Grand Junction Official Visitor Guide - Grand Junction Colorado Adventure Guide
Get Outside
2019-05-03 07:49:18
GRAND JUNCTION’S PUBLIC LANDS BY THE NUMBERS
Rivers that beckon paddlers, anglers and floaters. Verdant city and state parks teeming with trails and translucent lakes. Open spaces thick with pinyon-juniper forests. Surreal canyonlands and other majestic landscapes. Grand Junction’s public lands come in many shapes and forms. And since 75 percent of the area’s lands are public, there are more than 1.5 million acres to explore.
Bonus:
Unparalleled convenience (many natural areas are located within just 30 minutes of the city and easily accessible) and fewer crowds than other Colorado mountain towns make experiencing one-on- one time with nature even easier.
Fun Fact
Seventy-five percent of Mesa County is public land. The 3,341-square-mile county is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
1,559,551 Acres of Public Lands IN MESA COUNTY
981,360 Acres of Bureau of Land Management Lands
McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Bangs Canyon Recreation Area, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, Grand Valley OHV Area and more
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES:
■ Feast your eyes on 140-millionyear- old plant and dinosaur fossils in an active quarry on the 1.5-mile Trail Through Time in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area’s Rabbit Valley.
■ Take your mountain bike to Lunch Loops or the Kokopelli Loops for single track that is coveted around the world with scenery that can’t be beat.
■ Climb mesas and ridges and blaze your own path through a labyrinth of ATV and 4x4 trails, as well as single-track trails that dirtbikers say are too good to be true, all in the massive Grand Valley OHV Area.
■ Spy on appaloosas and other breeds of wild horses as they roam rugged canyons and plateaus at the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range.
20,500 Acres of National Park Service Lands
Colorado National Monument
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES:
■ Count 16 switchbacks in less than 2 miles on the original dirt road into the monument — the Serpent’s Trail — one of 15 hiking routes in the park.
■ Keep your eyes peeled for mule deer, coyotes, desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and smaller critters like lizards, Hopi chipmunks and rock squirrels.
■ Pedal from one end of the monument to the other on the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, a road open to motorists and seasoned cyclists featuring out-of-this-world panoramas of sheer-walled canyons and rock sculptures.
■ Book a free ranger-guided tour to find out how millions of years of erosion carved Rim Rock Drive’s stone tunnels or embark on a full-moon hike under a tapestry of stars.
400,000+ Acres of National Forests
Grand Mesa and Uncompahgre National Forests
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES:
■ Travel to Grand Mesa National Forest’s Trickle Park Reservoir area for wonderfully remote fishing and camping at Military Park and Stell reservoirs, just two of the 300 lakes on the Grand Mesa — the world’s largest flat-top mountain.
■ Discover kaleidoscopic wildflower views in the summer months on the 2-mile Carson Hole Trail in the Uncompahgre National Forest, about 35 miles south of Grand Junction.
■ Weave through aspen groves and pine forests on your ATV or dirtbike to enjoy gorgeous glimpses of the Dolores River Canyon on the Rim Road/Divide Forks ATV Complex in the Uncompahgre National Forest.
■ Ski or board more than 1,600 acres of mountain terrain in the winter at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, snuggled on the Grand Mesa’s northern edge.
36 Grand Junction City Parks
Columbine Park, Lincoln Park, Canyon View Park, Las Colonias Park, Cottonwood Meadows Park, Darla Jean Park, Westlake Park and more
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES:
■ Listen to the Lincoln Park Arboretum audio tour by calling 970-255-8733 to learn about the 69 types of trees planted in the green space.
■ Play a game of frisbee or sand volleyball, or simply let the little ones expel some energy at Columbine Park’s playground.
■ Catch a concert at Las Colonias Park Amphitheater, a 130-acre sanctuary on the banks of the Colorado River that celebrates the city’s proud multicultural history.
■ Let your four-legged friend stretch their legs while you soak in lovely views of the Book Cliffs at Canyon View Park’s off-leash dog park.
3 State Parks
James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park, Vega State Park and Highline Lake State Park
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES:
■ Bike or hike 7 miles of trails or fish for rainbow trout at Vega State Park, also a haven for ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
■ Choose from five distinct sections at James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park for activities ranging from stand-up paddleboarding to wildlife spotting: Island Acres, Corn Lake, Colorado River Wildlife Area, Connected Lakes and Fruita.
■ Boat, float, water ski, sail, SUP or lounge on the swim beach at Highline Lake State Park’s two bodies of water, or hike to the top of Mack Mesa for 360-degree views of the Grand Valley.
■ Pitch a tent amid lush greenery or colorful canyon vistas in the Island Acres and Fruita sections of James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park.
Browse park listings on page 41 and discover more unforgettable moments on our public lands at VisitGrandJunction.com/PublicLands.
Fun Fact
The highest peak in Mesa County is Leon Peak at 11,241 feet
Traveling with Your Pup?
Don’t fret! Most hiking routes in Grand Junction welcome leashed dogs, with the exception of Colorado National Monument, where dogs aren’t permitted on trails. Find dog-friendly trails on page 8 and learn more about visiting with your furry pal on page 32.
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