The mountain is one of the more notable land marks in the grand valley. Its generally accepted this area begins in the west on the wasatch plateau near the town of price and comes to a gradual conclusion out east in the arid canyons just north of grand junction, co. Grand junction is the states largest western city, offering visitors a surprisingly wide range of activities and dining options for a unique colorado family vacation. The following five are the best dogfriendly hikes to check out this spring. Mount garfield, the highest point along the cliffs, challenges lungs and legs with a 2,000ft. In late 2006 we hiked a small portion of an old pack trail leading up through the book cliffs. The stagecoach trail is rumored to be part of the actual route that was used by the stagecoach to get from grand junction to parachute. Its not the altitude itself that gets you, its the elevation gain.
Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah, the book cliffs are the worlds largest continuous escarpment. This challenging hike in the book cliffs, ten miles from grand junction. Crag crest trail, grand mesa nf stand atop 11,237foot grand mesa, the worlds highest mesa. It amazes me to think that people actually once dragged a stagecoach over this portion of the trail. And, of course, bring a camera, because hikes in the grand valley are rich with colorful human and. Bookcliff vision center knows you need amazing eye care to keep you seeing your best.
Between price, utah and grand junction, colorado, highway 6 and interstate 70 cross 170 miles of barren and windswept terrain. Thompson exit 09192002 the book cliffs from thompson exit on interstate 70 mount garfield 09182002 mount garfield marks the eastern end of the book cliffs. Bookcliff vision center grand junction, co groupon. Views of the verdant palisade vineyards and orchards are in stark contrast to colorados barren sandstone cliffs. The best grand junction hikes will take you from atop the worlds largest flattop mesa to the depths of black canyon national park of the gunnison. The kids and i returned to the book cliffs on saturday to finish something we started more than seven years ago. Top of the castlegate sandstone, sagers canyon, book cliffs, eastern utah. There is very little shade, so be prepared with a hat and lots of water. The book cliffs have preserved excellent strata of the foreland basin of the ancient western interior seaway that stretched north from the gulf of mexico to the yukon in the cretaceous time. The first part of the hike into little book cliffs is a little strenuous as you climb up and over a ridge to get into the canyons. The book cliffs are an enormous area that spans two states.
Winding for 250 miles across utah and colorado, it is the longest continuous escarpment in the world. The drive would be lonely but for a constant companion. Explore the mountains, plains and foothills around grand junction, colorado with this guide. Numerous opportunities for both are found on blm land south of book cliffs near westwater, and are marked on the map. One of the most popular hikes on the book cliffs is to the top of mount. The western slope adventurers wsa is a bunch of motivated individuals who want to get together with other outdoor minded folks to share hiking, backpacking, canyoneering, dog walks, outdoor film festivals indoors on winter nights, photography, road and mountain biking, rafting and other water sports. Digging into the pocket of a nodule in the book cliffs area, working hard trying not to damage any crystals. If you have ever driven through debeque canyon you can spot various sections of it throughout the canyon.
The high, winding road, 2,000 feet above the colorado river valley, looks west to the book cliffs and east to grand mesa, the largest flattopped mountain in the world. Little book cliffs darting team bureau of land management. Powderhorn mountain resort is a familyfriendly ski resort with majestic views of the book cliffs mountain range. Grand junction with a mecca of outdoor activities within minutes, there are dozens of excellent hiking areas available to locals. Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah.
The desert mountains and cliffs that make up the bookcliffs also sometimes spelled book cliffs stretch. This challenging hike in the book cliffs, ten miles from grand junction, is considered excellent training for colorados many fourteeners. With this handy pack guide you will explore dinosaur digs and petroglyphs, or hike beside the mesmerizing 500foottall redrock monoliths in the colorado national monument or in the foothills of. The bike trails can be accessed from either 18 rd or 16 rd just north of the town of fruita. At the outcrops themselves we will undertake several hikes over moderate. Distract yourself from the difficulty by keeping an eye out for fossils. Complete hiking information for grand junction, colorado with maps, photos, trail descriptions, guides and outfitters, and more. The book cliffs view shelter offers a panoramic view of wedding and monument canyons, as well as views of fruita and grand junction, the book cliffs, and the grand mesa. We chose this one because it was close and seemed step. Mount garfield 09192002 i took this picture a few miles east of grand junction as it contrasts the rich farm land of the valley with the desolate desert. The three mile section of trail that runs from 29 road past the wildlife area and onto corn lake is managed by colorado parks and wildlife and is open to all users from 5 a. Just outside of grand junction, colorado, we work closely with the little book cliffs. The city of grand junction is located in the grand valley at the confluence of the gunnison and colorado rivers. When youre running low on contact lenses, this vision center has many different kinds to offer.
Colorado national monument is open year round, 24 hours a day closed december 25. The elevations listed above are a little deceiving. The unit is reached by the sego canyon road north from thompson, the cottonwood canyon road north from i70 at an exit 5 miles northeast of cisco, and. The little book cliffs wilderness study area is characterized by gentlysloping plateaus, various small canyons, and four major canyon systems. Make sure to visit the lunch loops the next time you come to camp in fruita.
Information about temporary or storm closures can be found by calling the park hotline at 970 8583617. The book cliffs extend from helper, utah to east of grand junction, colorado fig. And with the exception of a few privately held parcels of land, almost 96% of the 2. Blm a great map to have if you are interested in mountain biking or motorized dirt biking. The trail became too steep and rough for the kids, then ages 3 and 5, and on the way.
