Why Move to Fruita, Colorado? Trails, Health, and Community Life
Why do people choose Fruita? What makes them stay and somehow keep coming back for more? For builder Chris Colman, it’s being able to run trails, mountain bike and enjoy it all with his grandchildren cheering him on. Fruita has a way of giving more meaning to life, and come to find out how.
Earlier this month, our builder Chris Colman ran in the Desert RATS Trail Running Festival, a three-day trail running event in Fruita. 13 miles and 2,200+ ft of elevation gain later, as he was about to cross the finish line, his grandchildren decided to hop in at the end and help push him home. This is the life Fruita offers. It’s a life of fun, of memories, of health.
Chris has been road and mountain biking before it was mainstream. His passion for the outdoors has always been apparent and he has discovered that Fruita is the perfect outlet for his adventurous endeavors.
This half-marathon was recognized as “one of the most scenic half-marathons by Active” and if you’ve ever been to the Colorado National Monument, you would know why.
Why Love Fruita?
Chris is a builder here at Copper Creek. He lives in Fruita and is an active participant in the Fruita community. We asked him what he loves most about living here:
“It’s close to the activities I love– biking, running, climbing… and the monument is beautiful. There’s less traffic, less pollution, and the air is cleaner.”
Living in Fruita offers the best of both worlds. With its smaller population, Fruita benefits from the star-filled skies and lack of noise pollution. What’s more, Grand Junction is just down the road, meaning the variety of shopping options and hospital needs aren’t sacrificed.
Why Stay?
Fruita may be small, but its appeal is anything but. With its unique mix of outdoor lifestyle and small-town charm, it draws people in and keeps them there. Chris explains, “There’s a healthy lifestyle people embrace when they get here. Friendships start to develop with like-minded people–and it’s hard to leave that.”
For Chris, that lifestyle plays out on the trails. Whether he’s running or biking, he is always on the go. He’s been to both Devils Canyon and Flume Creek Canyon. Flume Creek Canyon is a no bike area that is dedicated for trail running and hiking. “I go there everyday for lunch and run,” he says. When he wants to go biking, he goes out to 18 road where there’s a good blend of running and biking.
We asked Chris what trails he recommends:
For running:
Craig Crest Trail, Gunny Loop, Devils Canyon Loop, Flume Canyon Trail, D1 and D4 loop, Lunch Loops.
For Mountain Biking
Lunch Loops, Free Lunch, Gunny Loop, Holy Cross, The Ribbon, Wester Zippety, Zip Off, Primo Cut, PBR, Zippty Do Da, Joes Ride.
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Beyond the scenery, the benefits are tangible: “increased heart health, lung health, and helps keep your weight monitored,” Chris explains. There’s also a competitive element to running, as he has proven with his recent half-marathon. He likes that there are several races with different age brackets, allowing anyone to compete.
Fruita has a pull that is unlike other towns. As Chris states, the “laid-back vibe of Fruita” is so welcoming that anyone can feel like home. Fruita makes staying healthy feel less like a chore and more like a hobby. As we know, a healthy lifestyle promotes a long life, meaning the more years you have to keep making memories.