Parachute is a Western Slope town of about a thousand people on the Colorado River. It’s located between Rifle (to the east) and Palisade (to the west) on I-70.
There are several commercial businesses in town and a park or two to stretch your feet.
History
The town was named for Parachute Creek which flowed into town. The Ute Indians had named the creek Pahchouc, the word for twins, because the mouth of the creek was between two similar mountains. The settlers mispronounced the word and the town was named Parachute.
This story of the name was published in the Grand Valley Newspaper, June 30, 1910. The town was changed to Grand Valley in 1908 to lure tourists in, but was renamed back to Parachute in the 1980s.
Recreation
Camping:
- Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls are east on I-70 and north of Rifle.
- Colorado River State Park has numerous campgrounds, with the closest at Island Acres.
Fishing:
- Colorado River runs past town, which has good trout fishing.
- Rifle Gap and Harvey Gap reservoirs are each about thirty minutes away.
Accommodations
Activities near Parachute
Federal Lands:
Landmarks:
State Parks:
- Colorado River State Park (27mi)
- Harvey Gap State Park (28mi)
- Highline Lake State Park (69mi)
- Rifle Falls State Park (29mi)
- Rifle Gap State Park (25mi)
Towns:
- Cedaredge (65mi)
- Collbran (36mi)
- Fruita (56mi)
- Glenwood Springs (42mi)
- Grand Junction (45mi)
- Mesa (26mi)
- Palisade (33mi)
- Rifle (17mi)
