gjhikes.com

Artists Point

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 3/10 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6109 - 6264 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Usage: Hiking - No Dogs
Time: 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Artists Point
Fee: $5 individual - $10 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Scenic monument views

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Artists Point is located in the Colorado National Monument, just past the Coke Ovens, on Rimrock Drive. The scenic trail overlooks the northern section of Monument Canyon. There are several overlooks on the trail with one right at the trailhead and the other about 150 feet lower at the end of a short trail on the point of the cliff.

There are black and white pictures around from the early days of the monument that show artists capturing scenes of the amazing landscape. Perhaps some where taken around Artists Point.

Just down a few rock steps from the parking area is the first view area of one of the branches of Monument Canyon. It is hard to visualize that you are standing right on the edge of the canyon wall without actually leaning over the fence a bit and looking down.

If that is more than you feel you can stomach then a look at the cliff to your right will give you a good idea of what is down there.

The park service has placed stone steps in places to make the hike down to the point a little easier. A stroller would be pretty difficult to manage on this hike.

From the viewpoint there are good views of the upper sections of Monument Canyon. Independence Rock is around the corner of one of the cliffs and just out of view.

To the immediate left of Artists Point is a nice look at the Coke Ovens. They present a good example of how the Wingate sandstone weathers after the harder cap layers of Kayenta and Navajo sandstone wear away.

If you know where to look almost directly across the canyon in the upper ridge of the rosy colored Entrada sandstone you can see Otto's Bathtub. This is an area where John Otto captured rain water and runoff in a pothole on the side of the cliff to form a natural place for bathing. If you ever visit the site you can still see the log and foot holds that he used for access.

The climb back up to the parking area is a short enough distance that it seems to take minimal effort.

Although you might have to carry your youngsters in places the Artists Point trail is still a good place to take your family. More information is available at the Visitor Center to learn the history of the Colorado National Monument and the different geological formations. It is well worth the time and the extra knowledge can make the monument much more enjoyable as you view it with a deeper understanding. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Mule Canyon Ruins

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: .3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6124 - 6157 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Usage: Hiking
Time: 30 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Mule Canyon
Fee: none
Attractions: Ancestral Puebloan ruins, wheelchair accessible

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The Mule Canyon Ruins are located about 20 miles west of Blanding, Utah. The ruins made by ancestral Puebloans consist of a structure with a dozen rooms, 2 kivas and a tower. One of the kivas and possibly some other rooms are hidden out of site below ground.

This very short excursion sits right next to Highway 95. The paved trail forms a loop around the ruins.

There is one main block of rooms that have been partially excavated. At some sites they generally excavate the whole thing and then put back enough dirt to help support the walls while leaving enough of the walls sticking up above the ground to give a good idea of what is there.

There is a tower that was once probably 2 stories tall. It is not known what the main function of the tower was. It may have been used for solar observations or perhaps for communications. The tower is within line of sight of the Cave Tower Ruins about 1 mile away.

Within the kiva there is a tunnel that connects to the tower which raises speculation that the tower may have been used for religious purposes. Of course, there is nothing to say that kivas and towers didn't serve dual purposes either. The kiva also has a tunnel that connects it with another kiva that is below ground.

The kiosks at the site detail a wealth of other information along with an artists depiction of how the ruins would have originally appeared.

The Mule Canyon Ruins are just a little bit different than some other archaeological sites and help to increase the understanding of the lives of their inhabitants. The site is right next to Highway 95 and has a toilet so if you happen to be in the Blanding area, maybe visiting Hovenweep or Natural Bridges you might consider another brief stop along your way. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Arch Slough Nordic

2012-01-13T05:00:00.006-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 2 miles (3.2k)
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 10,208 - 10,328 feet
Cellphone: 0-1 bars
Usage: Snowshoeing - Cross country skiing
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Facilities: Flush toilets
Trailhead: Grand Mesa Visitor Center
Fee: none
Attractions: Marked ungroomed Nordic trail

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The Arch Nordic trail is located on the south side of the Grand Mesa near the Visitor Center. The latest map of the Grand Mesa Nordic Council lists the trail as a 'snowshoeing trail'. The trail probably gets as much use, or more, from cross country skiers as it does from snowshoers.

The Arch Nordic trail begins across the road from the Grand Mesa Visitor Center. The exact starting point of the trail isn't at all apparent at first but if you make your way behind the Forest Service kiosk and begin working your way through the trees to your right you should be able to spot one of the blue diamond trail markers that will lead you on your way.

The first section of the trail is shared with snowmobiles. It travels along a wide swath that is cut through the trees and follows just above the east shoreline of Cobbett/Carp Lake.

The trail comes to its first fork when it gets to the Carp Lake campground. There is an obvious marker on one of the trees for the Ward trail that forms the south side of the Arch Nordic loop. If you would like to travel around the loop in the clockwise direction the trail markers aren't as obvious at first but if you continue on the road through the campground until you break out of the trees you will be in the open between Cobbett Lake and Arch Slough. Follow the trees line to the east, your right, and continue around the south shore of Arch Slough for about a half mile until you see a blue diamond trail marker that points the way through the trees.

This post describes taking a right, at the junction, and following the Ward trail. The Ward trail gains just over 100 feet as it climbs the hill through the trees.

When the trail gets to the power line veer to the right and continue up the hill.

There aren't anymore trail markers until you near the crest of the hill where there is a marker that directs you to leave the power line trail to the left.

After having traveled right at 3/4 of a mile from the trailhead there is another fork in the trail where you need to go to the left. The Ward trail continues straight ahead and leads down to the Ward Lake Nordic Area trailhead. Going to the left at this point will put you on the Arch Nordic trail.

After going another 1/10 of a mile stay to the left once more. The unmarked trail straight ahead is a shortcut down to Spruce Lodge.

After yet another tenth of a mile there is a major intersection that can be a little confusing at first. The main trail to Spruce Lodge goes to the right. If you go straight ahead you will descend down to the dam of Arch Slough. The Arch Nordic trail goes to the left and isn't marked all that well for traveling in this direction. If you do choose to continue straight ahead to the dam you can still follow the south shoreline with little difficulty until it meets up with the trail once again about halfway to the other end of the slough. You might also consider making a detour over to Spruce Lodge for something warm to drink and maybe a bowl of chili.

Following the Arch trail it is a little ways before you see your first blue diamond. If you look back over your shoulder after going a hundred feet or so you will see one on one of the trees behind you.

The trail breaks out of the trees about halfway along the shore of Arch Slough. There are no more blue diamond trail markers until you get back to the area near the campground. All you have to do though is follow the tree line along the shore for about a half mile.

From the campground it is about a quarter mile back to the trailhead. The sun doesn't get very high in the sky during the winter months and with all the trees this trail stays pretty much in the shade all the way. This picture was taken about 11 am. The nice thing about the trees though is that they block almost all of the wind which can feel a lot colder even when you are in the sun. The Arch Nordic trail is easy to get to on the south side of the mesa and it's great starting out with nice warm restrooms with running water. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Ottos Trail

2012-01-06T05:00:00.002-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: .8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4679 - 5466 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - No Dogs
Time: 30 mins.
Facilities: Flush toilets at Visitor Center
Trailhead: Otto's Trail
Fee: $5 individual - $10 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Scenic canyons and rock structures, wildlife, wildflowers

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Otto's Trail is located in the Colorado National Monument, on Rimrock Drive, about 1 mile from the Visitor Center. This short, scenic trail was named after John Otto the first park ranger and driving force for the preservation and creation of the Colorado National Monument. The trail follows a ridge that juts out into Wedding Canyon and offers spectacular views of both Wedding and Monument Canyons. The trail is well suited for small children and anyone else that can handle a short hike with only a little bit of elevation change.

Otto's Trail is well marked and very easy to follow. The packed soil and rocky surface of the trail makes it suitable for hiking year round even when the ground is a little damp.

The trail has a gentle downward slope between the trailhead and the overlook as it meanders through the juniper and pinyon trees. Visitors will also notice sagebrush, Mormon tea, yucca and in the spring and summer months, many wildflowers.

The park service has done a great job of placing stone steps in the few places that would otherwise be a little more difficult to hike.

The overlook sits on the edge of the cliff hundreds of feet above the canyon floor. Even with the security of a fence small children will need to be kept close at hand in this area as there are still unprotected places where they could wander.

Wedding Canyon lies directly to the east and north of the overlook.

The canyon gets its name from the marriage of John Otto and Beatrice Farnham on August 21, 1911.

Looking to the north across Wedding Canyon you can get a good glimpse of Window Rock at the end of the Canyon Rim/Window Rock trail.

To the south Independence Rock divides Wedding and Monument Canyons. This towering pinnacle is a popular challenge with rock climbers. A large group of them scale it every 4th of July. If you would like to explore the bottoms of these two canyons then take a look at the Wedding Canyon and Monument Canyon posts.

Immediately in front of the overlook are the spires of the Organ Pipe and Praying Hands. The shapes of these impressive towers that led to their monikers are a little hard to recognize at this close of a viewpoint.

Looking across the canyon to the south we spied a small herd of desert bighorn sheep. While we were taking 40 or 50 pictures the other people in the area couldn't figure out what we were looking at until we pointed out the sheep. There may be a lot of folks that visit the area and never notice them.

Otto's Trail is a short hike but not quite as short as the sign at the trailhead that indicates a distance of 1/4 mile. Both GPS that we had showed a one-way distance of almost a half mile. This trail may be suitable for a stroller if you don't mind the little obstacle that the short sets of steps present. The views of the canyons and surrounding areas make the trail well worth the visitors attention. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Butler Wash Ruins

2011-12-30T05:00:00.001-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5228 - 5354 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Dogs (on leash)
Time: 1 hrs.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Butler Wash
Fee: none
Attractions: Ancestral Puebloan cliff ruins

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The Butler Wash Ruins are located about 14 miles west of Blanding, Utah on Highway 95. This short trail leads to an overlook of some ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings that were inhabited around 1200 A.D. The site includes 4 kivas along with areas for storage and living.

The Butler Wash trailhead is set back a short distance from the highway and due to the shortness of the hike it is a great additional stop for anyone heading to Natural Bridges National Monument.

The first part of the trail is a wide dirt path that mostly follows a wash toward the overlook.

The does gain about 100 feet in elevation and most of that is accomplished as it travels up and over the stretch of slickrock that leads to the overlook.

The overlook is fenced so you can stand close enough to the edge to look down into the canyon. There are several interpretive kiosks that explain the nature of the ruins.

The ruins are nestled into the alcoves near the top of the cliff. It appears that access to the lofty alcoves was made by following the taper of the rock from the bottom of the wash and maybe a ladder to help get up to the level of the alcoves.

Looking into the large alcove it is apparent the the structures must have originally been at least twice their present height. Maybe reaching almost to the top of the opening.

There are also some ruins in the smaller alcoves.

It appears that the water that contributes to the lushness of the was cascades down the area of the east cliff as well as right over the opening of the large alcove. That may have been very pretty during a good storm.

With the Butler Wash Ruins so close to the main road, no entrance fee, and it being such a short hike they are an ideal excursion for travelers passing through the area. For anyone else looking for an excuse to visit the Blanding, Utah area they are a nice addition to the larger attractions like Hovenweep and Natural Bridges. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Miracle Rock

2011-12-23T05:00:00.001-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6560 - 6791 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 1 hr.
Facilities: Vault toilet, picnic area w/fire rings
Trailhead: Miracle Rock
Fee: none
Attractions: Geologically significant site, pinon/juniper forest

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Miracle Rock is located in the area of Glade Park just off of 9.8 Road. Miracle Rock is an 84 foot tall, 12,000 ton, massive boulder that is perched on top of an area that is only 1 foot wide. When first approached the rock looks precarious enough to stir feelings of trepidation. Miracle Rock has long been a popular destination for school field trips and family picnics.

To get to the Miracle Rock trailhead drive up to Glade Park by either the Little Park Road route or via the Colorado National Monument. Drive west on DS Road from the Glade Park store for 8 miles and turn left on 9.8 Road. There is a sign at the turnoff onto 9.8 Road for Miracle Rock. Follow 9.8 Road for 1 mile to the trailhead.

There is a nice picnic area at the trailhead. It is a little difficult to tell exactly which way to go through the picnic area to pick up the trail to Miracle Rock. If you head right through the middle of the area you should intersect the main trail. The sign at the trailhead that says that Miracle Rock is at the end of a 500 yard marked trail is a little misleading. The distance is more like a half mile and at present there aren't any trail markers. Portions of the trial are lined with rocks so that might be what they are referring to.

Once you get through the picnic area and find the main trail it is well worn and easy to follow.

The trail heads up the moderately steep slope of the ridge.

Miracle Rock is perched at the top of the ridge overlooking the Little Dolores River valley.

The rock performs one heck of a balancing act. It looks like a good puff of wind would topple it right off of its perch. The most amazing aspect of the rock is that it doesn't seem to be part of the ridge but is simply sitting on it.

Looking at the rock from side it appears from the crack that there isn't a solid connection between the rock and the ridge. You can even see all the way under it in the middle.

The area around the upper ridge has some pleasant alcoves and other places to enjoy exploring. There are a few game trails that lead off to the easterly direction if you choose to do a little more hiking.

