Round Trip Distance: 4.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4679 - 5466 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 2 hrs.
Trailhead: Kodel's Canyon
Fee: none
Attractions: Large open spaces close to town.
The Kodel's Canyon trail system has 12 marked trails that are designated K1 through K12. The K1 trail provides access to the very scenic Kodel's Canyon on the Colorado National Monument and the Fruita Dugway trail. This post describes hiking the combined trails K2, K6 and K10, with some minor sections of a few other trails to come up with a very nice moderate hike.
The Kodel's Canyon trailhead is a primitive parking area in the bar ditch across Highway 340 from Dinosaur Hill. It is also possible to park at the Devils Canyon trailhead, where there are restrooms and plenty of parking. There are usually some nice maps of the Kodel's and Devils Canyons trail system at the Devils Canyon trailhead. The map is pretty handy for this hike with all of its crisscrossing trails.
This post describes beginning at the Kodel's Canyon trailhead and following the K2 trail as it heads west. The trail shares some of itself with the K1 trail but they go their separate ways in a wash where the K1 trail heads towards the mouth of Kodel's Canyon.
After climbing out of the wash the K2 trail crosses a grassy expanse and crosses the K7 trail. Make a right turn and follow the K7 trail towards the northwest.
The K7 trail drops down a small hill and at the bottom comes to the junction of the K5 and K6 trails. Begin following the K6 trail at this point as it wraps around the juniper tree in the above picture.
Follow the K6 trail as it climbs over several small hills. There are some nice views of a few of the other trails from some of the high spots along the way. The K6 trail ends when it eventually runs into the K10 trail. Follow the K10 trail to the right.
The K10 trail descends to the north and generally follows along side of the wash.
The trail continues down toward a fence that marks the boundary of some private property and wraps around the base of the hill continually bending to the left until it comes out at the Devils Canyon trailhead. This trailhead is a good alternate place to begin hiking any of the Kodel's trails. In fact if you wanted to shorten this hike up considerably you could begin here and simply follow the K10 trail around the hill and loop back to this point.
Follow the Devils Canyon trail by passing through the green powder river gate.
The K8 trail departs from the gravel road which is the D1 trail as it nears a wash where there are several cottonwood trees.
Follow the K8 trail as it climbs the hill along the rim of the canyon and turn left when you get to the marker for the K10 trail. The K10 trail drops over the hill to the junction of the K6 trail and from here you simply retrace your tracks back the way you came.
The K6 trail will lead you back to the K7 which you can follow back to the K2 and, well, it should all be looking pretty familiar by now.
