The Roan Cliffs are a series of desert mountains and cliffs in eastern Utah and western Colorado , in the western United States that are distinct from (but closely associated with) the Book Cliffs .
27-624: While Roan Cliffs are "remote and inaccessible", the Book Cliffs run along the edge of the Castle , Gunnison , and Grand valleys and are therefore readily visible from populated areas (i.e., Price and Green River in Utah and Grand Junction in Colorado) and well traveled transportation corridors (i.e., I-70 , US-6 , US-50 , and US-191 ). As such the Book Cliffs are much better known than
54-579: The City of Rifle . This is also near the highpoint for the Roan Cliffs, the Gardner Benchmark, with an elevation of NAVD 88 9,286 feet (2,830 m) and coordinates 39°34′02″N 107°54′36″W / 39.56722°N 107.91000°W / 39.56722; -107.91000 . The course of cliffs then turns northwest to run along the southwest side of Government Creek (and
81-708: The Colorado River in Mesa County (and slightly into Garfield County ) in western Colorado and Grand County in eastern Utah in the Western United States . The valley contains the city of Grand Junction , as well as other smaller communities such as Fruita and Palisade . The valley is a major fruit -growing region that contains many orchards and vineyards , and is home to one of two designated American Viticultural Areas in Colorado:
108-458: The Colorado River in Mesa County (and slightly into Garfield County ) in western Colorado and Grand County in eastern Utah in the Western United States . The valley contains the city of Grand Junction , as well as other smaller communities such as Fruita and Palisade . The valley is a major fruit -growing region that contains many orchards and vineyards , and is home to one of two designated American Viticultural Areas in Colorado:
135-666: The Grand Valley AVA . It takes its name from the "Grand River", the historical name of the Colorado River from its confluence with the Gunnison River that was used by locals in the late 19th and early 20th century. The valley is the most densely populated area on the Colorado Western Slope , with Grand Junction serving as an unofficial capital of the region, as a counterpoint to Denver on
162-399: The Grand Valley AVA . It takes its name from the "Grand River", the historical name of the Colorado River from its confluence with the Gunnison River that was used by locals in the late 19th and early 20th century. The valley is the most densely populated area on the Colorado Western Slope , with Grand Junction serving as an unofficial capital of the region, as a counterpoint to Denver on
189-608: The Gunnison River , one of its major tributaries, just south of Grand Junction near the midpoint of the valley. The valley is surrounded by large plateau formations, including the Book Cliffs along the north side, the Grand Mesa along the southeast side, and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the southwest. Colorado National Monument sits on a ridge on the southwest side of the valley west of Grand Junction. Much of
216-421: The Gunnison River , one of its major tributaries, just south of Grand Junction near the midpoint of the valley. The valley is surrounded by large plateau formations, including the Book Cliffs along the north side, the Grand Mesa along the southeast side, and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the southwest. Colorado National Monument sits on a ridge on the southwest side of the valley west of Grand Junction. Much of
243-749: The SH-13 [Government Road] corridor) until they reach their eastern end, just south of the Garfield‑ Rio Blanco county line, about 62.8 miles (101.1 km) south‑southeast of the "mid-corner" of Rio Blanco County and about 11.2 miles (18.0 km) northwest of the City of Rifle. The Roan Cliffs were originally called the Brown Cliffs by John Wesley Powell (the second Director of the United States Geological Survey ), but
270-647: The Town of De Beque . (The course of the Book Cliffs runs southeast to their eastern end at the Colorado River in the De Beque Canyon , near the town of Palisade and just northeast of the city of Grand Junction . This is also the eastern end of the Grand Valley .) The Roan Cliffs then run briefly northeast again (along the Colorado River) to a point about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) west‑northwest of
297-613: The Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation . The cliffs continue their southeast course along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau until they reach a point near the head of Thompson Canyon (about 12.5 miles [20.1 km] north of the community of Thompson Springs ). From that point the cliffs head northeast, but still along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau. They continue northeast until, after passing partially and briefly back into Uintah County, they reach
SECTION 10
#1732771856636324-797: The Colorado River. The Grand River was renamed Colorado River by act of the Colorado State Legislature , approved March 24, 1921, and made official July 25, 1921 in House Joint Resolution 460 of the 66th Congress . In addition to Grand Junction, the name "Grand" still remains in the Grand Valley between Palisade and Mack ; in Grand Mesa , which stands more than a mile above the Grand and Gunnison Valleys and in Grand County, Colorado . The valley
351-470: The Colorado River. The Grand River was renamed Colorado River by act of the Colorado State Legislature , approved March 24, 1921, and made official July 25, 1921 in House Joint Resolution 460 of the 66th Congress . In addition to Grand Junction, the name "Grand" still remains in the Grand Valley between Palisade and Mack ; in Grand Mesa , which stands more than a mile above the Grand and Gunnison Valleys and in Grand County, Colorado . The valley
