Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers

Discover the Heart of Colorado’s Canyon Country

Dates: To be announced – Fall 2026

Location: Grand Junction, Colorado

Next year we’ll gather in Grand Junction, where red rock canyons meet alpine lakes, vineyards, and the Colorado River. The area offers an outstanding variety of subjects for both photographers and writers — from sweeping desert overlooks to quiet garden paths — making it a perfect location for RMOWP.

Just minutes from downtown, the Monument features towering sandstone monoliths, deep canyons, and dramatic viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive. Photographers will love sunrise and late afternoon light; writers will find plenty of material in the geology, desert ecology, and sense of place.

Rising above the valley, the world’s largest flat-top mountain offers high-country scenery, aspen and pine forests, and dozens of lakes perfect for reflection shots and quiet field-writing sessions. It’s a striking contrast to the red-rock country below.

East of Grand Junction, Palisade softens the landscape with fruit orchards, vineyards, and historic farm structures. This is a wonderful location for more intimate landscape work, human-interest stories, and seasonal writing (spring blossoms, late-summer harvest).

Art-filled streets, outdoor sculptures, and local shops make downtown ideal for photo walks and observational writing. It’s also a convenient place for casual meetups, interviews, and street photography.

A great option for macro and detail work — colorful flowers, native plants, and indoor tropical spaces offer a completely different look than the surrounding desert.

Grand Junction is known for big skies and beautiful light. Plan to bring your tripod for sunrise over the canyons, sunset on Grand Mesa, and (weather permitting) desert night-sky photography.

• Photographers: red-rock vistas, alpine lakes, agricultural scenes, public art, wildlife, and detail studies.

• Writers: nature and travel pieces, human-landscape stories, field notes, poetry, and conference-inspired essays.

• Guided photo excursions to nearby scenic areas

• On-location writing sessions

• Workshops, presentations, and image/writing critiques

• Evening programs and fellowship with other outdoor creatives

Full schedule and lodging information will be posted as details are confirmed.

Join us in Grand Junction in 2026! For updates, visit www.rmowp.org.