Overview
Paonia is a town in the Northwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is the nearest town to the West Elks American Viticultural Area (AVA), part of Colorado's Wine Country and home to the highest wine vineyards in North America.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 5 places to eat · 5 bars & cafés · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Paonia
The Blue Sage
Community-owned performing arts center, with nationally known artists and writers performing. A valley symphony, a valley youth orchestra, various chamber groups plus contemporary music acts play at the center.
North Fork Historical Museum
Set in Paonia River Park, features 19th and 20th century history at the Paonia Museum and the Bowie Schoolhouse Museum.
Paradise Theatre
Funky independent movie theater dating from the 1920s. offering first and second-run movies, independent and foreign films, live entertainment, music and community events.
Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
Road traversing the world's largest flattop mountain. Begins at Cedaredge Pioneer Town Museum Welcome Center on US 65 off US 92. The Land O'Lakes Visitor Center, Land's End, and Plateau Valley Area offer fishing, hiking,…
Tabeguache Trail
Trail crosses public land for 142 miles connecting Montrose and Grand Junction, Colorado. The Tabeguache Trail begins in Shavano Valley and weaves through the canyons, mesas and highlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau befor…
Crawford Reservoir
Created by Crawford Dam which crosses Iron Creek, a tributary of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River. Fishing, boating, waterskiing, sailboarding, and swimming.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 13°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Mar. (climate data from nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MTJ Montrose Regional Airport, Montrose — 30 mi away. Directions
- GUC Gunnison Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison — 42 mi away. Directions
- COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs — 156 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are also airports in Denver and Grand Junction.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Blue Sage, Paradise Theatre
- Lunch Aspen Leaf Catering and Deli
- Afternoon Tabeguache Trail, Paonia State Park
- Dinner Flying Fork Cafe & Bakery
- Evening 133 Liquor
Day 2
- Morning North Fork Historical Museum, Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
- Lunch Homestead Beef
- Afternoon Crawford Reservoir
- Dinner Fiesta Vallarta
- Evening Austin's Restaurant & Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Home to environmentalists, new age-ers, artists, activists, as well as coal miners, organic farmers and ranchers, Paonia prides itself on its off-beat culture.
For a small town, Paonia is a bastion of progressive media, community activism and liberal thinking. Downtown Paonia boasts The High Country News, an environmental newspaper renowned for its investigative journalism. KVNF (90.9 FM) is a left-leaning Paonia-based public radio station that broadcasts from Grand Junction to Lake City.
Grand Avenue in Paonia is an eclectic mix of art galleries and boutique shops, and makes for a diverting couple of hours of browsing.
It's somehow fitting that a town filled with so many aging Flower Children from the 1960s is also named after a flower. Incorporated in 1881, Paonia was named by its founder, Samuel Wade, for the peony rootstock which he brought with him by covered wagon. Wade submitted the Latin name for the flower, "Paeonia" as the official town name to the US Postal Service. The Post Office wouldn't allow the extra vowel, so the name was shortened to "Paonia."
Paonia is a rich agricultural region with many orchards, organic farms and vineyards. In 2001, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms designated the mesas around Paonia as the "West Elks American Viticultural Area." At 6,417 ft (1956 m) above sea level, this wine region is amongst the highest in the world. Grapes grown in the area include Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir.
Get in
By plane
Go Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field, ASE)
Major carriers to Aspen include United, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines. ASE is a small airport for small planes only, and traffic tends to stop in any inclement weather. Flying into Denver Airport and driving up to Aspen is more reliable and often cheaper.
There are also airports in Denver and Grand Junction.
By car
Nestled in the North Fork Valley in Delta County, roads to Paonia from the east and the south are particularly beautiful. Paonia is 70 mi from Glenwood Springs on Colorado SR-133. If you're in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park or Curecanti National Recreation Area take SR-92 north. From Grand Junction take US-50 southeast to SR-92 east for a total of about 70 mi.
By train
Amtrak serves nearby Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. For more information, see rail travel in the US.
But once at the rail station, you will have to rent a car.
Get around
Downtown Paonia is only a few blocks and is easily navigated by foot. For the rest of the area, you will need a car or a bike. Paonia is 9 mi away from Hotchkiss, home of the Delta County Fair, held every August.
See
See The Blue Sage
Community-owned performing arts center, with nationally known artists and writers performing. A valley symphony, a valley youth orchestra, various chamber groups plus contemporary music acts play at the center.
