America’s famed desert towns are typically those in Arizona, Utah, Texas, and California. From the gorgeous desert towns in Texas, like Marfa and its UFOs, to Arizona’s epic little locales in the desert, like the spooky town of Jerome with its haunted hotel, and Utah’s equally scenic desert towns, like Moab and Kanab, the American West is filled with tiny communities in arid destinations that tourists love. Still, another state stands out for its own desert hotspots, many of which are far less famous. That state is Colorado.

Sure, many of Colorado’s most inviting towns are those already well-known among travelers and usually receive a lot of visitors. Think iconic little towns like Grand Lake, Telluride, Silverton, and Durango—these small but mighty Colorado destinations are as beautiful and adventurous as they are famous. Granted, while they’re absolutely stunning and brimming with bucket list-worthy activities, their foot traffic, especially in peak travel seasons, can make them a little bit crowded for some. Moreover, given that many of these famous Colorado towns are up in the Rockies, their tourist seasons are pretty much year-round, with summer bringing warm-weather recreation, fall promising peak foliage colors, and winter seeing skiing. However, one particularly peculiar place in Colorado, one that remains underrated and unusual, is one in the desert.

The small community of Palisade stands out as a prime destination for fruit, wine, and festivals. Not only that, but while popular desert towns and cities in the West, like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Tucson, are among the hottest places in the U.S. in summer, Palisade has built itself a reputation as one of the nation’s coolest desert towns (literally temperature-wise and figuratively). Here’s all you need to know about this elevated mudrock oasis in the Colorado desert, from the various activities and attractions in town to visitors’ reviews and the best time to visit.