Mesa Top

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 7.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 10,018 - 10,733 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 3 hrs.
Trailhead: Mesa Top/Flowing Park
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest trail

The Mesa Top trail is located in the Grand Mesa National Forest near Grand Junction, Colorado. The east end of the trail begins at the Mesa Top trailhead off of Highway 65 near the Delta/Mesa county line. The trail travels across the mesa through the forest to the southern rim of the Grand Mesa overlooking the Granby Reservoirs. From there it follows the rim to its western end near the Flowing Park Reservoir off of Forest Road 109. The trail can be combined with the 15 mile Flowing Park Loop for a total round trip distance of 30.4 miles.

Demaree Canyon

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 5213 - 5406 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Demaree Canyon
Fee: none
Attractions: Solitude, wildlife, plant fossils

Demaree Canyon is locate in southwest Garfield County about 15 miles north of Loma, Colorado just off of Highway 139. The canyon has been made part of a Wilderness Study Area probably for no other reason than the ongoing feudal contest between industry and environmental groups to lock up as much land as possible to be under their control. Deer, elk, bear, bobcat and mountain lion can be spotted within the canyon or their tracks at least.

Hunter Canyon

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles (1st gas well)
Round Trip Distance: 10.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Skill level:
Elevation: 5400 - 7152 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 2 hrs. 45 mins.
Trailhead: Hy Grade Mine
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic canyon, solitude, wildlife, wildflowers

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.

Wildcat Trail

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

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.