Middle school kids used to camp here for an overnight field trip. The area is called a 'Picnic Area' but there aren't any signs that say 'No Camping'. Miracle Rock is a very nice short hike that is well suited for smaller children if you keep them in tow around the edge of the cliff. Once you see it you might consider yourself lucky to have gotten there before it fell over. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Natural Bridges - Sipapu/Kachina Loop

2011-12-16T05:00:00.004-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 5660 - 6252 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Usage: Hiking - No dogs on trails
Time: 4 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: Flush toilet (Visitor Center)
Vault toilet (Kochina Overlook)
Trailhead: Sipapu Bridge Overlook
Fee: $5 individual - $10 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Natural bridges, Indian ruins, petroglyphs, wildlife, wildflowers

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The Sipapu/Kachina Loop trail is located in Natural Bridges National Monument which is about 35 miles west of Blanding, Utah. Blanding is well positioned in southern Utah with plenty of accommodations to function as a base camp for visiting the surrounding sites like Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments. The roads are all paved between Blanding and Natural Bridges and the drive typically takes less than an hour. A longer loop can be made by including Owachomo Bridge in the hike but it makes for a very long day and adds considerably to the difficulty due to the extra distance.

From the Sipapu trailhead hikers have the option of either hiking the entire loop or simply hiking down to the first set of Indian ruins where they can get a much closer look at Sipapu Bridge and returning right back to the trailhead for a total distance of about 1.2 miles.

The trail departs from the parking are and begins a gradual descent down the slickrock of the upper rim of the canyon. While looking down at Sipapu Bridge there doesn't seem to be an apparently easy way of getting down there. As it turns out the route the trail takes is very well engineered and very exciting as it traverses various bench areas and descends to each new level. A person in moderately good physical condition should have no trouble.

Even though the trail is high up on the walls of the canyon it is well protected and seems very safe.

Metal stairways have been installed and well anchored so even a novice can accomplish what would otherwise require the skills of a mountaineer.

Other areas are protected by handrails.

There are a series of wooden ladders, much like what the natives would have used, that have been made more sturdy with the use of modern nuts and bolts and secured to the rock that they are providing easier passage over.

Just over a half mile from the trailhead are the first set of Indian ruins.

This vantage point provides a very nice view of Sipapu Bridge and is also the turning around point for most of the visitors. Sipapu is the second largest natural bridge in the world. The name Sipapu comes from Hopi mythology and means 'a gateway through which souls may pass through on their way to the spirit world'.

Stairs made of hewn stones ease some of the difficulty for those venturing further down into the canyon.

As trail continues to work its way down to the bottom of the canyon it varies from slickrock to well packed dirt. The steeper spots provide the assistance of handrails and a couple more ladders. Here is a shot of one of the ladders taken after descending it.

Once in the bottom the trail follows the meandering drainage of the canyon toward Kachina Bridge. Hikers might be able to spot deer and bighorn sheep throughout this area.

This picture should help you imagine what it is like being in the canyon during a flash flood. This canyon drains most of the mesa above it. If a cloudburst should occur you can see how high up the side of the trail you need to get to stay safe.

There are a set of pictographs in an alcove that is very easy to miss about 1.65 miles from the trailhead. The alcove is hidden away above a sandy bank that may be about 8-10 feet high on the right side of the wash.

Horsecollar Ruins provide a nice distraction as you are proceeding through the canyon toward Kachina Bridge. It is possible to climb up to them and get a better look but the climb is a little difficult and requires using a single log as a ladder. These ancestral Puebloan ruins get their name from two granaries with uniquely shaped doors.

Kachina Bridge is a little obscured by vegetation and a large slide of dirt and rocks as you approach it from this direction. The shade of the bridge makes for a nice spot to enjoy a break. The word 'Kachina' refers to any of the deified ancestral spirits in the mythology of the Puebloan Indians. They are represented by Kachina dancers that play a central role in the Hopi religion.

As you pass beneath the bridge it is important to follow the was to the left. If you go the the right you will eventually end up at the Colorado River. That is of course a huge distance away.

Watch for a trail sign on the left side of the wash where the trail departs from the bottom of the canyon.

The accent up to the Kochina trailhead is much shorter and more direct than the drop in was from the Sipapu trailhead. The nature of the trails construction is much the same though with several wooden ladders, carved steps and handrails.

There are even areas of more carefully placed stones to make stairways.

There is a nice view of Kochina Bridge and the surrounding area from the overlook near the trailhead.

The trail continues across the road from the trailhead. The distances shown on this sign are for following the trails and not the roadway.

The trail comes to a 'T' junction within after hiking one mile from the Kachina trailhead. The trail to the right leads to Owachomo Bridge and to the left leads back to the Sipapu trailhead.

The trail across the mesa from Kachina to Sipapu is not at all a trek over level ground. The trail gradually climbs 200 feet in the 1 mile distance from the Kachina trailhead to the Owachomo junction. While the highest point on the trail is only about 20 feet more than the elevation at the junction the trail still has one spot where it gives up about 100 feet and regains it before descending down to the Sipapu trailhead.

There aren't too many hikes where you can hike among Indian ruins and natural bridges while exploring the steep slopes and bottoms of scenic canyons. Even if you don't think you have the stamina to complete a hike like this it is still worthwhile to visit Natural Bridges National Monument and enjoy its scenic overlooks and shorter hikes. The canyons and mesas of the southwest have been inhabited off and on for thousands of years. It is always exciting to explore the area keeping an eye out for signs of the past inhabitants. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Old Kiln Trail

2011-12-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6234 - 6302 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Usage: Hiking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 30 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet at Mica Mine trailhead
Trailhead: Old Kiln
Fee: none
Attractions: Lime kiln, scenic views of the valley

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The Old Kiln Trail is located in the BLM Bangs Canyon Management Area, just off of Little Park Road, south of Grand Junction. The trail follows a former dirt road that passes near an old primitive lime kiln. Lime kilns were used to heat limestone to make quicklime. The resulting product had a variety of uses including making mortar and whitewash.

If you are driving up Little Park Road it is hard to miss the trailhead which is just past the turnoff for the Bangs Canyon Staging Area where there are restrooms and the trailheads for the Mica Mine and Rough Canyon trails.

After passing through the fence follow the old road to the left and follow it as it travels northwesterly toward the monument.

There is a fork to the right in the road just before you go a quarter mile. You will be able to see the kiln behind the trees about a hundred yards away.

The kiln was constructed with sandstone rocks that were probably quarried in the area and sealed with bentonite which is also plentiful. The limestone would have been reduced to quicklime by layering it inside the kiln with wood or coal. The layered stack would have then been set on fire from the bottom and allowed to burn. The lime would begin to breakdown when the temperature reached 900C (1652F).

This was probably a vent hole to allow the fire to breath. This small inefficient kiln probably became obsolete when the railroad or other means of transportation were able to supply the valley with what it needed.

There are some nice views of the surrounding area from the hill above the kiln. A walk out to the end of the road provides a nice overlook of the Ribbon Trail area.

While hiking around you might see some prickly pear cactus sporting their crop of Indian figs. This cactus fruit can make a nice snack but the trick is knowing how to handle it so that you don't get a zillion little hairy splinters in your fingers. Work gloves or a pair of pliers will do the trick.

Once you have picked the fruit you can skewer it with a toothpick or something similar and burn the clusters of hairy needles off with an open flame. Next peel away the skin and eat the rest. They have the texture and taste similar to a kiwi fruit. Some of the figs are green inside and some are red with the red ones being the sweetest.

The Old Kiln trail is a short hike that is suitable for children. Of course, I have seen kids of all ages on some pretty tough hikes but they managed just fine with the help of their parents. The kiln provides a good opportunity to teach something about the past and how things were once done. By studying a little about the process that takes place within a kiln you can also teach them some very basic chemistry at the same time. Other than that, the trail is there and so is the kiln so one of these days when you have the time may as well check it out. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Hovenweep Square Tower

2011-12-02T05:00:00.002-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5132 - 5255 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Dogs (on leash)
Time: 2 hrs.
Facilities: Flush toilets
Trailhead: Hovenweep Visitor Center
Fee: $3 individual - $6 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Puebloan-era ruins, gift shop

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The Square Tower trail is located in Hovenweep National Monument in southeast Utah. Hovenweep National Monument is composed of 6 Puebloan era villages that straddle the Colorado and Utah borders. The Square Tower site hosts the monuments Visitor Center and main facilities. The trail navigates around the rim of Little Ruin Canyon providing access to viewpoints of the numerous ruins. The east end of the trail descends about 100 feet into the canyon requiring an up climb on the other side.

The Square Tower is the only site in Hovenweep that lies along a paved road. The area can be easily accessed from Blanding or Monticello, Utah or Cortez, Colorado. A road atlas or a print out of the Google Map on this site will help you navigate your way to this remote area.

After stopping at the Visitor Center and paying the entrance fee, or showing your National Parks Pass, you can pick up a trail guide and head out to the Little Ruin Canyon overlook. The trail is paved to this point and is wheelchair accessible. There are a half dozen observable ruins from this one vantage point.

The Stronghold House is the first ruin along the trail. Some of the best views of this structure are from across the canyon near the Twin Towers ruin. A pair of binoculars or a zoom lens are helpful for best viewing. The slideshow at the end of this post shows this ruin, and a few others, from all different directions.

You might come across a tarantula or rattlesnake on the trail during the cooler times of the day.

The trail quickly becomes more primitive after you leave the first overlook.

From the Boulder House overlook you can see this very unique ruin that is in the bottom of the canyon. Like most of the ruins in this area you may comment that; 'You don't see something like that everyday'! It is indeed, a house built right inside a large boulder. It must have been very chic back in the day.

The trail passes a few more ruins and wraps around an arm of the canyon where you can see some granaries built underneath the overhang. When you come the the fork in the trail the left fork will take you along the rim where you can see more ruins before arriving at Hovenweep Castle. The right fork makes a more direct path to the castle. It shortens the distance but at the price of seeing more ruins.

The Square Tower ruin is in the bottom at the head of the canyon. This 3 story structure was made with a little twist. It appears that there were more structures in the canyon in past times judging from the stacks of rocks that are currently covered with brush.

The trail continues around the canyon rim passing Hovenweep House and a few other ruins before coming to the Twin Towers.

A short distance past the Twin Towers the trail makes its descent into the canyon. There are enough steps made from slaps of rock to make the steeper sections easier to manage.

We read something while we were there that said the residents of the ruins farmed the mesa above the canyon and lived along the rim and within it. The hike out of the canyon is quite the adventure of following the trail over, around and through the boulders.

Hovenweep National Monument has a lot to offer its visitors that go through all the trouble to find it and make the trek. They say that it may have had as many as 500 people living here at the height of its past. If you like exploring ruins and would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Ute Garden Interpretive Trail

2011-11-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: .3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6426 - 6452 feet
Cellphone: 1-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - No Dogs
Time: 30 mins.
Facilities: Toilets at Visitor Center, campground and Devils Kitchen Picnic Area
Trailhead: Ute Canyon Overlook
Fee: $5 individual - $10 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Self guided interpretive trail, scenic canyons

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The Ute Garden Interpretive trail is located on the Colorado National Monument at the eastern most overlook for Ute Canyon. This very nice self guided trail takes the hiker around a short loop where information is displayed regarding some very interesting topics of nature on the monument.

If you are driving up from the east entrance then the Ute Garden Interpretive trail is at the first Ute Canyon viewpoint that you come to. If you are coming from the other direction then I suppose it is the last.

There are numerous placards at the various stations along the trail that impart all the information for that location so you don't need to avail yourself with a guide like you do on the Alcove Nature Trail.

The garden trail forms a loop through the pinyon and juniper trees. The trail is well guarded from the rim of Ute Canyon but it is close enough that you will want to keep small children close at foot.

All of the various viewpoints on the Colorado National Monument have kiosks that both educate and point out attractions to visitors. Like the museum at the Visitor Center these interpretive trails are good places to pick up some extra tidbits that really do enrich the overall experience.

From the viewpoint you can see deep into the bowels of Ute Canyon. The dark chasm of Precambrian granite in the center of the canyon offer much more resistance to weathering than the higher sandstone cliffs.

The Ute Canyon hiking trail travels through the bottom of the canyon and can be accessed from 2 different trailheads.

A baby stroller would probably be able to manage this trail just fine if you don't mind dealing with the rock steps that lead to and from the viewpoint. The rest of the trail is smooth and well packed.

The Ute Garden trail can be enjoyed by people of all ages and for those of you that have been asking for trails that they can take their small children on here you go. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

The size of the herd of Desert Bighorn Sheep on the monument is increasing every year. It seems that the number of sightings by visitors should be increasing also. In the early morning hours and around dusk bighorn are often spotted moving about in plain site. During warm months they tend to bed down in the shade and in cold months they can be spotted on the sunny rocks. They do seem to love the cliffs whether it is next to the rim or up against the base at the bottom.

Jones Canyon Overlook

2011-11-18T05:00:00.001-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5730 - 6156 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Usage: Hiking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs. 45 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Jones Canyon Overlook
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyons, solitude, wildlife, wildflowers

View Jones Canyon Overlook in a larger map

The Jones Canyon Overlook trail is located west of Grand Junction in the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area. The wilderness area protects the natural beauty and resources of 7 main canyons that drain the plateau into the Colorado River. Jones Canyon and Kings Canyon, which are just east of the Utah/Colorado border are the western most canyons in the Black Ridge Canyons group.

