscape of red rock, sagebrush, and cottonwood-lined riverbanks near the meeting of Parachute Creek and the Colorado River.

Gentle currents and extended calm sections provide time to relax and soak in the views, while light Class I–II rapids add fun splashes along the way. It’s a great option for families, first-time rafters, and anyone wanting a laid-back introduction to rafting in western Colorado. On warm summer days, there’s simply no better way to experience the desert scenery than from the river.