Grand Junction's surrounded by some of the best rides in the west.

As a former rider, I never really missed my bike, until I moved here. With over 300 days of sunshine and low humidity, this part of the country offers some of the best riding weather. It too has some of the nations most beautiful scenery. If you love nothing more than taking to the open road filled with twists, turns, mountains, and mindblowing views, Grand Junction is the place to be. From here you can take off in any direction and experience some world-class riding. Here is the area's Top 5 Rides.

5) Highway 139- Dinosaur  Roll out of downtown Grand Junction on 340, skirt along the Colorado National Monument and roll up to Loma. There hop on 139 and head north to Rangely. If time allows head on up to Dinosaur and check out the Dinosaur National Monument.

4) Highway 65-The Grand Mesa Hop on I-70 and head east a few miles out of town and exit onto highway 65. The road climbs up the side and them rolls over the top of The Grand Mesa. The beautiful lakes, trees, rock formations are amazing. The highway winds down the east side through the towns of Cedaredge and Orchard City.  Hang a right on highway 92 over to 50 in Delta and head back to town.

3) Highway 141-Gateway The ride along highway 141 is a great shorter ride when you've got limited time. Head out of Junction on highway 50. Just a few miles out of town you hit 141 and head southwest. The winding road cuts through some canyons and winds along the Dolores River. If you've got time, The Gateway Auto Museum is worth a visit.

2) Utah Highway 128-Moab This ride is one of the nations best! Head west on I-70 over to Utah and exit off at highway 6. A word of warning, that stretch of road is open to cattle grazing so not too fast. There's nothing worse than topping a hill and coming face to face with a massive bull. Highway 128 doesn't seem like much at first but once you hit the Colorado River at the Dewey Bridge, it instantly transforms into something special. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Then the ride just continues to become more and more spectacular descending over a 1,000ft passing the Fisher Towers and other incredible red cliffs down into Moab.

1) Highway 50-550-62-141-Loop When you have all day or up for a couple days ride try the loop around the Dominguez-Escalante & Uncompahgre National Forest. This ride takes you southeast through Delta, Montrose, and to Ridgeway. There you'll hang a right onto highway 62 over to Placerville. If you are making a couple days of it, you'll want to slip over to Telluride.  Then it's back on 145 to 141. Be sure and check out the Hanging Flume and make time for a pit stop in Gateway.

There are several other great rides around Grand Junction as well. Not to mention the Colorado National Monument, literally on the edge of town. Fire up that bike today and take in some of these amazing rides in and around the Grand Valley. they're awesome!

More From Mix 104.3