Access to the trailhead can be found by using your favorite map tool to make your way to the Glad Park Store at the intersection of 16.5 Road and DS Road. Turn north onto 16.5 Road and follow it for a half mile to BS Road. Turn west onto BS Road and follow it for about 14 miles to the trailhead which is the present day end of the road. The road starts out paved, then turns to gravel, and then to dirt. A vehicle with a little clearance would be better than a family car but I have seen 2-wheel drives on the road. There is a moderately steep and rocky road about 1 mile from the trailhead. It would be advisable to stop and walk the hill before taking your car down it. There are places to park before the hill where you can begin hiking from and plan on an extra 2 miles of round trip distance.

The first 3 miles of the hike continues along the old BS Road that was closed off when Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area was created. The trail crosses the rolling grassland mesa above Toms Canyon and Kings Canyon which are drained by the Little Dolores river.

The once burned area is now lush with grass that provides browse for deer, elk and bighorn sheep.

The canyons to the south of the trail provide pleasantly scenic views that draw the hikers attention in their direction.

As the trail continues across the mesa it wraps around the base of an Entrada sandstone cliff.

The trail bends north between the sandstone cliff and Kings Canyon and passes through a gate at about the 2 miles point. Continue ahead on the old road as it bends back toward the west. There is another road that drops down off the mesa after passing through the gate that leads off to the north in the wrong direction. It will not take you to Jones Canyon.

Around the 3 mile point there are signs that direct you off the road onto the trail that will take you the final half mile to the Jones Canyon Overlook. The trail looses about 230 feet of elevation, at a gradual pace, over the last half mile leading to the overlook.

I haven't been able to find a name on any of my maps for the prominent buttes, one of which is worn to a point, that lay to the north.

The overlook is right at the head of Jones Canyon. I have heard that access to the mouth of the canyon is blocked by private land which makes it impossible to hike in the bottom of Jones Canyon. It looks like there are probably several places that on the topo maps where a person could hike to to get down into the canyon.

The Jones Canyon Overlook trail is a good place to hike where you will encounter few if any people and enjoy a relatively easy outing. There are abundant wildflowers and tall green grass in the summer months. It is usually a little cooler than the valley but there are no water sources so be sure to bring plenty with you. If you choose to do some primitive camping be sure to follow wilderness etiquette and try to camp out of sight of the main trail. There are 2 exceptionally nice slickrock campsites on the edge of the canyon on the road just before the trailhead. Jones Canyon is well worth the extra driving to get to its remote location. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

We tracked an elk for over a mile until it went too far away from the trail and the one deer we saw we never got a picture of so out of frustration we stopped on the way down the Colorado National Monument and took lots of pictures of several herds of bighorn. The horns on this ram were showing quite a bit of wear from the recent mating season.

Access Fund Trail

2011-11-11T05:00:00.002-07:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6800 - 7281 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Rock Climbing - Dogs
Time: 1 hr.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Unaweep Canyon Access Fund
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, geology, rock climbing

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The Access Fund is a 'national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment' (Access Fund vision statement). The trail in Unaweep Canyon, along with 3 main climbing walls, was purchased from local land owners by a group of local climbers and the Access Fund. The main purpose of the trail is, of course, to provide access to the walls for rock climbers but hikers looking for a good view of Unaweep Canyon can make use of it also.

The trailhead is a pullout along Highway 141, 15.7 miles west of the turnoff from Highway 50, just south of Whitewater. Or, you can measure 2.2 miles from the Divide Road turnoff. The pullout is on the right hand side of the road.

There is a stile to make an easy job of crossing the fence.

The trail is very well built and easy to follow. It begins by crossing the wash and going through a thicket of oak brush and then it climbs at a moderate pace up to the base of Sunday Wall.

The granite face of Sunday Wall is pretty imposing when you are standing at the bottom looking up.

From Sunday Wall the trail traverses around the base of the cliffs to the other 2 main climbing walls.

The next main cliff is called the Fortress Wall.

The trail has a fork where the left branch leads to the base of Fortress Wall and the right branch goes on over to Hidden Valley Wall.

The trail continues up the gap between the 2 walls but it gets more difficult to follow the further you progress until the trail is no longer discernible at all. It is possible to fight your way through the brush until you come out on top of the ridge. My maps show that the land on top of the ridge is private property so you will need to be respectful of that.

The Hidden Valley Wall is pretty impressive no matter where you look at it from.

The views of Unaweep Canyon are very impressive from the Access Fund trail. Just in case you didn't know; the Unaweep Canyon has two mouths. There is a very slight high point in the middle of the canyon where East Creek runs toward one end and West Creek runs in the other direction. The most popular belief is that the canyon was abandoned by the Gunnison River river due to a landslide and the creeks were never powerful enough to cut through the divide. Unaweep is a Ute Indian word that means 'where land comes together'.

I added this post for the Access Fund trail because I had read about it in a popular local hiking book and thought that some people might want to check it out for themselves. After investigating the trail I found it to be a lot of fun and well worth hiking even though it was primarily created for climbers. The Access Fund has at least one more trail further down the road at a cliff called Mothers Buttress. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Canyonlands NP Neck Spring

2011-11-04T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4679 - 5466 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking -No Dogs
Time: 4 hrs.
Facilities: none (toilets and gift shop at Visitor Center)
Trailhead: Neck Spring
Fee: $5 individual - $10 vehicle - $25 annual pass
Attractions: Great scenery, geology, wildflowers

View Canyonlands Neck Spring in a larger map

The Neck Spring trail is located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park northwest of Moab, Utah. Canyonlands National Park is about 120 miles from Grand Junction, Colorado and 32 miles from Moab, Utah. The Neck is a natural land bridge that connects the Island in the Sky with the rest of the world. The Neck Spring trail navigates along the canyon rim that lies on the west side of the narrow neck of land.

The Neck Spring trailhead is located at the Shafer Canyon Viewpoint. The viewpoint is located right before crossing the Neck and is the first stopping point along the road after leaving the Visitor Center.

The Neck Spring trail is a loop hike so it can be hiked in either direction. The sign at the trailhead sends hikers off in the counter clockwise direction and doesn't really give any clues about going the opposite way. After descending the trail a short distance from the trailhead it crosses the road that leads on into the park.

The trail is very well marked with plenty of cairns so a map or GPS isn't really needed. Maps are always a good idea anyway and they can be purchased at the Visitor Center. Also, it's hard to beat a GPS for keeping track of how far you have gone and judging how much you have left.

After crossing the roadway the trail travels along the rim a short distance till it finds an easy place to drop down to the bench area above the deeper canyons. The trail cuts back and follows the bench into and out of each little upper canyon area. The alcove at the head of the first canyon is the location of Neck Spring.

The trail has a lot of ups and downs as it travels around each hillside.

There are the remains of old watering troughs that were once used to capture water from the seeps at each alcove for the watering of livestock.

The trail eventually comes close enough to the canyon that you can walk over on the slick rock to get a good view of it.

Across the canyon is the opening of a natural arch that isn't named on any maps that I have seen. It doesn't appear to have been created by the flow of water, to me anyway, or otherwise, I suppose, it would be a natural bridge.

The cabin at Cabin Spring has been reduced to just a few logs but it is nice to know that when you see these that you have arrived at that point of the hike.

The crux of the Neck Spring trail just after Cabin Spring where the trail climbs steeply from the bench to regain the heights of the upper rim. The route up the cliffs is well cairned and I suppose the best part of it is that the 200 foot gain in elevation is accomplished in a little less than a quarter mile.

The remnants of an old lifting crane still stand on the cliff above Cabin Spring. There are grooves worn into the sandstone from the cables that were used to raise and lower the loads.

Even after climbing up to the rim and heading back there is still more elevation to be gained as the trail climbs over a few rolling hills. The trail crosses the road again just under a mile up the road from the trailhead. The trail from here is easy to manage and much prettier and safer than trying to walk down the narrow edge of the roadway.

There are several good rest point that provide spectacular views of the canyons.

The peaks of the La Sal mountains, which tower above 12,000 feet in the background, are often capped with snow from late October into June.

Another view of Shafer Canyon.

The trail gets a little skimpy at the narrowest point of the Neck but it is still plenty far from the rim to be completely safe as long as you are on the outside of the guard rail and not on the road.

It can be a little entertaining to watch vehicles traveling up and down the road in the canyon.

There isn't any water, gasoline or much of anything else available at the Island in the Sky so you need to be sure and bring everything you might need with you before you leave town. There is a nice gift shop at the Visitor Center which is well worth the time. All of the toilets are of the vault type but we have always found them to be especially clean. On a hot summer day this hikes will require a good bit of water to keep you hydrated. We went through about 80 ounces each although we did see others carrying a lot less. For those visiting Canyonlands who have the time and the energy the Neck Spring trail is well worth it. Of course, like any trail, you don't have to hike the whole thing. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Drop Off Trail

2011-10-28T05:00:00.004-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 3 miles (rim of mesa)
Round Trip Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Easy (rim) Strenuous
Elevation: 10,214 - 9382 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Flowing Park Reservoir
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, aspen and conifer forests, wildlife, wildflowers

View Drop Off Trail in a larger map

The Drop Off trail is located in the Flowing Park area of the Grand Mesa National Forest. As you can see from the map the Drop Off trail descends from the top of the mesa down to the area of the Porter Reservoirs. The trail is yet another way of travelling over the edge of the mesa in a place where the rim, for the most part, looks too steep for anyone but a rock climber or mountain goat to attempt.

The parking area at the south side of Flowing Park Reservoir provides access to the Flowing Park, Indian Point and Drop Off trails. There aren't any kiosks or signs to apprise you of any of the trails in the area but they are all well established trails that are signed once you find where they begin.

The Drop Off trail begins as soon as you pass through the green Powder River gates. The sign for the trailhead is just off the left (south) side of the road.

The trail is pointed out very well with numerous markers as you cross the top of the mesa. It is almost possible to see from one marker to the next. The trail is very easy to follow without the markers but it is very reassuring to know that you haven't strayed off on a cow path.

Hiking across the Flowing Park area of the mesa is some of the easiest hiking you can find in the area. The elevation changes are all minor and subtle enough that they are hardly noticeable.

That all changes when the trail reaches the rim of the mesa after about 1.5 miles. If you turn around at this point you will end up with a very nice, easy hike of about 3 miles round trip. If you want a good workout though, keep going.

This is where the trail undoubtedly gets its moniker because compared to the nice flat top of the mesa at this point it 'drops off' rather abruptly.

I was actually surprised at how easy the trail was at first. It was rather pleasant descending through the basalt boulders and it wasn't steep at all for about a quarter mile.

The crux of the hike is probably the big tundra type mountainside above Porter Reservoir #4. This section of the trail isn't marked very well at all but it still seemed relatively easy to stay on the correct path. This part of the hike last for almost a half mile before leveling off at the dam.

The trail is a bit difficult to manage as you try to get from the hillside onto the dam. How you manage it will depend on how high the water is in the reservoir. There is a trail marker right on the north side of the dam.

I hiked as far as the cabin that sits beside the access road coming into the reservoir. Someone did a good job of building this cabin because for its age it is still all intact. It must be getting some TLC from someone.

You can continue on down the access road for about another half mile and reach the lower end of the trail but I chose to turn around at this point and make my way back up the mountain. If a person likes doing a little backpacking this would probably make a good place to camp and turn it into a multi-day event.

It's hard to describe hiking back across the top of the mesa other than saying it is just plain peaceful.

There is a pretty good population of falcons in the area along with a few hawks. I saw one 4 or 5 point buck that ducked back into the trees before I could take a picture.

The Drop Off trail ended up being a little easier than what I was anticipating. I went through less than 100 ounces of water. If you plan on filtering your water it will have to come out of one of the reservoirs as there were no streams or ponds along the way. And now I have explored yet another route for getting on top of the Mesa. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Lizard Canyon

2011-10-21T05:00:00.007-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4675 - 4883 feet
Cellphone: 2-5 bars
Usage: Hiking - No Dogs
Time: 2 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Lower Monument Canyon
Fee: none
Attractions: Solitude, wildlife, wildflowers, scenic views

View Lizard Canyon in a larger map

Lizard Canyon is located in the Colorado National Monument. It is the small canyon that is tucked away between Fruita Canyon, on the west, and Wedding Canyon, on the east. An old unpaved road cut across the base of the canyon many years ago. The road and the mouth of the canyon are hidden from view by a sandstone ridge that forms the last rocky outcrop of the northern edge of the Monument. The Lizard Canyon trail, while being well traveled, is primitive and is not an official trail of the Colorado National Monument.

The hike begins from the Lower Monument Canyon trailhead just off Highway 340. This trailhead is the main departure point for hikes into Monument Canyon and to Independence Monument as well as to Wedding Canyon. There have been vehicles broke into at this trailhead including one of my own. While this is a rare event it is best to exercise caution and not leave any valuables inside.

Follow the Monument Canyon trail as it leaves the trailhead and begins turning southward. Look for a small cairn that marks the beginning of the trail to Wedding Canyon. This juncture should be within about a tenth of a mile from the trailhead along the bend in the trail. There are several false trails right in this same area that eventually all connect together but look for the one that looks like it hasn't been blocked to discourage travel. The trail to Wedding Canyon is an official primitive trail of the Monument. It is just lacking a sign at present.

Once you find the route to Wedding Canyon the trail leads west up and over a small hill.

The trail descends down a hill that is a bit steeper than anything encountered up to this point to the grassy knolls along the northern edge of the Monument. There is just enough scree on the trail to make you pay attention to your footing but it only lasts for a very short distance.

