Discovery Trail

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 10,290 - 10,383 feet
Cellphone: 0-4 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Grand Mesa Visitors Center
Fee: none

The Discovery Trail is short interpretive hike located on the Grand Mesa just behind the Grand Mesa Visitor Center. The trail, which loops up and around the hill, through aspen and spruce trees, has 15 stations that explain various aspects of the forest ecosystem. The trail is suitable for toddlers and strollers and might be manageable for some wheelchairs though the trail itself is not paved.

Braille/Discovery Trails

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 10,282 - 10,330 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30-60 mins.
Trailhead: Braille/Discovery Day Use Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Braille Trail, Forest Discovery Trail

View Braille-Discovery Trails in a larger map

The Braille/Discovery trails are in the White River National Forest along Highway 82 east of Aspen, Colorado. These are two separate trails that begin from the same parking area. The Discovery trail is wheelchair accessible while the Braille trail was designed for the visually impaired. The trails provide a forest experience for families with small children as well as the visually impaired and physically challenged. Several picnic sites complete the offerings at this special spot next to the Roaring Fork River.

Fossil Discovery Trail/Quarry Site

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 2.2 miles (including tram ride)
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 4767 - 5002 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 1 hr. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Visitor Center
Fee: $20/vehicle
Attractions: Dinosaur quarry, fossils along trail, petroglyphs

The Fossil Discovery Trail is in the Utah Section of the Dinosaur National Monument. The trail connects the Visitor Center with the Dinosaur Quarry site passing a boulder with some petroglyphs and a cliff that contains some nice specimens of dinosaur fossils in situ. The appealing aspect of the fossils outside of the quarry is that they appear as they would if you were to discover them while on a hike or as they were originally discovered at Dinosaur National Monument.

Willow Springs Loop

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 4455 - 4578 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Willow Springs Picnic Area
Fee: $15/vehicle or annual pass
Attractions: Scenic loop, agave pit

The Willow Springs Loop is located in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Beginning at the Willow Springs Picnic area the trail travels east past an agave roasting pit. From there the trail parallels the north side of the road until it crosses it at the Lost Creek Canyon trailhead. At that point the trail crosses a wash and loops back along the hillside on the south side of the road to the place where the loop began.