One-way Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Skill level:
Elevation: 10,604 - 10,663 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Time: 15 mins.
Trailhead: Skyway
Fee: none
Attractions: Steep downhill
Will's Hill is part of the Skyway Nordic Area in the Grand Mesa National Forest near Grand Junction, Colorado. The trail provides a short connecting route between the Lyons Loop and Arroyo trails. Will's Hill is well known for a steep and very memorable downhill run where it drops off the hill and connects to the Arroyo trail.
For this post we are beginning at the top of Will's Hill where it departs from the Lyons Loop.
The major intersection at Skyway have maps that indicate where you are. We like to also carry a map with us anyway. They come in handy when you aren't at an intersection and when it is snowing or blowing snow and things can become a little disorienting. We have changed our GPS download to include all of the trails in the Skyway and County Line systems rather than just one particular trail for those that carry a device.
The trail is groomed with a set of classic tracks and a skate lane. Snowshoers should take care to travel along the edge of the trail opposite the classic tracks.
The general trend for the trail going in this direction is all downhill with the first third of it being very gradual.
A sign at the top of the steepest section warns of the upcoming slope.
Downhill skiers and snowboarders would probably laugh about 'this little hill' but beginners on a set of skinny cross country skis will think differently.
In this photo you can see from the herringbone tracks that people also go up Will's Hill. We have probably gone up it ourselves as many times as we've gone down it.