The trail crosses the grassy area and travels secluded behind several outcrops of sandstone and follows the old buffalo fence for a stretch.

As the trail begins turning southward into Wedding Canyon look for a small cairn that marks the Lizard Canyon route. The trail junction is a little confusing at first but after you travel 10-20 feet the Lizard Canyon trail becomes just as apparent as the Wedding Canyon trail was.

The trail crosses the mouth of Wedding Canyon completely hidden by the rising ridge. There are some good views into Wedding Canyon of the Precambrian rocks that gash their way through it bowels and at times you can see the top of Independence Monument, Sentinel Tower and the Pipe Organ. This is a good area to begin keeping your eye out for bighorn sheep. It's kind of hit or miss whether they are in the area but they can be present most anytime of the year.

The trail makes a fork as it comes around the ridge between Lizard and Wedding canyons. In this instance it is 'all roads lead to Rome' as the route to the left takes you above the cliff while the other takes you around the north side. Both trails come together again in Lizard Canyon. I chose to go one way and come back the other.

Once the trail gets into Lizard Canyon it sprawls out in every direction. There isn't a good trail that goes all the way to the head of the canyon. They all pretty much go a short distance and then stop. This is a good place to turn around or what I chose to do was to stick to the high ground and follow a shallow wash that lead up the east side of the canyon. Near the top I crossed over to the deeper wash that is the main drainage and followed it back out.

As I was nearing the mouth of the canyon I started noticing some very fresh tracks in the sand. It can usually be a lesson in futility following tracks even when they are fresh. Bighorn can go places with ease that are almost impossible for people. With that said, Lizard Canyon is a small place and the tracks were heading into the canyon and none heading out. Knowing that bighorn seek the shade on warmer days, like today, and the sunny spots next to cliffs radiating heat when it is cold, I thought I would follow the tracks a little ways and see what I could find.

I had only gone about 50 feet when I climbed up on a little ridge on the cliff side of the wash. The young ram that had made the tracks stood up from its place in the shade. Since I had already passed by in the gulch below I realized that he had been watching me the whole time. It was probably watching me from the very moment that I entered the canyon. I kept my distance and took lots of pictures while he contented himself with browsing on the bushes and keeping an eye on me.

Since this is Lizard Canyon ...

There are still remnants of the old road that passed this way. If you look in the lower area of Fruita Canyon, below the tunnels, you can see quite a bit more of the road.

Whenever a rabbit decides to sit in the middle of the trail and let you get withing about 20 feet you have to figure that it is posing for you so you will take its picture.

The Lizard Canyon hike is just long enough to feel that you had a little exercise but not at all a grueling experience. The solitude is nice for somewhere so close to town and there is lots of wildlife whether you see it or not. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Grizzly Creek

2011-10-14T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 4.3 miles
One-way Trip Distance: 12 miles (Grizzly Cow Camp)
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5861 - 6511 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: Flush toilets, vending machines (at rest area)
Trailhead: Grizzly Creek Rest Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyon and creek

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The Grizzly Creek trail is located about 90 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado in Glenwood Canyon along Interstate 70. The Grizzly Creek trail stretches for about 12 miles from Interstate 70 to the Grizzly Cow Camp that is at an elevation of over 10,300 feet. There is a junction around 9 miles where the Grizzly Creek trail intersects with the a trail that runs between Broken Pig Spring and East No Name Creek. This particular post only follows the trail for just over 2 miles before we had to turn around do to the weather.

The trail begins from the north parking area of the Grizzly Creek Rest Area. There is a sign on the kiosk that warns that this is not the trail to Hanging Lake. Despite that we did meet one couple on the trail that wanted to know how much further it was to the lake. There are people that hike the Grizzly Creek trail because they got turned away from Hanging Lake due to no room in the parking lot.

Unlike the Hanging Lake trail Grizzly Creek is a much easier hike. That is as far as we went anyway.

There are numerous places along the trail where you can get easy access to the creek. Sometimes it is very peaceful to just find a boulder to sit on and listen to the sound of the water rushing by and try and forget about all those little things that you normally worry about.

There are several picnic tables within the first half mile of the trailhead.

The high canyon walls belong to the sedimentary formation called the Conglomerate of Canyon Creek. The rocky cliffs make a very pretty backdrop. There are bighorn sheep in the area and I have heard that they can be spotted through here on occasion. I have seen them along the interstate but not up any of the canyons.

A lot of the trail is very well secluded within thick stands of ponderosa pines and spruce trees.

The further up the canyon you proceed the smaller the creek becomes. While the main source of the creek is Grizzly Lake there are many small tributaries that feed.

The lush vegetation includes oak brush and ferns with various wildflowers, cranberries, chokecherries and wild grapes.

These plumes are hiding a big patch of poison ivy.

Something that you don't expect to find while hiking out hiking a trail is a fruit tree but right next to the trail beside the creek was a modest little apricot tree. Seeing how the fruit was fresh and beginning to fall off the tree I ate about a half dozen and saved the rest for the next person.

At some future date I will return and see just how far I can make it up the canyon. I really hate turning around before reaching the end of the trail when I haven't been there at least once. Other people have told me that eventually the brush gets so thick that everyone turns around before reaching the end. The Grizzly Creek trail is a great place to take the family for a picnic and a hike. The first mile or so of the trail is suitable for small children and perhaps a stroller. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Old BS Road

2011-10-10T12:15:00.003-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6024 - 6143 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Equestrian - Dogs - No bikes
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: BS Road
Fee: none
Attractions: Old homesteads, solitude, wildlife, wildflowers

View Old BS Road in a larger map

The Old BS Road is located in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, west of Glade Park, in the vicinity between the Knowles Canyon and Jones Canyon trailheads. This section of BS Road was orphaned when it was rerouted along the rim of Sieber Canyon. Although there is a sign that indicates the road is open to hiking and equestrian use this isn't an official trail and there isn't a regular trailhead. With that said, it's hard to drive by a spot that is marked with the iconic hiking symbol without checking it out. In my opinion the old road has a lot to check out with its old homesteads and the 3 or 4 buckboard wagons that are rotting away beside the trail.

There isn't much room for parking around the gate and it is probably a good idea not to block the gate. There are some places where you can pull far enough off of BS Road and park. The hike doesn't have to start at this gate. It could begin anywhere along BS Road that is part of the loop including at the lower gate just before the Jones Canyon trailhead.

The first part of the road is still getting use from whoever it is that has a key to the gate. There are quite a few deer and elk in the area and don't be surprised to come across bear or mountain lion tracks.

The first old home site is set in a very picturesque spot. It would be interesting to see a picture of it when it was being lived in. It is easy to see why someone would want to build a home here.

There are 3 or 4 old wagons along the road. Some of them still have their axles but all of the wheels are gone.

The road continues in the same direction until it comes to an intersection. The original BS Road went to the left at that point and continued past a couple more homesteads. If you are prone to exploring you probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding your way over to Knowles Canyon or around the mountain to Jones Canyon. A good map and GPS would be pretty helpful for the adventure.

It has been a long time since the last part of the road has had much use. It is overgrown with grass through one stretch but you can generally see the outline of the underlying road. When you make it back around to the current BS Road you will discover that you have to climb over the locked gate. There is a trail that runs along the inside of the fence heading toward the Jones Canyon trailhead if you want to explore down that way a little more.

As you hike out along BS Road to get back to where you began you will pass a couple of popular camping spots along the rim of Sieber Canyon. I believe that open fires are prohibited on the ground at all times but a fire pan might be permissible.

The Old BS Road is a good place to explore and maybe take your dog, or kids, for a run. It is always interesting to mill around old homesteads. As long as a wall or roof beam doesn't fall on you I don't know what the harm would be. Or maybe you are just curious because you are driving by and happen to see the little hiker sign. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Escalante Ruins

2011-10-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 7086 - 7214 feet
Cellphone: 2-4 bars
Usage: Hiking
Time: 1 hr.
Facilities: Flush toilets, museum, picnic area
Trailhead: Anasazi Heritage Center
Fee: $3/adult Mar-Oct (Free Nov - Feb)
Attractions: Anasazi Ruins, museum, gift shop, wheelchair accessible trail

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The Escalante Ruins are located in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument just south of Dolores, Colorado on Highway 184. These Ancestral Puebloan ruins, which were named after Padre Silvestre Velez de Escalante, sit on the high point of a hill that now overlooks the present day McPhee Reservoir. There is no charge for hiking up the hill to the ruins. There is a charge for all adults over the age of 18 to enter the museum at the Anasazi Heritage Center during the months of March through October.

The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is located in southwestern Colorado. The area contains the highest known concentration of archaeological sites in the nation. The sites, some of which date back thousands of years, show regular use and habitation of the area from the Archaic period, 10,000 years ago, through the times of the Anasazi, Utes and Navajo.

The museum at the Anasazi Heritage Center is well worth visiting before hiking up to the ruins. The museum has a large assortment of artifacts and panels providing information on everything from how some of the pieces were made to a little incite into the life of the early inhabitants. There is also a replica of a dwelling that makes it easier for the imagination to grasp what the ruins may have looked like when they were intact.

The trail begins just below the museum at the site of the Dominguez Pueblo.

From the Dominguez Pueblo the paved trail passes through a very nice picnic area.

Many kiosks along the way point out interesting things to learn about such as the vegetation or surrounding area.

Since the trail does gradually climb a hill there are many benches providing a place to rest. There are also pull outs for wheelchairs so they don't need to block the trail. I thought that was a very nice tough.

One kiosk points out the making of the mountain across the valley. This mountain is call the Sleeping Ute Mountain.

There is a fork in the trail near the top of the hill where you can stroll over to a lookout point with great views of McPhee Reservoir.

Along the other fork at the top of the hill are the Escalante Ruins. There are many rooms and a large kiva. There are pictures in the museum that show the purpose of the kiva and how they appeared with the roof intact.

The walls are actually higher than what they appear. By filling in the area between the walls they are able to better protect them from crumbling and falling down.

The baccata variety of yucca gets some huge fruit.

There was a sign posted at the bottom of the hill that said the trail was only open during certain hours but the person at the information desk said it was perfectly alright to hike it even when the museum was closed. You may want to check out their website before making a visit to get more information. The Escalante Ruins are one of the only possible sites where you can visit Ancestral Puebloan dwellings without ever leaving the pavement. We made this visit from Grand Junction in one day leaving town around 10 am, driving through Telluride and over Lizard Head Pass to Dolores and returning home via Cortez and Durango. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Ridge Loop

2011-09-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles (Turkey Flats)
Round Trip Distance: 8 miles (Fruita Picnic Area)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 8687 - 9678 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs. 45 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Fruita Picnic Area (or Turkey Flats)
Fee: none
Attractions: sub-alpine forest, wildlife, wildflowers, solitude

View Ridge Loop in a larger map

The Ridge Loop is put together by making use of the Reservoir #1, Ridge, Hay Press and Turkey Flats trails. All of these trails are located south of Glade Park in the Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest is about 27 miles due west of the main reservation on top of the Grand Mesa. One of the purposes of national forests is not only to preserve the trees but to manage and protect the water supplies. For the sole purpose of protecting the Town of Fruita's water supply the Fruita Division was added to the Grand Mesa National Forest reservation in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Access to the trailhead can be made with a 2-wheel drive vehicle on dry roads by turning south at the Glade Park Store on 16 1/2 Road. The pavement ends after 2.6 miles and you pass the Mud Springs Campground at 6.4 miles. Take the right fork at 7.6 miles and continue on 16 1/2 Road. Stop at the turnoff to Fruita Reservoir #1 after about 9.5 miles and park at the Fruita Picnic Area. Forest Road 400.2C which leads from 16 1/2 Road to Fruita Reservoir #1 is closed between December 1 and May 30 of every year. The road is supposed to be closed at all times to cars and trucks but that doesn't seem to be something that is enforced.

The road gains about 300 feet of elevation in the first mile where it passes the east trailhead for Turkey Flats. This point marks the beginning of the loop that this particular hike is going to make.

Following the road for another half mile, gaining another 150 feet of elevation, brings you to the beginning of the Reservoir #1 trail. There is a vault toilet and a spigot for non potable water at the trailhead. With all the cows in the area it is a must to filter drinking water no matter how pristine it looks.

The Reservoir #1 trail travels around the west side of the lake. Once it nears the south end of the lake it begins the climb up to the Ridge trail.

The trail gains another almost another 400 feet of elevation over the mile and a half length of this section of the trail. Most of the climbing is fairly gentle with only a few steeper spots.

A commemorative plaque on an aspen tree of a former patron and the one left behind who has adopted this section of trail in loving memory.

The Reservoir #1 trail comes to an end when it meets up with the Ridge trail. This is also the junction where the Black Pine trail comes up from the south and meets with the Ridge trail. To continue with the loop we follow the Ridge trail to the right as it heads on west.

The Ridge trail section of the loop lasts for just over a mile and a quarter. The trail is mostly flat through here and there is one gate to pass through. The cows have made paths along the fence line that look like good trails but the correct route is to go through the gate.

The sign for the Hay Press trail comes along before reaching the official end of the Ridge trail. You might encounter ATV or dirt bike traffic while you are hiking the Ridge trail but once you turn onto the Hay Press trail it is open only to hiking, equestrian and mountain bikes.

The Hay Press trail begins following the back of a narrow ridge before dropping down a switchback that carries the trail over to the opposite side of the drainage. From there the trail continues to descend at a gradual pace as it heads down to the junction with the Turkey Flats trail.