See North Fork Historical Museum
Set in Paonia River Park, features 19th and 20th century history at the Paonia Museum and the Bowie Schoolhouse Museum.
Itineraries
- Delta, Montrose, Paonia & Hotchkiss - Follow US 92 west along the Gunnison River. Turn north on US 65 and stop at the wineries along Surface Creek, on the south slope of Grand Mesa , the largest flattop mountain in the world. Or, travel along the North Fork of the Gunnison River on US 92 east out of Delta and then US 133. This will take you to Hotchkiss and Paonia, where you will find yourself in the West Elks AVA.
See Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
Road traversing the world's largest flattop mountain. Begins at Cedaredge Pioneer Town Museum Welcome Center on US 65 off US 92. The Land O'Lakes Visitor Center, Land's End, and Plateau Valley Area offer fishing, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, photography and amazing views.
Do
Mountain biking
Do Tabeguache Trail
Trail crosses public land for 142 miles connecting Montrose and Grand Junction, Colorado. The Tabeguache Trail begins in Shavano Valley and weaves through the canyons, mesas and highlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau before ending in "No Thoroughfare Canyon," a few miles west of Grand Junction.
Fishing
Do Crawford Reservoir
Created by Crawford Dam which crosses Iron Creek, a tributary of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River. Fishing, boating, waterskiing, sailboarding, and swimming.
Winery tours
The West Elks AVA is home to many fine wineries in Colorado's Wine Country. Spend an afternoon tasting and buying local wines.
Festivals & events
- April - Annual Blossom Walk
- May - Annual Sheep Camp Stock Dog Trials
- June - Crawford Pioneer Days - Crawford
- July - Cherry Days, Dreamtime Festival
- August- Annual Wine and Dine
- September - Mountain Harvest Festival
- November - Barrel Tasting Thanksgiving Weekend
Buy
Shop Ashley Benton Fine Art @ Studio 334
Shop Eleswhere Gallery
Mix of artists' studios and artists-in-residence. Offers local art classes. The studio's mediums include oil painting, mosaics & silk screened clothing.
Shop Elisabethan
Eclectic boutique features clothing and accessories for women and children made from reclaimed and vintage fabrics, jewelry, quilts and homemade jams
Shop Expressions Book Store
A general bookstore that includes a new art show every 2-3 months, pottery, local music and Putumayo CDs.
Eat
Eat Flying Fork Cafe & Bakery
Freshly baked artisan breads and pastries. Pasta, grilled muscovy duck, beef tenderloin, daily fresh fish or homemade lasagne and ravioli. Wines from Colorado and Italy.
Eat Homestead Beef
An artisan processing plant serving up fresh meats for cooking, a good stop for picnic provisions for proponents of the local foods movement. Serving up elk, lamb, beef, produce and local specialties. Ready-to-eat entrees such as beef Stroganoff, meatloaf and red chili con carne
Eat Fiesta Vallarta
Mexican food and a local favorite.
Eat Louie's
Rock &roll themed pizza palace.
Drink
Drink Revolution Brewing
Stout, India Pale Ale, Red, and Golden ales, plus root beer and cherry soda (made with local organic cherries). The tasting room is in a former church with an attractive front porch and beer garden in the back.
Drink Backcountry Coffee
internet access
Drink Thomas Waldos
In the basement of Fiesta Vallarta, although from time to time in the summer they have a BBQ on the back patio.
Sleep
Stay A Simpler Time
Stay Fresh & Wyld Farmhouse & Gardens
Stay Knight Camp Lodge
Stay Pitkin Mesa B&B
Stay Suncatcher B&B
Stay Westwood Farms Country Lodge
Stay Whistling Acres Guest Ranch
Go next
- Glenwood Hots Springs Pool. A huge hot spring pool that is the signature attraction of Glenwood Springs.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - A deep, narrow gorge.
- Curecanti National Recreation Area - The visitor center is located off US 50 on the access road to Morrow Point Dam.
- Uncompahgre National Forest - Over a million acres comprise some of the most spectacular views in the Rockies.
Nearby
Hotchkiss
City / town · 41 listings · 8 mi away
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Park · 5 listings · 22 mi away
Delta
City / town · 28 listings · 27 mi away
Redstone
City / town · 15 listings · 29 mi away
Montrose
City / town · 30 listings · 31 mi away
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Park · 1 listings · 32 mi away
Crested Butte
City / town · 7 listings · 33 mi away
Sunlight Mountain
City / town · 1 listings · 39 mi away
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