Looking for the most iconic hike in Grand Junction? There is one hike in town that divides the true residents from the rest — Mt. Garfield! If you're looking for a great climb, views of our beautiful city and maybe even a wild horse sighting, then Mt. Garfield is for you! But beware, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Averaging 1,000/ft a mile your lungs and legs will feel it, but don't worry the view from the top makes up for it all!
Make sure to take lots of water and snacks. Caution: Do not hike if the trail is wet!!
Click here for Directions to the Trail Head
The Colorado National Monument is practically our backyard in Grand Junction and has multiple options for hiking, sightseeing and climbing! The park has many different hikes to choose from and offers anything from casual strolls to long hauls. If you aren't much for hiking, you can even just drive through the park to stop and check out the multiple view points.
For more information on the Colorado National Monument, check out the National Park Service Website
Lunch Loops Trailhead offers a myriad of outdoor desert activities particularly mountain bike and trail running. Adjacent to the Colorado National Monument, Lunch Loops offers 6.5 miles of trails with challenging terrain and beautiful landscape views. The trailhead is located about ten minutes from CMU’s campus.
For more information, check out the BLM trailhead webpage.
Right across the street from the Lunch Loops Trailhead is a wonderland of red rock climbing at Dynamite Shacks bouldering area! The area offers various boulders, such as Millenium Falcon and Joe 97, with levels ranging from V0 to V8.
For more infomation on the specific boulders, check out the Dynamite Shacks Mountain Project webpage.
The Quarry Wall offers climbing in the cliffs of the Uncompahgre Plateau, about 45 from CMU. The approach to the wall involves a somewhat technical hiking descent to a flat base area, providing plenty of room for setup. The area offers trad, sport, and toprope routes, with levels ranging from 5.7 to 5.12c.
For more information, check out the Mountain Project Quarry Wall Complex webpage.
For approximate directions to the Quarry Wall, click here.
Along with the vast forest and numerous lakes that the top of Grand Mesa offers, there are also over 3,500 miles of hiking trails maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. These hikes range in length and difficulty, and because the area is so expansive, the trails are rarely crowded. Craig’s Crest is a popular out-and-back hike that is 12 miles roundtrip, and includes a ridge section that yields a beautiful view of the National Forest on either side. The drive up the Mesa is usually around 1.5 hours, but the stunning views and broad natural access makes the trip worthwhile.
For more information on specific hikes, check out AllTrails' Grand Mesa Hikes webpage.