Some fun loving mountain bikers have made a jump over a log that the trail makes a dog leg around.

I came upon some deer that were very close to the trail as I passed by a meadowy slough. With ears like that it's no wonder that deer can normally hear you coming a mile away.

The Hay Press trail meets up with the Turkey Flats trail in a clearing at about the mid point of that trail. To complete the loop we make a right turn and head back to the east toward Forest Road 400.2C.

This section of the Turkey Flats trail is mostly flat except for one wash that is about 50 feet deep. The Turkey Flats trail is very pleasant and picturesque.

The Turkey Flats trail comes out on Forest Road 400.2C where the loop began. As you can see from the vehicles parked here the sign at the bottom of the hill about no vehicles doesn't have much impact. If they really want to keep vehicles off the road maybe they need to come up with something different.

The picnic sites look pleasant enough if you are ever just looking for a place to take your family. There is a nearby stream to play in and a restroom.

Most mountain bikers would probably do this loop by beginning at the Turkey Flats trailhead on 16 1/2 Road. If you continue past the picnic area for about another half mile you will be there. While the Ridge Loop isn't an official name for any trail it seems appropriate enough to describe this combo. The hike is a great route for seeing a lot of the Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa in one outing. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Turkey Flats

2011-09-23T05:00:00.004-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 5.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 8873 - 9233 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Turkey Flats (16 1/2 Road)
Trailhead: Turkey Flats (Forest Road 400.2C)
Fee: none
Attractions: Aspen and coniferous forest, wildlife, wildflowers

View Turkey Flats in a larger map

The Turkey Flats trail is located south of Glade Park in the Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest is about 27 miles due west of the main reservation on top of the Grand Mesa. One of the purposes of national forests is not only to preserve the trees but to manage and protect the water supplies. For the sole purpose of protecting the Town of Fruita's water supply the Fruita Division was added to the Grand Mesa National Forest reservation in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

The easy to follow trail begins by traveling around a prominent hill, heading mostly south, as it climbs the drainage of Hay Press creek.

Over the first mile and a half the trail climbs a little over 300 feet at a gentle pace.

Just over 1.5 miles the Turkey Flats trail is met by the Hay Press trail that connects Turkey Flats to the Ridge trail.

At this point the Turkey Flats trail is heading east and for the next mile it passes through open meadows and stands of trees with only minor changes in elevation. Deer and elk can be seen at times and if the name of the trail is any indication then perhaps some wild turkeys also. We saw wild turkeys on the Ridge trail and the Black Pine trail but oddly enough not at Turkey Flats.

At this point the trail makes about a 50 foot drop into a wash that leads down to Fruita Reservoir #2.

The trail climbs out of the wash on the east side at a much easier pace than it did when it dropped in on the west side.

After hiking just under 3 miles the trail comes out on the Forest Service 400.2C road that leads from 16 1/2 Road to Fruita Reservoir #1. It is possible to park at this trailhead instead but there is only about enough room for 2 or 3 vehicles. This road is also only open between May 1 and December 1 and sections of it are just a little bit rough.

There aren't a lot of rocks and boulders on the Turkey Flats trail but the ones that are there present themselves very well.

I came across a doe and two fawns that were within about 50 feet of me. The fawns were very active but the doe simply laid there while I passed by taking pictures.

The Turkey Flats trail gets regular use from hikers, bikers and hunters. A popular mountain bike ride is to begin at the trailhead on 16 1/2 Road and ride the entire Turkey Flats trail to Forest Road 400.2C. Then ride up the road to the Reservoir #1 trail and follow it as it climbs up to the Ridge trail. The Ridge trail is then followed west to the top of the Hay Press trail which leads back down to the Turkey Flats trail and back to the beginning. I believe the entire loop comes out to less than 8 miles. The Turkey Flats trail has a wonderful peaceful feeling about it. It is interesting how exercise at times can be so restful. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Black Pine

2011-09-16T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9112 - 9606 feet
Cellphone: 0-1 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Black Pine
Fee: none
Attractions: Sub-alpine forest, wildlife, wildflowers, peace and solitude

View Black Pine in a larger map

The Black Pine trail is located south of Glade Park in the Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest is about 27 miles due west of the main reservation on top of the Grand Mesa. One of the purposes of national forests is not only to preserve the trees but to manage and protect the water supplies. For the sole purpose of protecting the Town of Fruita's water supply the Fruita Division was added to the Grand Mesa National Forest reservation in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Access to the trailhead can be made with a 2-wheel drive vehicle on dry roads by turning south at the Glade Park Store on 16 1/2 Road. The pavement ends after 2.6 miles and you pass the Mud Springs Campground at 6.4 miles. Take the left fork at 7.7 miles and continue on JS Road which is unmarked unless they have replaced the sign. Follow JS Road for 1.7 miles and turn right on 18 Road which might also be unmarked. Continue past Enoch Lake at 1.8 miles and past the Ridge trail parking area at 4 miles. Follow the road to on to the left and follow it downhill for about another mile. There is a turnoff here that goes to the right. This is the place to park unless you are driving a high clearance 4-wheel drive. At this point there is a road that continues toward the southwest and another road that goes to the right toward the ridge. The road to the southwest will take you to the Black Pine trailhead which is about 1/3 of a mile. At present there aren't any signs to point the way until you get to the Black Pine trailhead. The total distance from the Glade Park Store should come out to about 14.5 miles.

The Black Pine isn't opened to any type of motorized travel and to discourage such there have been numerous trees felled across the road. A path has been cut through the first few trees that you come to allowing enough room for a mountain bike to work its way around the logs but after awhile the trail becomes jammed up enough that it wouldn't be much fun at all to try to ride. Perhaps at some future date the trail will become more usable for bikes.

As for foot travel goes the hike between the trailhead and Black Pine Reservoir is a real dream. There are a few gentle hills to climb through this first leg of the hike. On a calm day the hike is as pretty and peaceful as can be.

The trail becomes hard to follow as it approaches the water and seems to go off in several different directions. The Black Pine trail didn't show up on either of our GPS but we could gather that the trail would pass by the lake and continue up the valley toward the ridge. Our GPS still came in pretty handy because when we had hiked the Ridge trail we set a waypoint at the junction of the Ridge, Black Pine and Reservoir #1 trails.

The route to take after passing by Black Pine Reservoir will be determined by how much the water is backed up. We stayed a few feet up on the slope of the hillside and after a short distance the trail once again became apparent.

The canyon narrows and makes a dog leg to the left the further the trail progresses. The trail also begins its moderate climb up the slope of the hill.

The trail comes to a fallen spruce tree that appear to be blocking the trail. If you look back over your right shoulder at this point you will see the trail switches back the other direction and continues on up the hill. This is an important spot to remember on the hike back because the trail that continues in the other direction past the log looks pretty good also.

The trail begins climbing at a little steeper angle after the switchback. It is just over a quarter mile from the switchback to the turn around point at the Ridge trail junction. About halfway there the trail passes the remains of an old cabin.

Once you reach the end of the trail there are 3 signs that designate each of the trails that come together at this junction. If you are interested in the approximate waypoint for this important intersection it is: N38 50.323 W108 46.032

If you have ever had much to do with running cows then you are accustomed to place out mineral blocks or 'salt licks' like the one in the picture. This one was placed on the trail next to a watering hole so the cows would be sure to stumble upon it

I'm not 100% sure on these mushrooms yet. It could be a marasimius oreades which is an edible mushroom.

The Black Pine trail is a very enjoyable hike even with the little bit of climbing to get to the ridge and the obscure trail around Black Pine Reservoir. Even with its relatively close proximity to town the rough rode makes the trail appear remote. This would be a good trail to backpack into and spend the night. The write up on the Forest Services page implies that there are fish in Black Pine Reservoir. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Ridge Trail

2011-09-09T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 9422 - 9625 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - ATV - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Ridge Trail #646
Fee: none
Attractions: Aspen and coniferous forest, wildlife, wildflowers

View Ridge Trail in a larger map

The Ridge trail is located south of Glade Park in the Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest. The Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest is about 27 miles due west of the main reservation on top of the Grand Mesa. One of the purposes of national forests is not only to preserve the trees but to manage and protect the water supplies. For the sole purpose of protecting the Town of Fruita's water supply the Fruita Division was added to the Grand Mesa National Forest reservation in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Ridge trail follows a double track, Forest Road 401, all the way from 18 Road to Pinon Mesa. The Ridge trail can also be accessed from the Black Pine, Reservoir #1 and Hay Press trails. Forest Road 401 connects with 16 1/2 Road about 1 mile past the Hay Press trail. Snowmobiles and mountain bikes can take advantage of this trail to form a 16 mile loop that makes use of 16 1/2 Road, JS Road and 18 Road.

The Ridge trail has an elevation change of about 200 feet. All of the hills have very gradual slopes which give the trail a feel of being basically flat. The trail travels through large groves of aspen and spruce trees with a few small clearings along the way. There are a few places where you can leave the trail and walk over to the edge of the ridge to catch glimpses of the distant valleys and mountains but for the most part the trees limit your view to just what is immediately around you.

There are several places that hold onto the rain water and make some pretty good mud holes but there are good trails to get around them.

After about 2.3 miles the Ridge trail is joined by the Black Pine trail that comes up from the south and the Reservoir #1 trail that comes up from the north.

For this outing we turned around at the fence line just before reaching the Hay Press trail. At this point there was an afternoon thunderstorm approaching so high on a ridge didn't seem like the best place to be hanging out.

At one point we passed within about 20-30 feet of a large buck that was taking an afternoon siesta.

The buck really didn't seem to want to have to get up but after a few pictures he grew uneasy, I suppose, and moved off just a little further.

There were several does with their fawns that were a little further away. While they kept a watchful eye on us they didn't let it interfere with their browsing. We also saw a gaggle of about 6-8 turkeys but they didn't stick around for a photo.

By the time we finished the hike the thunderstorm had caught up with us. We had our rain gear with us so while it was a little tough for taking pictures it was still a nice time to be outdoors. The Fruita Division of the Grand Mesa National Forest is a close place to town to visit and escape the summer heat of the valley. My little truck only used about 4 gallons of gas to make the round trip from town. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Ambush Trail

2011-09-02T05:00:00.007-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 8824 - 9260 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 2 hrs.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Mesa Creek Ski Area (sledding hill)
Fee: none
Attractions: Creek, scenic sub-alpine hike, wildflowers, wildlife

View Ambush Trail in a larger map

The Ambush Trail is located in the Grand Mesa National Forest just off Highway 65 at the Mesa Creek (Old Powderhorn) Ski Area. The trail ascends the sledding hill to about mid point and then follows a section of the Old Grand Mesa Road. Before Powderhorn was built the Mesa Creek Ski Area the winter destination for downhill skiing on the Grand Mesa providing a tow rope to take skiers up the slope.

There was talk that the Forest Service was closing this trail to mountain bikes but the new sign that is in place indicates that it is still open to them. The Ambush trail is a very fun diversion for mountain bikes coming off the mesa.

As the trail departs from the trailhead it goes parallel to the road toward Mesa Creek before turning uphill.

It is hard to resist walking the short distance over to the creek and checking it out. The trail reconnects with the Ambush trail if you follow it uphill. I have never hiked across the creek so I can't tell you what you will run in to there.

When the Old Grand Mesa Road climbed this slope it did it in a series of switchbacks that are now barely noticeable. When the trail gets to the second flat spot on the hill you will notice a small boulder where the Ambush trail leaves the slope and heads east on the old road. There is a lot of grass here that obscures the turnoff and the trail heading on up the hill shows a lot more use. That seems to imply that most people think that all the Ambush trail amounts to is walking straight up the mountain and back down. (ugh!)

Once you make the turn onto the old road the route becomes more apparent. The trail is traversing around the mountain for the rest of the distance so all of the steep climbing is behind you now.

I caught a glimpse of a moose and while standing on a rock trying to get a picture a couple of bucks came walking up within 30 feet of me. They stopped and stared for a minute and then walked on past while I was taking pictures. What surprised me was when they turned around and one of them came up within about 20 feet of me and stopped and just stood there staring at me. After a few minutes of this they finally ran away.

The trail eventually comes out at one of the switchbacks on the highway. There is a parking area here but there aren't any trail signs marking it as a trailhead.

Most of the trail is secluded withing the trees and you can't see off into the distance but in a few places you can get some glimpse of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

I came across a giant puff ball mushroom that was bigger than a loaf of bread. These are edible if you are wondering.

The hillside in one area was covered with high bush cranberries. I could have filled a bag but the ground was pretty steep and it would have probably been more work than it was worth.

The Ambush trail starts out a little steep but that is only for a relatively short distance. After you begin the lateral traverse around the mountain it is all pretty easy going from there. I didn't bother with any mosquito spray on this hike so there must not have been enough bugs to worry about or maybe none at all. I imagine that school age kids would have an easy enough time on this hike. They would probably really enjoy playing in Mesa Creek. Sadly, I have no idea how this trail received its interesting name. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Mesa Top

2011-08-26T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles (completed section)
Round Trip Distance: 10.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 10,415 - 10,781 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 5 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Mesa Top
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic sub-alpine forest, new trail, wildlife, wildflowers

View Mesa Top in a larger map

The Mesa Top trail is located in the Grand Mesa National Forest. The trail is still under construction but the first 3 miles of the trail are complete and open for use. Much of the work being done on the trail has been by the mountain bike group COPMOBA. The Mesa Top trail stretches from the trailhead along Highway 65 to the rim of the mesa above the Grandby Reservoirs. From there it follows the rim of the mesa toward Flowing Park. I am under the impression that the trail will eventually join up with the Flowing Park Loop trail.

