Agritourism refers to anytime a farm or ranch opens up its business to the public for education and experiential opportunities. That includes events like corn mazes and you-pick flowers and fruits, as well as farm-to-table dinners and overnight stays.
In Colorado, more than 900 enterprises make money from agritourism, generating $66.7 million in revenue, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s . “Voluntourism,” which sees travelers helping out on local farms for free, is also on the rise as more Americans look to disconnect from digital devices and connect with nature, said Corry Mihm, executive director of the .
Looking to slow down in rural Colorado? Here are 10 places where you can road trip and enjoy the fruits of local producers’ labor, literally.
Big B’s Delicious Orchards (Hotchkiss)
Located on 30 scenic acres in the North Fork Valley, Big B’s is a working orchard that invites Coloradans to camp among its trees and enjoy live music on weekends throughout the summer. The onsite cafe satiates guests with sandwiches, salads and Colorado-Mexican fare, alongside house-made lemonade, hard cider and other accoutrements like jams and jellies. Additional attractions include tree swings, swimming ponds and mountain views. Located at 39126 CO-133 in Hotchkiss.
Billy Goat Hop Farm (Montrose)
On Friday nights from late May until early October, Billy Goat Hop Farm welcomes visitors to its 32-acre farm in the Uncompahgre Valley. Thatap when you’ll find beer and cider made with its homegrown hops, as well as live music, yard games and often a food truck. The farm also offers camping and glamping throughout the summer. Those who stop by in late July and early August get to see the hops at their peak before harvest. Located at 67181 Trout Road in Montrose.
Black Cat Farmstead (Longmont)
Chef Eric Skokan was a restaurateur well before he became a farmer. But in 2012, he and his wife, Jill, bought a plot of land where they intended to cultivate vegetables for what was then Black Cat restaurant in Boulder. Today, they farm 500 acres, growing produce and raising sheep, pigs and fowl to serve at awe-inspiring farm-to-table dinners at the Longmont farm. Skokan also supplies these items to a different Boulder restaurant called Bramble & Hare restaurant, which he opened 14 years ago. Located at 9889 N. 51st St. in Longmont.
Clark & Co.’s Distilling (Palisade)
Located on the site of Clark Family Orchards in Palisade, a seventh-generation peach farm, Clark & Co.’s Distilling takes the locally grown fruit and turns it into moonshine, brandy, vodka and other spirits for adults 21-and-up to enjoy. The farm traces its lineage back to 1897, when James A. Clark followed the Oregon Trail to the Colorado River and laid down roots. The distillery is much newer, having opened in 2022 on a mission to repurpose the fruit unfit for sale into something worth savoring. Located at 3926 US-6 in Palisade.
The Colorado Farm Brewery (Alamosa)
Opened in 2018, The Colorado Farm Brewery makes so-called “estate” beers using ingredients from the 300-acre family-owned farm there. That includes the barley, grown and malted by sister company Colorado Malting Co.; hops also cultivated onsite; water drawn from a private well; and a strain of yeast procured naturally from the environment. The most popular beer is a farmhouse ale called Batch #1. Located at 2070 County Road 12 South in Alamosa.
Elevation Mountain Grown Herbal Tea (Hotchkiss)
Shannon Ullmann, founder of Elevation Mountain Grown Herbal Tea, does all the work to craft original teas at her 5-acre property in Hotchkiss. That includes growing more than dozen different organic herbs and fruits, harvesting and drying them, and blending them together for the perfect cup. Visitors can schedule a private tour most days throughout the summer or join a special event, like a painting class or seasonal you-pick. Located at 34691 Jacobs Road in Hotchkiss.
Honey Rock Landing (Delta)
Located on 135 acres in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, Honey Rock Landing is a desert oasis and working farm that invites guests for overnight stays as well as special events, like harvest celebrations and wine pairing dinners. Among the main draws are its “cave suites,” which are rooms built into entrada sandstone rock formations. There’s also a swimming pond, river access and more amenities, such as a pool, to come. Located at 2444 Dominguez Canyon Road in Delta.
James Ranch (Durango)
James Ranch in Durango, opened since 1961, raises cattle for beef and operates a dairy. The family-owned ranch, now run by the second generation, includes a restaurant that serves its own grass-fed burgers, homemade cheeses and vegetables grown using regenerative practices on-site. The adjacent market sells those products, as well as items from other local producers, to-go. And the ranch offers fun events like live music, yoga, kid-friendly story readings, self-guided tours and opportunities to interact with farm animals. Located at 33846 US-550 in Durango.
Mountain Goat Lodge (Salida)
Come for the goats and stay overnight at the Mountain Goat Lodge in Salida. This 20-acre farm operates a traditional bed and breakfast with several guest rooms in a main house, plus glamping options available elsewhere on the property. Owner Gina Marcell makes the first meal of the day with local eggs, produce from her greenhouse, and cheese, yogurt and milk from the on-site dairy. Then guests can take a cheese-making class or simply enjoy the animals during their visit. Located at 9582 US Highway 285 in Salida.
Palisade Fruit and Wine Byway tour
One of the best ways to explore all that the fertile grounds in Palisade have to offer is by taking a tour. The town has officially mapped a so-called Fruit and Wine Byway that visitors can use to hit multiple farms and vineyards in one trip. Suggested routes range from 5 to 25 miles and can be enjoyed by bike or car. Some companies even offer that can pack in large groups with a designated driver. Highlights of the tour include Sauvage Spectrum winery, Peach Street Distillers, and Meadery of the Rockies. Find more information at