378-489: The Grand Valley. By 1900, there were over 1,000 farms in the Grand Valley growing wine grapes and local sales tax records showed that 1,744 gallons of wine were sold that year. At the turn of the 20th century, evaporation techniques allowed fruit-growers to ship their products more efficiently to distant markets, yielding an expansion of fruit growing in the valley.In 1918, the Government Highline Canal
405-411: The Grand Valley. By 1900, there were over 1,000 farms in the Grand Valley growing wine grapes and local sales tax records showed that 1,744 gallons of wine were sold that year. At the turn of the 20th century, evaporation techniques allowed fruit-growers to ship their products more efficiently to distant markets, yielding an expansion of fruit growing in the valley.In 1918, the Government Highline Canal
432-696: The Roan Cliffs begin on southern edge of the West Tavaputs Plateau , on the eastern edge of the Willow Creek (and the US-191 corridor), north of Emma Park , and northwest of Helper on the Carbon ‑ Duchesne county line . (The Book Cliffs do not reach into Duchesne County, but do extend a bit further west to the Price River .) The Roan Cliffs then run southeast along the southern edge of
459-471: The Roan Cliffs. In addition, the name Book Cliffs is often applied to both landforms, with Roan Cliffs being an alternate name. Moreover, because of how far they are spread between Utah and Colorado, they are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate landforms of the same name within each state. The Roan Cliffs are situated north of (in back of) and above, but run roughly parallel to, the Book Cliffs. Stretching nearly 190 miles (310 km) from west to east,
486-715: The Utah‑Colorado state line . East of the state line, the Roan Cliffs continue a northeastern course in Garfield County until they reach the East Salt Creek (and the SH-139 [Douglas Road] corridor). Beyond that creek, the Roan Cliffs run southeast along the southern edge of the East Tavaputs Plateau until they reach the Colorado River (and the I-70 / US-6 corridor) at a point about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of
513-725: The West Tavaputs Plateau (but north of Whitmore Park ), passing through the northeast corner of Emery County until it reaches the Green River in the Desolation and Gray canyons. (The Green River divides the West Tavaputs Plateau from the East Tavaputs Plateau and runs along the Emery‑ Grand county line.) Upon entering Grand County, the Roan Cliffs initially pass through the southern edge of
540-539: The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in the Colorado Front Range . Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 6 run through the valley from west-to-east. The Grand Valley is part of the larger Colorado Plateau desert lands. Grand Valley begins where the Colorado River widens at the mouth of De Beque Canyon to the east of Palisade, then follows a wide arc bending to the west. The Colorado receives
567-404: The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in the Colorado Front Range . Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 6 run through the valley from west-to-east. The Grand Valley is part of the larger Colorado Plateau desert lands. Grand Valley begins where the Colorado River widens at the mouth of De Beque Canyon to the east of Palisade, then follows a wide arc bending to the west. The Colorado receives
SECTION 20
#1732771856636594-403: The name was officially changed in 1932 to Roan Cliffs, to better match the roan color of the cliffs. 39°49′14″N 110°46′05″W / 39.82056°N 110.76806°W / 39.82056; -110.76806 Grand Valley (Colorado-Utah) The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles (48 km) long and 5 miles (8.0 km) wide, located along
621-649: The surrounding table land areas rimming the valley are public lands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management . The name "Grand Valley" has been associated with the area since the mid-nineteenth century. The present Colorado River above Grand Junction was known as the Grand River as early as 1842. The city of Grand Junction was so named because of its position at the junction of the Gunnison and Grand Rivers. The Green and Grand Rivers united in eastern Utah to become
648-482: The surrounding table land areas rimming the valley are public lands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management . The name "Grand Valley" has been associated with the area since the mid-nineteenth century. The present Colorado River above Grand Junction was known as the Grand River as early as 1842. The city of Grand Junction was so named because of its position at the junction of the Gunnison and Grand Rivers. The Green and Grand Rivers united in eastern Utah to become
675-482: Was an area historically occupied by the Ute people ( Parianuche band). Settlers began to arrive in the 1880s, farming the valley for a variety of grains and fruits. In the 1890s, it was discovered that sugar beets were found to have a high sugar content and they became a major crop along with other fruits, grains and vegetables. Also in 1890, State Governor George A. Crawford planted a 60 acres (24 ha) wine vineyard in
702-434: Was an area historically occupied by the Ute people ( Parianuche band). Settlers began to arrive in the 1880s, farming the valley for a variety of grains and fruits. In the 1890s, it was discovered that sugar beets were found to have a high sugar content and they became a major crop along with other fruits, grains and vegetables. Also in 1890, State Governor George A. Crawford planted a 60 acres (24 ha) wine vineyard in
729-536: Was completed to provide water to cultivate 50,000 acres (20.0 km²) in the valley. The project included a roller dam in De Beque Canyon, the largest of three such dams of this type in the nation. [REDACTED] Media related to Grand Valley (Colorado-Utah) at Wikimedia Commons Grand Valley (Colorado-Utah) The Grand Valley is an extended populated valley, approximately 30 miles (48 km) long and 5 miles (8.0 km) wide, located along
#635364