The trailhead is located just off Highway 65 between the Lands End Road and the County Line. The large parking area is normally filled in the winter months with scores of snowmobiles. There are two vault toilets along with two change rooms at the Mesa Top trailhead.

The trail begins by heading south almost parallel with the highway.

Deer can be seen in some places right on the edge of the trees. They usually find a place with good covers to bed down during the day.

There are wide open meadows that seems to stretch for miles to the west towards the Carson Lake area.

For the most part the trail skirts the meadows by staying just inside the trees.

I came upon some very fresh mountain lion scat and prints along a rocky ridge. In several places there were a few large tufts of deer fur that I imagine came from the lions latest kill.

There is a fork in the trail at about 2.4 miles. Both routes showed signs of construction and recent use. I followed the left fork that appeared to be heading toward the rim of the mesa. The right fork might be a cutoff trail that would probably connect up with the Flowing Park Road in the neighborhood of Carson Lake.

From the rim there are some nice views of the Grandby Reservoirs and others as well as the town of Delta off in the distance.

The current construction on the trail ended just past the 3 mile point. I continued following the flags for another mile before I came to the last of them.

When the flags ran out there was another well established trail to follow. The trail led to an old jeep road that was now closed. There was another side trail that looked like it might continue to follow the rim toward the area of the Drop Off trail. I was real tempted to follow it but the last flag that I saw was still on the trail that I had been following.

I came to the Flowing Park Road a little after the 5 mile point. I doubt if this will end up being the actual route of the Mesa Top trail but it is too early to tell until some more construction is completed.

If you hike past the 3 mile point like I did you will come to a grove of trees after about 3.85 miles. At the present time it is much easier to go around the trees than to try to follow the flags going through them.

Looking over the rim you can see Clear Lake that sits right up against the side of the mountain. Like the Battlement's it is a natural lake.

If you like to filter your water rather than carrying the only good water sources are within the first 2 miles of the trailhead. If you only hike the finished part of the trail then that probably isn't any big deal. If you hike the whole thing you may want some extra bottles. I went through 120 ounces on my hike.

I have been eagerly waiting for this trail to open since the first time I heard about it last year. I came up on one occasion for a work party but I apparently I arrived too late and couldn't tell where they went. It might be a couple more years before this trail is entirely completed but the first section is in great condition and makes for a nice hike. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Mesa Lake Shoreline Trail

2011-08-19T05:00:00.003-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 9858 - 9918 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 1 hr.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Glacier Springs or Mesa Lakes Picnic Area
Fee: $5 - Glacier Springs, none - Mesa Lake Picnic Area
Attractions: Scenic lake, sub alpine ecosystem, wildlife, wildflowers

View Shoreline Trail in a larger map

The Mesa Lake Shoreline trail is located on the northwest side of the Grand Mesa in the Mesa Lakes Recreational Area. The trail is only about 1.5 miles in length but along with the Crag Crest trail it is probably one of the 'must do' hikes on the Grand Mesa. The trail has seen some significant improvements by the Forest Service over the years and in its present condition a person probably wouldn't have any trouble pushing a baby stroller over the entire distance. The only real questionable spots are immediately around the Glacier Springs trailhead where there is currently some ongoing construction.

This post begins at the Glacier Springs trailhead. It is also possible to park at the Mesa Lakes Picnic Area and begin from there. You can get to there by turning off the highway at the Mesa Lakes Lodge turnoff and then taking the first left turn next to a couple of cabins before you get to the lodge. If you follow that little paved road for a hundred yards or so you will come to the parking area. Another option would be to park at the Jumbo Reservoir area and walk in. The only place at present that you have to pay the Forest Service fee is at the Glacier Springs trailhead.

Currently the easiest access to the beginning of the trail is by crossing the dam. It looks like there will soon be a new section of trail that passes just below the dam.

There were a couple of little chipmunks climbing around on the tall fringed bluebells feasting on the flowers. It is surprising that the leaves were strong enough to hold their weight and that the flowers were part of their diet.

The first fork in the trail comes up right after crossing the dam. The right fork takes you on the Deep Creek Cutoff trail. The 'Open To' marker on the sign post is a little confusing. It indicates that all the trails are only open to hiking but the Deep Creek trail by itself is a popular mountain biking trail. Of course, this is the Deep Creek Cutoff trail, although that isn't what the sign designates, so maybe this section is hiking only. The actual Deep Creek trail begins on the other side of Sunset Lake near some cabins.

From this point on the well made trail begins its enchanting atmosphere as it begins to follow the shoreline through the stands of spruce trees.

The next off chute begins the Lost Lake trail which also leads by South Mesa Lake.

The trail builders placed little wooden bridges across each of the streams along the way. You might have any youngsters you have in tow keep their eyes out for trolls. I have heard that if you encounter any they are all very friendly in these parts.

Mesa Lake sits in a very sheltered area that allows it to remain as smooth as glass lots of the time.

Watching a squirrel eating mushrooms reminds me of the old adage that 'just because you see an animal eat something doesn't mean that it is safe for humans'. I say that because I saw where the squirrels had been gnawing on the top of a King Bolete mushroom and also on a little brown mushroom. The King Bolete is safe for humans (cook it first) but the little brown mushroom isn't.

There are a few benches beside the trail where you can sit and watch the fish jumping and the other critters running about filling their bellies. You might also spot a beaver or deer.

The section of trail along the east shore travels through a talus slope of basalt boulders. Years ago this section was pretty tough going but now it is as smooth as the rest of the trail. There are quite a few good spots to fish around Mesa Lake but this area can be especially productive.

The trail continues around the lake until it reaches the access road to the Mesa Lake Picnic Area. Take a left here and follow the road to get back to the Glacier Springs trailhead.

The Mesa Lakes Resort has some boats on each of the lakes that you can rent for your own use. This boat at the Mesa Lake Picnic Area made for a very picturesque scene. My camera doesn't seem to quite capture all the beauty and peacefulness of the moment but it felt a little heavenly.

From the picnic area you can get back on the Shoreline trail by passing between the restroom and the kiosk.

From here the trail wraps around the high mountain that separates Mesa Lake and Beaver Lake. It is just over a quarter mile from the Mesa Lake Picnic Area back to the Glacier Springs trailhead. It's kinda like it took you a little over a mile to get here but only a quarter mile to get back.

From the side of the mountain you can look over Beaver Lake and see the Mesa Lakes Lodge nestled in the trees on the opposite shore.

The twinberry honeysuckle ripens early on the mesa. The berries are so bitter that you won't find them very tasty. I have never heard of anyone making jelly from them like you can from the also bitter chokecherry.

Most of the people that hike the Mesa Lake Shoreline trail are probably campers. There are some nice connecting trails between the Jumbo Reservoir campground and Mesa Lake. The lodge also has numerous cabins available to rent year round. It is a real treat to rent one of the cabins with a fireplace in the winter time and spend the next day enjoying your favorite Nordic activity. The Shoreline trail is a real jewel in the Grand Mesa National Forest. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Crater Lake

2011-08-12T05:00:00.004-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9860 - 10,180 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 3 hrs.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Crater Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: Sub alpine hike, wildlife, wildflowers, fishing, camping

View Crater Lake in a larger map

The Crater Lake trail is located in the Gunnison National Forest, near Overland Reservoir, east of the Grand Mesa. The drive getting to the trailhead at Overland Reservoir can be as enjoyable as the hike. For the grand tour I drove from Grand Junction to Collbran, stayed on Highway 330 until I reached Forest Road 265 (aka Buzzard Divide Road) where I turned right and followed 265 over Buzzard Divide for about 18 miles to Forest Road 701 (aka Stevens Gulch Road) and followed that for another 2 miles to Forest Road 705 which I followed for the remaining 5 miles to Overland Reservoir. All of the roads are easily passable with a 2-wheel drive passenger car when they are dry or mostly dry. On the trip home I followed the Stevens Gulch Road for 22 miles to Paonia. Another great choice would have been to drive the 7 miles back to the Buzzard Divide Road and continue on it for about 15 miles to Highway 133. It is not uncommon to see dozens of deer and even elk, moose and bear along this route. There are primitive camping sites and a vault toilet available at the north end of Overland Reservoir.

The Crater Lake trailhead is in the trees just off the northwest corner of Overland Reservoir. I chose to park by the kiosk near the spillway so I could leave more room for the people that were camping in the area.

The trail begins by following the west shoreline of the reservoir for almost a mile. There were deer in some of the clearings that were staying close to the shelter of the trees.

After about a mile the trail angles off more to the west and begins leaving the reservoir behind.

The trail enters an open area known as Elk Park and begins paralleling Cow Creek. The vegetation totally obscured the trail in most places but it followed the same natural route that a person would probably pick if they were making the trail for themselves. There had been a pretty good thunderstorm the day before, coupled with the wetter than normal summer, making many places along the trail a little soggy.

There is another trail sign after about 2 miles at the junction of the Crater Lake and Elk Park trails. I could see the Elk Park trail marked on my GPS but there didn't appear to be any indication that it had been traveled in a long time. If I were to follow that route on some future hike I would have to rely almost entirely on my GPS to find the way.

From the junction at the last sign the trail begins heading more to the south and after a short distance it crosses Cow Creek. There was no getting across this creek without getting my feet wet so I waded right on through. I may have been able to find a better crossing up stream but I didn't try.

After crossing Cow Creek the trail continues heading toward the trees and gradually curving more and more to the left. Once back in the trees it is only a short distance to Crater Lake.

Most of the shoreline of Crater Lake is covered with basalt boulders. There is an island area that is a lot of fun to explore. There are several places here where you can camp if you chose to make this a backpacking adventure. I spoke with a family that was hiking in while I was heading back that were going to Crater Lake to fish. Apparently someone they knew had come up the week before and had caught some pretty good fish. Apparently the lake is deep enough that the fish don't winter kill.

There are a whole lot of deer in this area. I saw quite a few does with little fawns and quite a few bucks also that were still sporting a little velvet on their antlers.

The Elk Park area is also popular with horseback riders. Maybe if it can attract more traffic the trail can become worn enough to make it easier to follow.

Crater Lake is a little ways off the beaten path but maybe that is what a lot of people like about it. The area probably gets more visitors from the Paonia and Delta area than it does from Grand Junction. The drive took me about 3 hours on the trip in and about 2.5 going home. I stopped several times to take pictures on the way in so it may have turned out to be about the same. It would be best to come in from the Paonia side if the weather is very wet. That route is well graveled whereas the Buzzard Divide Road is pretty much all dirt. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Hunter Canyon

2011-08-05T05:00:00.003-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles (1st gas well)
Round Trip Distance: 10.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate (1st gas well)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 5400 - 7152 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs - ATV
Time: 5 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Hy Grade Mine
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyon, solitude, wildlife, wildflowers

View Hunter Canyon in a larger map

Hunter Canyon is located in the Little Book Cliffs area north of Grand Junction. To access the Hunter Canyon area drive north on 21 road between Fruita and Grand Junction. The pavement ends at the gas plant but the dirt road is usually easily accessible with a 2-wheel drive vehicle. There isn't an official trailhead but a good place to start is at an old HY Grade coal mine in the mouth of the canyon which is about 2 miles past the gas plant.

The trail begins by continuing up the road that leads into the canyon along Little Salt Wash. After a short distance the road is passable by only the hardiest of 4-wheel drive vehicles and ATV's.

Little Salt Wash usually has a little water trickling down it all year round. During periods of runoff the water is probably suitable for animals to drink but in the summer when it is just trickling it is pretty much all brine water.

In places you can see the salt crystals collecting and the smell of brine is very noticeable.

As you continue into the canyon the walls begin to close in and the feeling of adventure begins to climb. The wash snakes around the corners as they get tighter and tighter. This probably lasts for about a half mile or so before the canyon once again begins opening up. You would have trouble getting away from a flash flood in some parts of these narrows but usually there are spots where you can get up out of the way.

After the trail finishes snaking through the tight spots the canyon opens up a little more and the trail becomes a drive-able road again. Any vehicle traffic other than an ATV would be coming in up the canyon from the north. There is what is called a 'Dry hole marker' at an old well site on the east side of the road. Anytime an oil or gas well is drilled and then abandoned they erect one of these markers. It's interesting to know, though, that just because there is a dry hole marker it doesn't mean that they didn't find any oil or gas. They could have found quite a lot but it wasn't enough to justify connecting it up to the pipeline which may have been miles and miles away at the time or they may have run into problems while they were drilling the well, like twisting off their pipe, and didn't want to go to any further expense.

There is an actual 'producing' gas well just a little further up the canyon at about the 3 mile point into the hike. This is a good place to turn around if you want to make a shorter hike out of the trip. Up to this point the elevation change of 400 feet has been very gradual. From this point on the road begins climbing at a rapid pace until it comes out on top.

The road climbs up a series of switchbacks and over the next couple of miles the elevation jumps another 1300 feet. The steepest grade lasts for about a half mile before easing up a bit. There is an intersection in the road about 1 mile past the gas well where you need to be sure and go to the left and on the way back you will want to be sure on not miss it as well. As the road gets within the last half mile of reaching Ross Ridge there are several more gas wells off to the right and there is another road that cuts back up the hill in an easterly direction. That road eventually dead ends at another gas well.

