Itinerary Tours

Rivendell is centrally located in Delta County, and is the perfect base for visiting many events and sites. 
We have overnight accommodations for up to 10 people, including kitchen facilities.

The sun was rising directly behind Lands End Peak and the clouds were perfect for this extraordinary winter sunrise.

The Itinerary-Tours we’ve developed provide visitors with experiences throughout the North Fork Gunnison River Valley and the Surface Creek Valley—hidden treasures in Delta County, Colorado.

With our nearly perfect climate, the valleys’ historic ranching activities are complemented with orchards, vineyards, and organic farms and ranches.

Artists working in many media have settled here, with galleries and studios—both on and off the beaten track.

Schedule your Itinerary or lodging reservation through this link.

Read about our Overnight Lodging through this link.

While bicycling and driving scenic tour itineraries have many options, we particularly enjoy creating “learning” intineraries.

 

It's a thrill to watch the dogs and handlers working together to guide the sheep through the gates and into the pen.

Our scenery inspires creativity of all kinds—-
from the the wide open vistas and encircling mountain views
of Grand Mesa, the Ruby Range, West Elks, San Juans and
Uncompahgre Plateau, to the fertile valleys and nearby granite
and sandstone canyons.

Your itinerary can be planned around annual events:

  • Antiques & Collectibles Fair in Hotchkiss in February
  • Eckert Crane Days in March
  • Hotchkiss Sheepdog Trials in May on Mother’s Day weekend
  • Crawford Pioneer Days in June
  • Paonia’s July 4th Cherry Days
  • Delta County Fair in Hotchkiss’ beautiful Fairgrounds in August
  • Paonia’s Mountain Harvest Festival in September
  • Cedaredge AppleFest in October

 

Elk, and bison, too, are nearby for you to enjoy viewing and learning about.

We can tailor an Itinerary to your interests or your groups’ interests:

  • one-day, or multi-days/nights;
  • mapped and tightly scheduled;
  • your own schedule and sequencing;
  • focus on sight-seeing—mountains, mesas, canyons, valleys, rivers;
  • focus on food, farm, winery and orchard tours;
  • focus on art—visiting galleries, artists in their studios, studying with artists;
  • focus on activities such as bicycling, fishing, hiking, skiing;
  • combine catered meals, prepared box lunches, evening campfires, hiking Rivendell’s trails;
  • any combination of the above.

Please click on the titles of the Itineraries summarized below, for PDFs to see how much fun is in store for you.

We can schedule one of these Itineraries for you, modify or combine parts of them, or, we can create a new one for you. 
Leave the planning to us and pay one price for all events in an Itinerary.

In addition, we continue to search out and meet more partners, to expand the possibilities for your time “on our side of the divide.”

Please click here to contact us to see what we can arrange for you.

The rates listed below with each Itinerary summary are estimated and based on a “group” of 2 people. 
Firm rates are calculated after your Itinerary is scheduled and coordinated with the Itinerary partners.
Please inquire for estimated rate for a larger group, as rates are less per person with a larger group.

 Wings Over the Valleys–A Birding Itinerary on Our Side of the Divide

This Itinerary is centered on viewing Sandhill cranes and other birds and wildlife at Fruitgrowers Reservoir, including two tours with bird experts, and a crane-making mini-workshop;  with additional bird-watching sites and exploring to learn about bird habitats.  Rivendell is 15 minutes from Fruitgrowers, an early spring stop for migrating cranes (pictured at left);  great blue herons, pelicans, ducks, grebes, geese, shorebirds, and raptors are possible to view as well.
Three days and two nights, double occupancy, two people:  $370 to $400.

The Sandhill Cranes frequently circle over Rivendell before landing at Fruitgrowers’.  When we hear and see them overhead, we know to grab the camera and head to the reservoir.

 

Wine, Spirits, & More—An Orchards, Vineyards & Sustainable Farms Intinerary

This Itinerary combines visits to wineries and tasting rooms, a farm tour, and catered meals.  Some orchards and organic farms offer farm tours, or meals under the stars.  Orchards have been in the North Fork Valley and Surface Creek Valley for nearly one hundred years.  Vintners discovered the Valleys’ grape growing qualities over a dozen years ago;  new wineries, cideries, and distilleries are established every year, with the West Elks American Viticultural Area designated in 2001 along the North Fork of the Gunnison River between Bowie and Hotchkiss.
Two days and one night; double occupancy, two people:  $250 to $300.

 

Creativity for the Artist in You—An Arts & Crafts Itinerary in the North Fork

This Itinerary combines art studio tours, study with artists, gallery visits, and catered meals.  North Fork Valley and Surface Creek Valley art studios and galleries feature local, regional, and national artists and craftspeople:  glass blowing and fusion, sculpture, foundries, painting, ceramics and pottery, drawing, watercolor, fiberart, and more. Studio tours and short, or day-long classes are possible with the artists in their studios.
Three days and two nights; double occupancy, two people:  $530 to $560.

 

 

A Feathers & Fur Itinerary

This Itinerary combines viewing of birds, bison and elk.  Rivendell is within two miles of an elk and bison ranch which offers tours;  and within 15 minutes of Fruitgrowers Reservoir, well known for migrating sandhill cranes in early spring, as well as many other birds.   Summer nesters and year-round birds can be seen in nearby aspen and spruce forests, with different species in the valley farm, orchard, and piñon forest areas; Rivendell itself has a life list of over five dozen birds—ask us some of our favorites and our relationships with them.
Three days and two nights; double occupancy, two people:  $240 to $280.

 

Clay Arts—A Learning With Artists Itinerary 

This Itinerary has four 2-to-3 hour classes studying with clay artists in their studios; catered meals; and lodging.  Participants study four unique approaches to working with clay.  Three studios in the North Fork Valley and one studio in Surface Creek Valley:  raku pottery, landscape vessels, ceramic painting, sculpure.  Three days and two nights; double occupancy, two people:  $500 to $550.

 

 

 

We are partnering through these Itineraries—-to share with you—-as we  strive for sustainability:
on our farms and orchards, in our studios and stores, in our life-style. 
In addition, we are surrounded by some of the most exciting scenery in the United States.  
To our east, south, and north are the high peaks and valleys of the Colorado Rockies.  
To our west is the breathtaking red-rock canyon country of the Colorado Plateau.  Within a four-hour drive are no less than ten national parks and monuments, numerous state parks, and millions of acres of national forests and BLM resource lands:  canyons, rivers, lakes, roads, trails, mountains, deserts, wildlife, hunting, fishing, rafting. 
You may find our Community Links helpful.

We continue developing Itineraries.  Please let us know what interests you and we can help you find it!

Artists and craftsmen, farmers and ranchers, orchardists and winemakers, wildlife experts and merchants have found the North Fork and Surface Creek Valleys ideal for pursuing their passions—creating unique entities, objects and shopping experiences.