Round trip Distance: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 4692 - 4899 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Tabeguache/Lunch Loop
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic loop
The Miramonte Rim trail is located in the Tabeguache Lunch Loop Trail System just off Monument Road in the Redlands area of Grand Junction, Colorado. The trail begins about 1.5 miles from the Tabeguache trailhead. While there are several good routes that will get you to the Miramonte Rim trail one of the best options is to follow Curt's Lane to Ali-Alley and then go left on Coyote Ridge.
The Miramonte Rim trail begins at the point where the Holy Cross trail branches off from Coyote Ridge a short distance past the junction of the Miramonte and Ali-Ali Loop trails.
Before going very far the trail gets to the point where it begins a loop that takes it around the rim of the mesa. For this post we went to the left and followed the loop in the clockwise direction.
The first part of the loop is a mix of dirt track and broken slickrock.
The Miramonte trail is visible in the valley below as the trail skirts its way around the rim.
Most of the features that give the Miramonte Rim its intermediate mountain bike skill level rating can be found as it travels around the north side of the mesa.
Right around the half mile point the Leftover Lane trail branches off on the left.
After that junction the trail smooths out quite a bit.
Somewhere around the 3/4 mile point there is another junction where a spur on the left drops down to the Miramonte trail. From there the trail turns southward and begins working its way along the east rim where the Clunker trail is traveling through the valley below. Near the 1 mile point there is a short trail that drops off of the rim and connects to Clunker.
The trail moves pretty fast around the south side of the mesa with only a few baby heads to slow it down. The Holey Bucket and Holy Cross trails are visible in the valley below.
The trail finishes up with some nice views of the Ali-Ali Loop trail on a nearby mesa and the Colorado National Monument dominating the background scenery to the west before coming to an end. There are lots of options with all of the interconnecting trails as far as what to do next but whether hiking, mountain biking or running trails the Miramonte Rim is an excellent trail to throw into the mix. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is grab your bike or 'Take a hike'.