I turned around when the road reached Ross Ridge. There is a four-way intersection at this point. If you go right (north) you will end up at a gas plant which you can see on top of the hill. If you continue straight ahead the road leads down into Coal Gulch and comes out in the North Fruita Desert around 16 Road. The road to the left will take you close to the edge of the rim of the Little Book Cliffs where you can get on a single track trail that is part of the Edge Loop and eventually end up around the 18 Road area of the North Fruita Desert.

There were fresh signs of a bear in the area. I have also seen a picture of one of the biggest mountain lions I have ever seen that a hunter bagged in Hunter Canyon. They say it killed 2 or 3 of his dogs before he killed it.

Among the many wildflowers in Hunter Canyon there were several large patches of wild onions.

It's always fun to find new ways to get to the top of a mountain and Hunter Canyon isn't too bad a route to get to the top of the Little Book Cliffs. The canyon can be hiked year round but the tight section of the canyon gets pretty plugged with ice so that is as far as I have ever gone in the winter. Hunter Canyon is popular with ATV's and at times you can be entertained watching 4-wheel drives trying to crawl over some of the rocks. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Riverside Section

2011-07-30T15:09:00.003-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4556 - 4593 feet
Cellphone: 3-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 1 hr.
Facilities: Flush toilets at Butterfly House and Riverside Park
Trailhead: Riverside or Watson Island
Fee: none
Attractions: Riparian environment, paved trail, gift shop at Butterfly House

View Riverside Section in a larger map

The Riverside Section of the Colorado River Trail stretches from Riverside Park to Watson Island and includes what is sometimes called the Confluence Section. Most of the land surrounding the trail has been cleaned up from past heavy industrial use. Part of that cleanup included the construction of several wildlife habitats and the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House.

There is a small parking area at the Riverside trailhead near Broadway or you can park at the Watson Island trailhead at the end of South 7th Street near the Botanical Gardens. This post begins at the Watson Island trailhead.

Following the Watson Island trail to the west it begins by passing behind the Botanical Gardens and continues toward 5th Street.

The trail passes beneath 5th Street and the old railroad bridge.

There are kiosks along the way that point out interesting facts that range from early history of the area to wildlife.

A backwater habitat has been constructed between the trail and the river near the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. The backwater habitat can be used by birds and fish during the high flow times of the river.

After passing the area of the backwater habitat the trail changes from concrete to pavement and follows the berm next to the river.

Upon approaching the west in of the trail in Riverside leaves the berm and passes behind the Riverside Park. Often times people will discontinue following the trail at this point and opt to follow the road instead.

Once through the park the trail resumes a path near the river as it continues under the Broadway bridge and transforms into the Blue Heron trail. This is also the parking area for the Riverside trailhead that I mentioned before.

The Riverside Park has a nice restroom with flush toilets that are usually open between 7am - 9pm.

It's something to watch the coal trains lumber over the old railroad bridge that seems to strain for all its worth to support the massive weight.

Each of the sections of the Colorado River trail are vitally important as they link up to make one continuous path from Palisade to Loma. Hopefully soon all the missing sections will become complete and the dream will finally be fulfilled. The land around the Riverside Section has gone through a lot of changes over the years as junk yards have made way for open spaces that at some future time will probably turn into some new development. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Coal Creek

2011-07-29T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 2 miles (Deep Creek trail)
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate
One-way Distance: 9.1 miles (Wild Rose)
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation: 8285 - 9924 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 6 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Carson Lake (upper trailhead)
Wild Rose Picnic Area (lower trailhead)
Fee: none
Attractions: Sub alpine hike, solitude, wildlife, wildflowers, water

View Coal Creek in a larger map

The Coal Creek trail begins at Carson Lake, on the Grand Mesa, at its upper end and follows somewhat of a bench along the north side of the Kannah Creek Basin for about 9 miles to the lower trailhead at the Wild Rose Picnic Area just off the Lands End Road. The trails in the Kannah Creek Basin have been used to gain access to the top of the Grand Mesa for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. Ute Indians that once lived in the lower valleys along Kannah Creek would migrate up to the top of the mesa in the summer months to hunt and gather flowers and herbs for food and medicines.

The forest service built a new parking area at Carson Lake in 2010 equipped with a nice new restroom. There are several primitive camp sites along the road as you drive into the lake if you are interested in camping. The Coal Creek trail begins just across the road from the parking area. The Kannah Creek trail also begins at Carson Lake and you can find its trailhead by hiking across the dam to the south side of the creek.

The first mile of the Coal Creek trail is very easy to follow and is a very enjoyable hike. There are some mosquitoes but after spraying a little Off on my neck and hands and smearing some on my face I was able to finish the entire hike without a single bite.

The Coal Creek trail crosses Reservoir Creek just before the intersection of the Deep Creek trail at about the 1 mile point. The Deep Creek trail goes up to the top of the mesa and comes out at the Raber Cow Camp on the Lands End Road. This is a good place to turn around if all you were looking for was an easy short hike. The trail gets harder to follow and a little rougher from this point on.

I ended up in the middle of some elk just past the Deep Creek trail. The first cow elk was only about 20 feet away and just dropping over the side of the hill as I approached. It seem unaware of my presence. Several more elk were in the trees about 100 feet in front of me. The stayed where they were for a couple of minutes before the became spooked.

The Farmers trail is only about a quarter mile past the Deep Creek junction. Every time that I hike this section I end up getting off the main trail and end up having to scramble down a slippery little hill to get back on it. Judging from tracks that I see from other hikers it is a common problem.

The Coal Creek trail crosses Deep Creek, Skunk Creek and Gill Creek over the next couple of miles. If you would rather filter some of your water instead of carrying it all you should be able to find plenty of sources. There are cattle grazing on top of the mesa so I would strongly suggest that you don't drink the water without filtering it first. All of these streams end up at the City Intake where some of the water enters the Grand Junction water supply.

Large sections of the Coal Creek trail between Deep Creek and the lower trailhead are overgrown with various types of bushes and other plants. This pretty much makes long sleeve shirts and pants a must. I also makes route finding a little difficult in places. A good GPS with the route loaded can make it easier to stay on the trail but that alone isn't fool proof. The trail is very old and distinct if you can see through the growth. There are a number of side trails made by wildlife and hunters that can lead you astray. The main trail almost always shows signs of periodic maintenance where someone from the forest service has cut away fallen trees with a chainsaw.

I got off the main trail after crossing Gill Creek and ended up on a lower trail that was much harder to hike from there until I reached the Coal Creek Basin trail. After you cross Gill Creek there is a really nice trail that heads down the hill to the left. The trail that you want to stay on is more obscure and follows around the hillside to the right. You can go either way but the left trail is a lot more work.

The junction of the Coal Creek Basin trail is at about the 5.1 mile point. This trail leads down to the Kannah Creek Road at the City Intake trailhead.

Another tenth of a mile or so along the Coal Creek trail is the Switchback trail that leads back up to the top of the mesa to the Lands End Road.

The next few miles of the Coal Creek trail are a lot easier to hike. There is a lot less over growth and the trail remains mostly flat. You could run into a bear anywhere on the Coal Creek trail but the odds increase significantly in this area.

There is an old cabin hidden away in the trees just off the trail at about the 6.5 mile point. It might make a good camping spot if you are backpacking.

The trail crosses the point of the ridge at about 7 miles. Up until this point there has been zero cell phone reception other than a weak signal around the Coal Creek Basin trail. Here my Verizon phone came alive with 4-5 bars. That was enough to let my rescue ride know when I would be getting to the lower trailhead. The trail has to pickup about 300 feet of elevation to get over the hump at this point. Other than for this section of the trail it has been all downhill.

I met a family on horseback that were headed in to do some camping. The horses help a lot with keeping the trail from totally disappearing.

I have been across this bridge that sit flat on the ground 4 or 5 times and I have never seen any water running under it. Maybe it was built before the water district began controlling the flow of the streams coming off of the mesa. Most of the lower section of the Coal Creek trail appears to have been made wide enough at one time to allow a wagon to pass up it. This bridge doesn't look quite that wide.

There are quite a few tasty king bolete mushrooms along the Coal Creek trail. There are also other mushrooms that you will want to stay clear of.

The king boletes average about 5-6 inches in diameter, they are brown, and the underside looks porous like a sponge rather than covered with gills. Mushrooms can be wormy similar to regular garden vegetables like radishes so it's always good to check them before you pack them home. Of course, if you are going to fry cook them then maybe you don't care.

The Coal Creek trail would be pretty tough to hike as a round trip in one day. If there wasn't so much brush to fight your way through it wouldn't be quite as bad but as it was I was pretty beat by the time I reached the Wild Rose trailhead and I was glad that surfer girl was there to give me a ride back up to Carson Lake. The Coal Creek trail covers a lot of pretty country and even though it is in close proximity to town it feels like a true wilderness experience. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Switchback Trail

2011-07-22T05:00:00.005-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous
Elevation: 9193 - 9973 feet
Cellphone: 0-1 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 1 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Switchback
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, historic trail, wildflowers, wildlife

View Switchback Trail in a larger map

The Switchback trail is located on the south facing slope of the Grand Mesa above Coal Creek Basin. The upper end of the trail begins just off the Lands End Road and descends about 1000 feet to the Coal Creek trail. The mostly long sweeping switchbacks through the fields of basalt boulders make easy work of the otherwise steep slope of the rim of the Grand Mesa.

The trailhead for the Switchback trail is not very well marked. There is a small pullout just before a cattle guard that is about 3 miles east of the Lands End Observatory. The sign that marks the beginning of the trail is over by the edge of the mountain. There isn't an obvious trail between the parking area and the trail marker but once you get to the sign the trail is very obvious for the rest of the way.

You would think that any trail that takes you over the cliffs of the Grand Mesa would be a real challenge but this trail is truly a real delight to hike.

The upper portion of the trail is populated with a few spruce trees.

The spruce trees soon give way to a thick forest of aspens.

In spots there are clear views of the Kannah Creek drainage to the south and the Whitewater Basin to the west.

The Switchback trail ends after a little less than 1 mile when it meets up with the Coal Creek trail. The Coal Creek trail traverses around the Grand Mesa below the cliffs from the Wild Rose Picnic Area, just off of the Lands End Road, to Carson Lake on the Grand Mesa at the head of the Kannah Creek Basin. If you go left on the Coal Creek trail for a short distance you could continue downhill on the Coal Creek Basin trail all the way to the City Intake trailhead. To avoid having to hike back to the top you could make use of a shuttle ride.

The climb back up to the trailhead is only moderately difficult. That is especially true compared to other trails in the area such as Mt. Garfield.

I met a couple of squirrels along the trail that raised quite the alarm at my passing. I thought that perhaps they had a nest of babies that they were concerned about.

If you make this hike in the late summer you should be able to snack on some chokecherries and raspberries or perhaps pick a few blueberries on your trip up the Lands End Road.

You will undoubtedly notice the towering white rock plumes in the Whitewater Basin as you are hiking. A Ute legend identifies these as 'dropping and bones of animals consumed by giant eagles ..., who had their nests on top of the cliffs.' (Museum of Western Colorado) The Museum currently has a very nice display that speaks of the ancient Ute and Aztec history of the area that is very interesting.

I am still trying to learn whether this Switchback trail is the same trail that was originally built by John Otto, the famous trail builder know mostly for his work with the Colorado National Monument. He had envisioned a series of trails that would connect the Colorado National Monument with the Grand Mesa. He developed the Sunbeam trail that ran from across the Little Book Cliffs to Palisade. There it connected up to the Butterfly trail that ran across the top of the palisades and the boulder fields of basalt below the rim of the Grand Mesa. The trail eventually ascended a switchback trail to the top of the mesa. I have a picture of John Otto's original trail but I can't tell for certain if it is one and the same as the present day trail.

There is a lot of history along these old trails that makes them even more enjoyable to experience. If you would like to see some of it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Coal Creek Basin

2011-07-17T19:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 4.5 miles (Coal Creek bridge)
Round Trip Distance: 9.3 miles (Coal Creek trail)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 6146 - 9106 feet
Cellphone: 0-1 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 6 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: City Intake
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, wildlife, wildflowers, solitude

View Coal Creek Basin in a larger map

The Coal Creek Basin trail is located within the Kannah Creek drainage area of the Grand Mesa. The trail stretches from near the City Intake trailhead on the Kannah Creek Road southeast of Whitewater, up the side of the Grand Mesa for about 4.7 miles, to the Coal Creek trail. It is possible to continue to the top of the mesa on the 1 mile long Switchback trail. Doing so would add another 2 miles to the round trip distance and another 1000 feet of elevation gain.

Rather than parking at the City Intake trailhead it is easy to continue around the horseshoe bend in the Kannah Creek Road and park at the pullout just past the Coal Creek Basin trailhead. There is a green Powder River gate in the fence that you can pass through.

The first 3/4 mile of the Coal Creek Basin trail follows an old road that leads up to the Kannah Creek Highline Ditch. This portion of the ditch road has been replaced by another access road that intersects the trail a little further up the hill.

The Coal Creek Basin trail departs from the ditch road after about 3/4 of a mile and crosses the irrigation ditch. If you miss the turn you will end up following the road to where the ditch comes out of Kannah Creek. That is a nice little hike if you ever decide to check it out but it isn't the Coal Creek Basin trail.

