One-way Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4688 - 4897 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Tabeguache
Fee: none
Attractions: Hiker only trail
Hilltop is a hiking only trail in the Lunch Loop Trails System in Grand Junction, Colorado. The trail begins off of Yes N Deedee where it makes a steep climb to the summit of the Big Sister which is the tallest of the 3 hills in the Three Sisters area of the Lunch Loop. Besides Yes N Deedee the Hilltop trail makes connections with the Big Sister Loop and Curt's Lane.
The Hilltop trail begins a few hundred feet from the beginning of Yes N Deedee.
The hiking only trail isn't as well worn as the mountain bike trails in the area making it a little harder to follow.
There are enough man made steps and an occasional cairn that it isn't too hard to pick out the route.
By the time the trail has gained almost a hundred feet of elevation and traveled a mere 500 feet it crosses the Big Sister Loop at another intersection with the Yes N Deedee trail.
From there the trail continues in the same fashion as before with a few more stone steps placed at handy points along the route.
The trail becomes more of a dirt track with a lot fewer rocks as it gets higher up the shoulder of the Big Sister.
Once the trail reaches the summit of the Big Sister it keeps right on going.
From the top of the hill the trail continues down an easy slope on the southwest side of the mountain.
As the slope steepens a switchback lessens the descent. Straight trails down the sides of hills tend to form ruts when it rains so the switchback should also help slow down the erosion.
The trail levels off at a shoulder where it meets up once again with the Big Sister Loop. From here, other than returning by the same route that led to this point, you can follow the Big Sister Loop or you can continue on a short connector that leads to Curt's Lane. Either way there are a multitude of connecting trails to create whatever type and length of hike that suits you. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
