One-way Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Esy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 4442 - 4582 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Highway 340 & Raptor Rd.
Fee: none
Attractions: Paved trail
The Kokopelli Section of the Riverfront Trails stretches along the Colorado River and Interstate 70 between Fruita and Loma, Colorado. The Fruita end of the trail can be accessed off of Highway 340 at the end of Raptor Road near the Colorado River State Park. The Loma end of the trail begins near Exit 15 of Interstate 70 and the Loma Boat Launch on the Colorado River. There is also a trailhead near the middle of the Kokopelli Section at the end of 15 Road.
When we first took the photos for this post we started at the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park. Since then the State Parks has begun charging an entrance fee for pedestrians and bicyclist. To avoid the fee one must start at the end of Raptor Road where there is limited parking available. Raptor Road is on the west side of the roundabout where the truck stop is across from the Colorado Welcome Center.
The section of trail that runs from the James M. Robb State Park under the Interstate to Fruita is the Little Salt Wash trail.
At the point the riverfront trail connector from Raptor Road ties in with the Little Salt Wash trail the two trails begin sharing routes.
The route is traveling alongside of Little Salt Wash as the trail passes beneath Interstate 70.
The underpasses are decorated with some well done murals.
After passing beneath the Interstate the Kokopelli Section of the Riverfront trail branches off on its own.
A bridge conveys the trail over Big Salt Wash where it passes through a grove of cottonwoods where at times bald eagles can be seen nesting.
As the trail passes the Imondi Wake Zone there is the opportunity to watch people on wakeboards being pulled around the lake by a cable.
Near the 2 mile point from Little Salt Wash the trail passes the trailhead at the end of 15 Road.
Toward the west end of the trail the Kokopelli Section crosses another major wash and passes back under the Interstate. During heavy spring runoff the water level can get up to the Interstate and make this part of the trail impassable.
The only real uphill stretch of the trail comes up after it goes under the Interstate.