And, of course, bring a camera, because hikes in the grand valley are rich with. Excellent variety of trails for all levels of rider. All trips begin and end in grand junction, colorado. Hiking, camping, and wild horses near grand junction. Colorado national monument adjoins mcinnis canyons to the east and provides additional hiking trails. Your guide to the grand junction bookcliffs rmhp blog. Bookcliff is a doubletrack mountain bike trail in grand junction, colorado. Visit grand junction for a unique colorado family vacation. In the 1980s, exxon scientists used the cretaceous strata of the book cliffs to develop the science of sequence stratigraphy. Mountain bike the book cliffs, north fruita desert campground. The ram kept his eye on me while all the ewes turned their butts towards me. These colorado cliffs look like books on a shelf outthere colorado.
The trail is located off of exit 46 on i70, the cameo exit east of grand junction and palisade. Main canyon in the little bookcliffs wild horse area is a part of the main book cliffs range extending from the. Maps for the region book cliffs wildlife management unit. The book cliffs are one of the worlds best places to study sequence stratigraphy. Grand junction, home to the colorado national monument, has a solid network of trails. This small area is known as the, little book cliffs and includes the western slopes famous peak, mt. The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. These four larger systems are also accompanied by many smaller side canyons. Grand junction and fruita are only a few miles apart, so you dont even have to choose. In the book cliffs, you dont follow a set trail like almost everywhere else instead, you choose a basic direction northwest, for example and just keep picking one of the three. Event participants must park in the saddlehorn picnic parking lot.
This is the last part of our trip to the book cliffs east of green river. The top 5 best dogfriendly hikes of the grand valley gjmole. Maps and brochures for the book cliffs and mcinnis canyons areas are available at the grand junction blm field office, 2815 h road, 9702443000. Hiking trails in the grand junction, colorado and surrounding area. Right hand tusher canyon tusher canyon bench coal canyon bench coal canyon bench ends approximately at 12s 0587390 4319 where the road winds around a cliff. Cross over the colorado river and continue on the dirt road good for all cars. The book cliffs trail system consists of five interconnecting trails chutes, edge loop, frontside, prime ribjoes ridge, and zippity on both single and double track. Discover a wonderland of sparkling lakes, rolling meadows and spiny ridges on this. Arizona 6 colorado 947 new mexico 45 utah 535 nevada 27 wildflowers. Swing by the vision experts at bookcliff vision center today.
Fremont indians hunted game, gathered plants, and farmed in this region until about a. See more ideas about grand junction colorado, colorado and colorado homes. Robbcolorado river state park plays a vital role in the ongoing effort to extend the vision of our namesake and extend the riverfront trail. Hiking groups in grand junction heres a look at some hiking groups near grand junction. Beginning in the floor of the valley the trail follows a route that leads to the top of the little books cliffs near corcoran point.
The bookcliffs define the skyline of grand junction. The hike itself is interesting, and offers nice views you can see grand mesa nicely, stream. The little book cliffs wild horse area grand junction. Little book cliffs wilderness study area trail system. Bookcliff mountain bike trail in grand junction, colorado. The book cliffs frame the grand valley on the north. Main canyon, coal canyon, cottonwood canyon and spring canyon. Book cliffs view, fruita, colorado trail run project. After a couple of miles there is a large parking lot with trailhead signs for hiking.
Western slope adventurers grand junction, co meetup. At an altitude of 4,586 feet, warm summers and moderate spring, fall and winter seasons allow for yearround golfing, hiking and biking. The grand junction, colorado, area offers a variety of hiking trails that lead to unforgettable scenery and. If trail is unclear near last part hiking out of the canyon then look for the.
The most wellknown trails, called the lunch loops, are challenging, and endlessly fun. Chenoweth, geological consultant, grand junction, colorado publication. Best trails in little book cliffs wilderness study area. As we approached the east grand junction entrance to the colorado national monument, we left behind the book cliffs, here seen rising in the distance to the ne in the 1st frame. This mountain range is largely composed of sedimentary materials. A hidden gem hubby and i were looking for a nice easy hike since we spent a whole day on the top of the. Part of the southern edge of this wsa is dominated by the 2,000foothigh face of the book cliffs.
The distinctive formations offer plenty of hiking, camping and more. The tellerico trail is located in the little book cliffs wild horse range north of grand junction, colorado. Nestled near 11,000foot grand mesa and the 7,500foot book cliffs, grand junction is the largest city in western colorado. While youre there, you should also check out the wide selection of glasses. Little book cliffs area 22 big wash round trip distance. From the same vantage, the 2nd frame looks up and sw into the heart of the uncompahgre plateau, where the thin, hard triassic. See description on map fruita grand junction colorado trails recreation topo map latitude 40 degrees. The economic development division was created to foster programs and partnerships to achieve that vision. There are many lines up the book cliffs in grand junction, co. Home to wild horses, theres always something new to see or do in the bookcliffs. A nodule where a pocket of barite and calcite crystals may have been found, in the book cliffs area.
Baryte and calcite found in concretions ranging from a half an inch to over 6 feet with some concretions in a linear configuration, up to the size of a sedansaloon. The most popular times to visit the park are during the spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate. The eastern book cliffs offer outstanding hunting, hiking, backpacking, and wildlife viewing in a highly scenic area. Nestled between the book cliffs and the colorado national monument, grand junction is the largest city between denver and salt. If these spaces are full, continue north around the bend to the window rock trail parking area and use the window rock trail to connect down to the canyon rim trail. Grand junction region day hiking trails index oric. Gave some amazing views and got my heart pumping coming down. This geological wonder cuts through beautiful desert terrain and parallels steep canyons and raging rivers, making it a yearround destination for scenic viewing, hiking, camping and rafting below. If you keep your eye out for the ribbons and signs you will have little trouble staying. The 5 best grand junction hiking trails with photos. Just before entering debeque canyon, this hike is one of my favorites.