After crossing the ditch the trail begins climbing through the juniper and pinyon trees towards the steep cliffs of the Grand Mesa.

A fire called the Coal Creek fire burned through the basin in the summer of 2008. At the time of the fire the ground was fairly moist so the charred remains of many of the trees and oak brush are still standing.

The grass has grown thicker in the burned area and that seems to have made a better habitat for the wild game. If you look close at the picture you might be able to see a cow elk that was with several others along with their calves.

After hiking about 1.5 miles past the irrigation ditch, or 2.5 miles overall, the trail crosses Coal Creek. This is a great spot to have a picnic or at least stop for a rest. If you need to filter some drinking water this is the best spot to do it. The trail is close to the creek in a few other places but it is almost impossible to get through the brush to get to the water except here at the bridge. There are several tall ponderosa pines that made it through the fire pretty much unscathed. I also need to say, many kudos to whoever built this delightful bridge.

The trail continues climbing at a steady pace for the remaining 2 miles or so. The sides of the mountain are covered with grass and wildflowers. The trail is a little rocky in places and rutted out by the many elk hooves that have left their impression in the soil when the trail was muddy. Other than that it was very pleasant.

The trail comes to an end on a little nob where it meets the Coal Creek trail. The Coal Creek trail runs from the Wild Rose trailhead on the Lands End Road, around the side of the mesa, to Carson Lake. If you are wanting to continue on the Switchback trail to the top of the mesa take a left onto the Coal Creek trail and you will find the other trail after a short distance.

Once you turn around and look back down the mountain you can get a real appreciation for just how high you have climbed. The trailhead looks so far away but it only took about 3 hours to get to this point.

There were elk once again about a quarter mile from where they were on the trip up. I rested at the bridge on the way down for about a half hour and refilled my camelback from some spare bottles that I was carrying in my pack.

I'm not sure who the original trail builders were but as you can see from the picture a lot of work was put into the construction.

Here is a picture of a blue grouse that posed for a picture beside the trail. These birds usually fly up the nearest tree when anyone approaches. Probably the only game bird in the area bigger than these grouse would be a wild turkey. There seem to be pretty good numbers of blue gross in the Kannah Creek drainage.

Anytime you plan on hiking up the side of the Grand Mesa you can look forward to getting a good workout. This trail is part of the Grand Mesa 100 trail race. That has to be about one of the toughest races in the world. I went through 140 ounces of water and 60 ounces of Gatorade on this hike. If you are looking for more of a family hike but something that still has a little bit of a challenge you might enjoy just hiking to the bridge and back. If you have always wanted to hike up to the top of the mesa from the very bottom then this might be the easiest route to take. It would also be a good outing to have someone drop you off at the Switchback trail on the Lands End Road and hike the whole thing going downhill. Anyway you do it f you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Lower Coal Creek Trail

2011-07-17T17:56:00.007-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 8314 - 9325 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 6 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: Vault toilet
Trailhead: Wild Rose Picnic Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic sub alpine hike, wildlife, wildflowers

View Coal Creek in a larger map

The Coal Creek trail begins at the Wild Rose Picnic Area, just off of the Lands End Road, on the west side of the Grand Mesa, and wraps around the cliffs of the mesa into the Kannah Creek Basin. The upper end of the trail is 9 miles away on top of the mesa at Carson Lake. This hike covers the portion of the trail from the Wild Rose trailhead to the junction of the Coal Creek trail and the Coal Creek Basin trail.

When you drive up the Lands End Road the pavement ends at the Grand Mesa National Forest boundary. The Wild Rose Picnic Area is about 6 more miles up the dirt road. The trailhead for the Coal Creek trail is just across the first branch of North Kannah Creek as you are walking through the picnic area. The Coal Creek trail crosses quite a few little creeks along the way and the flow of these creeks is controlled in part by how much water they are releasing from the reservoirs on top of the mesa.

The first mile of the Coal Creek trail is pretty easy hiking as it climbs at a very gradual pace.

The second branch of North Kannah Creek was probably flowing as much as all the other creeks combined. A couple of the rocks were a little wobbly but not too bad. A pair of walking sticks come in pretty handy when crossing these creeks. Maybe one of these days I will take mine out of the garage and hook them onto my pack.

One really nice aspect of this hike is that it begins far enough up the side of the mesa that you are already above the pinon and juniper trees. Within the first half mile or so the trail is already passing through groves of aspens.

There is a marker at the 2 mile point that has the distance carved into it. The marker was laying on the ground when I found it but I recruited a few more rocks and propped it back up. The crest of the hill that you can see about a quarter mile ahead is the high point of the lower section of the Coal Creek trail.

From the crest of the hill the trail gives back about 300 feet of elevation gain. At this point the trail has crossed into the Kannah Creek Basin and is following along a bench below the cliffs of the mesa. The hiking is pretty easy from this point on. The brush gets pretty thick where it is encroaching upon the trail in places. Between that and the thistles and wild roses a pair of long pants is a must. Pants and a long sleeve shirt are probably the best attire for most hikes on the Grand Mesa. Dressed like that all you have to do is spray a little mosquito repellent on your neck and face and the backs of your hands and you can walk right through a swarm and come out unscathed.

I laid up under this spruce tree and waited for a heavy rain storm to pass. I had my raincoat but since there wasn't any lightening with the storm I still took advantage of the shelter.

Coal Creek runs a lot of water early in the summer and can be a little difficult to cross. It wasn't too bad on this day.

Once I got to Coal Creek the piles of bear scat seemed to be appearing every 20 feet or so. It was getting thick enough that I actually took my bear spray out of the holster, gave it a test fire, and put it in one of the cargo pockets of my pants where I could get to it faster.

After about 4 miles into the hike you come to the Switchback trail which leads up onto the top of the mesa and about 4-5 hundred feet past that is the junction of the Coal Creek Basin trail. This is the point where I turned around. The trail continues on around the mountain to Carson Lake passing the Farmers trail and the Deep Creek trail along the way.

There were a lot of bear tracks in the soft bentonite. This picture shows the print of a baby along side of an adult. Some of the tracks sank in far enough that you could see their claws. The claws on a bear are far enough up on their toes that they don't normally make an impression. Their tracks are a lot spookier looking when you can see a full set of claws. Note: I take a few extra precautions to avoid appearing too much like a bears next meal.

1. No cologne or perfume.
2. No shaving cream on day of hike.
3. Shower the day before so no fresh soap smell.
4. Never us strong smelling soaps like Irish Spring. (major bear attractor)
5. Be careful with food and even empty candy bar wrappers.
6. Carry bear spray. It's more effective than a gun. (so I hear)

The bears had been going through tearing up the rotting logs grubbing for bugs. I was surprised at how far they had moved some of the larger trees to get at them.

There are all kinds of mushrooms growing on the Grand Mesa and some of them are deadly poisonous. This one is probably a Russula which isn't poisonous but it doesn't taste very good either. The easiest mushroom for me to identify is the King Bolete. It makes good mushroom soup and is also good sauteed in butter. To be extra careful be sure to cook them and only eat a very small amount until you see if you have an adverse reaction to them.

All of the picnic sites at Wild Rose are pretty much hidden away in the trees providing a little bit of privacy. There are a few primitive fire rings but if you really want to have a cook out you should probably bring your own grill. With all of the trees and the running water near by the atmosphere is very peaceful.

This section of the Coal Creek trail probably gets as much traffic from horseback riders as it does from hikers. The more traffic the better for keeping the bushes at bay. The trail is open to bicycling but the brush is probably too thick for it to be enjoyable. I went through 140 ounces of water and 20 ounces of Gatorade. There was enough flowing water that I could have only carried a couple of bottles and used my filter to refill them. This is a great place to have a picnic, go on a short hike, and play in the creek. It should be enjoyable by people of any age. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Scotland Trail

2011-07-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9610 - 10,219 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Usage: Hiking - ATV - Biking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Scotland Trail
Fee: none
Attractions: Sub alpine forest, wildflowers

View Scotland Trail in a larger map

The Scotland trail is located on the Grand Mesa just south of Ward Creek Reservoir along Highway 65. The trail begins at the highway and stretches north for 2.5 miles where it connects with Forest Service Road 115. There is also a Scotland Connector trail that begins at the Ward Creek Reservoir and connects to the Scotland trail about a mile from the Scotland trail trailhead.

The Scotland trail is usually one of the first trails to become snow free on the Grand Mesa. The trail also seems to have many fewer mosquitoes than most trails on the mesa.

The Scotland trail climbs steadily over its entire length, at a gradual pace, to reach its end which is a little over 600 feet higher. There are enough areas where the trail levels off that it doesn't seem like a total uphill effort.

The trail is mostly secluded within the trees and hidden from view from passers-by on the highway. There is one spot where you can walk over and get a nice view of Ward Creek Reservoir.

A loop hike could be formed by cutting the hike short and taking the Scotland Cutoff trail down to Ward Creek Reservoir and then hiking along it back to the lower trailhead.

As you can see from the above photo the Scotland trail offers some very pleasant hiking.

The Scotland trail ends at Forest Service Road 115. If you follow the road to the right it will take you up to Island Lake. If you follow it to the left it will take you over to the Grandby Reservoirs.

On the hike back I hiked the short distance through the trees to get a picture of January Reservoir. There isn't a trail that connects the reservoir to the Scotland trail so it requires a little climbing over fallen trees and such. There were also mosquitoes around the shores of the reservoir.

The Scotland trail is open to ATV's. This group were riding from the camp below Ward Creek Reservoir over to the Grandby Reservoirs.

The Scotland trail is a hike that the entire family can enjoy. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to find a good spot to have a picnic. Some bug spray would probably come in handy if you go around the water. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.

Wildcat Trail

2011-07-01T05:00:00.005-06:00

Rating:
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 6986 - 8427 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Usage: Hiking - Equestrian - Dogs
Time: 4 hrs.
Facilities: none
Trailhead: Wildcat
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, wildlife, wildflowers, solitude

View Wildcat Trail in a larger map

The Wildcat trail is located in Unaweep Canyon along Colorado State Highway 141 between Grand Junction and Gateway, Colorado. The trail provides access to the Uncompahgre National Forest from the valley floor. The upper trailhead of the Wildcat trail meets up with the Thimble Point or Forest Service Road #417.

The obscure turnoff for the Wildcat trailhead is just before mile marker 133 which is just over 21 miles from the junction of Highways 50 and 141 at Whitewater, Colorado. Secluded within the trees, practically invisible from the highway, is a small area with two picnic tables. If you turn to the left after pulling off the highway and passing through the fence you will see the sign marking the beginning of the trail on the other side of the green Powder River gate.

The trail crosses the valley floor towards the southern cliffs of Unaweep Canyon. There are about a half dozen wooden posts serving as trail markers to keep you on the right trail.

The trail begins climbing at a gentle pace through thick stands of oak brush. On this day there were numerous elk tracks on the trail and a cow elk could be heard calling perhaps for her calf. The oak brush was providing good cover for them.

The trail begins climbing at a steeper pace for the next half mile with a quarter mile stretch of particularly steep hiking. The trail becomes more confined the closer it gets to the top.

After about 1.8 miles there is an old barbed wire gate and at the two mile point the trail comes out on top of the mountain. Just past this sign the trail meets up with an old double track road and continues along it to the right. If you go to the left at this road you will eventually come to a dead end.

The Wildcat trail continues for another mile of easy hiking through stands of ponderosa pines.

There is another gate where the Wildcat trail reaches its upper trailhead. It is important to keep the gate closed to keep any grazing cattle in their proper pasture.

There were some logging operations going on near the upper trailhead. There is usually logging going on somewhere in the Uncompahgre National Forest at most any time.

It seems a reasonable guess that the Wildcat trail may have been named because someone at some time encountered a mountain lion in the area. As I was going up the trail I first saw a pile of some dried up mountain lion scat and then a little further I saw another dried pile and then a little further I saw a fresh moist pile with flies buzzing around it. Just past that was a pretty good pile of bear scat. By this time I was carefully watching my back trail and the surrounding trees of the very confined area.

As I was coming down the steepest section of the trail I saw a bear coming around the bend about 50 to 100 feet away. It was headed uphill towards me taking very slow and deliberate steps up the trail. I pulled out my extra large can of bear spray that I had already taken the safety off. At about that time the cub came waddling around the corner. There is nothing worse than a mamma bear, or elk or any other kind of mamma, when they have their babies with them. The mamma bear made a gesture to the cub and it quickly fell in behind her. I stood my ground and cleared my throat so they could hear me. The mamma gestured again to the cub and it left the trail through the brush. The mamma remained firmly planted in the middle of the trail with a cold glare in her eyes while the cub got away a short distance. After a few moments I cleared my throat a couple more times and the mamma bear followed after the cub. I gave them about a half a minute or so before I continued on down the trail. When I got to the spot where the bears had been I was surprised that they hadn't gone very far from the trail before stopping. They both high tailed it a little further as I passed by.

The area at the trailhead is called a picnic area but there were apparent indications that people had also been camping there. There aren't any signs that say 'no camping' or anything else. I went through 100 ounces of water and 40 ounces of Gatorade on this hike. If I would have started later in the day I'm sure I would have needed a lot more. The stream that drains the Wildcat trail area dries up pretty early in the year so you can't count on it for any of your water. The Wildcat trail has a pretty steep section to climb if you follow it all the way to the top but at least it's not like that all the way. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.