North Fork Valley of Colorful Colorado

Those of us fortunate enough to live in the North Fork Valley welcome you to take in the experience of this place we call home.

But what exactly is The North Fork Valley? 

A very simple definition would reveal that the valley includes the towns of eastern Delta County:

Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford – and the surrounding mesas.

The North Fork Valley is named in recognition of the importance of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, which runs northeast to west through this high valley –--

from the mountains northeast of Paonia, through Hotchkiss and the ‘dobie’ deserts until it meets the main body of the larger Gunnison River, between Hotchkiss and Delta.

The north fork of this mighty river is the quiet cousin of the main branch, which carved out over 2,000’ of solid rock to create the stunning Black Canyon southwest of Crawford.

Once the two branches of the Gunnison River merge, it winds through the canyon lands of west central Colorado, joining the Colorado River west of Grand Junction. 

But that’s only the geography lesson… one that tells you nothing more than could be learned from a map or on a flight far overhead.

The real story is to be experienced in person---- Click here to read more.

Click on this ‘road map’ for a PDF of the North Fork Valley.  Please be patient while it loads---it is worth the wait.

Enjoy yourself in our website (a joint effort of the Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Crawford Chambers of Commerce), and, when you are here.