Maps and brochures for the book cliffs and mcinnis canyons areas are available at the grand junction blm field office, 2815 h road, 9702443000. The lbc was incorporated on september 11, 1889, by william thomas carpenter and several other prominent grand junction, colorado, business men. It is easier to summit peak under dry conditions since the ledges are exposed and slippery. Digging into the pocket of a nodule in the book cliffs area, working hard trying not to damage any crystals. The book cliffs are a series of desert mountains and cliffs in western colorado and eastern utah, in the. Grand junction, co is also classed as an ideal area. Complete information about the book cliffs mountain biking trail system in or near colorado national monument grand junction in colorado. The first part of the hike into little book cliffs is a little strenuous as you climb up and over a ridge to get into the canyons. As mountain bikers and hikers flock to moab for their outdoor fix before winter hits, grand junction, surrounded by the grand mesa, colorado national monument, and. Things to do in grand junction, colorado thrillist. Main canyon, coal canyon, cottonwood canyon and spring canyon. Since we ended up cutting our backpacking trip in the uncompahgre wilderness short by a day, i was free to go on an evening hike on the tellerico trail in the book cliffs for the labor day holiday. Home to wild horses, theres always something new to see or do in the bookcliffs. If these spaces are full, continue north around the bend to the window rock trail parking area and use the window rock trail to connect down to the canyon rim trail.
Book cliffsdesolation canyon region between price, utah and grand junction, colorado, highway 6 and interstate 70 cross 170 miles of barren and windswept terrain. The distinctive formations offer plenty of hiking, camping and more. This small area is known as the, little book cliffs and includes the western slopes famous peak, mt. The grand junction, colorado, area offers a variety of hiking trails that lead to. The most wellknown trails, called the lunch loops, are challenging, and endlessly fun. The little book cliffs wild horse area grand junction 2020 all. We chose this one because it was close and seemed step. The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. Access to the little book cliffs wild horse range requires a highclearance. Hiking groups in grand junction heres a look at some hiking groups near grand junction. Baryte and calcite found in concretions ranging from a half an inch to over 6 feet with some concretions in a linear configuration, up to the size of a sedansaloon. Part of the southern edge of this wsa is dominated by the 2,000foothigh face of the book cliffs. The little book cliff railway lbc was a 3 ft 914 mm narrow gauge that operated in colorado, united states, from 1889 to 1925. Garfield, as well as an overlook into grand junction, colorado.
Coal canyon is a hiking adventure located in or near grand junction, co. The desert mountains and cliffs that make up the bookcliffs also sometimes spelled book cliffs stretch. Garfield in the book cliffs formation northwest of grand junction. Colorado, grand junction, little book cliffs, menu. The grand mesa features over 300 lakes with fishing, hiking and photo ops galore. The palisade rim trail is located in the little book cliffs east of the town of palisade.
Mountains, rivers, lakes, desert, vineyards, canyons there is no place else in colorado where you can experience the intersection of so many prized ecosystems. And with the exception of a few privately held parcels of land, almost 96% of the 2. The book cliffs view shelter offers a panoramic view of wedding and monument canyons, as well as views of fruita and grand junction, the book cliffs, and the grand mesa. Warm evening light on corcoran point shortly before sunset in the book cliffs near grand junction. Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah, the book cliffs are the worlds largest continuous escarpment. A few sections require your hands to get up some boulders class 2. There are 2 ways to get from book cliffs to grand junction by taxi, bus or car. This trail has long been on my todo list of local hikes and. Book cliff mountains, grand junction, colorado went hiking here once. Book cliffs to grand canyon national park 5 ways to. We drove to the little book cliffs wild horse area. Grand junction, home to the colorado national monument, has a solid network of trails.
These four larger systems are also accompanied by many smaller side canyons. Event participants must park in the saddlehorn picnic parking lot. The trail is located off of exit 46 on i70, the cameo exit east of grand junction and palisade. The little book cliffs wild horse area, grand junction. Peak 6100 is a beautiful peak located at the entry to the main canyon of the book cliffs. The little book cliffs wild horse area grand junction. The desert mountains and cliffs that make up the bookcliffs also sometimes spelled book cliffs stretch almost 200 miles across western colorado and eastern utah. After a couple of miles there is a large parking lot with trailhead signs for hiking. The city has a lot of stories to tell, playing home to gunfights, miners, criminals, and more over the years, but is now most commonly linked with wine production and classed as a fine city to visit for links with other areas like the nearby colorado national monument, book cliffs, and more.
The little book cliffs wilderness study area is characterized by gentlysloping plateaus, various small canyons, and four major canyon systems. Little book cliffs wild horse area hma bureau of land. Hiking, camping, and wild horses near grand junction. The wild horse area is characterized by four major canyon systems falling to gentle sloping plateaus covered in. The mancos formation and its stratigraphic equivalent to the east known as the pierre shale, often contain concretions. There are many lines up the book cliffs in grand junction, co. These colorado cliffs look like books on a shelf outthere colorado. Grand junction, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, is home to diverse landscapes like colorado national monument, grand mesa, book cliffs and the colorado river. The city of grand junction is located in the grand valley at the confluence of the gunnison and colorado rivers. Colorado national monument adjoins mcinnis canyons to the east and provides additional hiking trails. The economic development division was created to foster programs and partnerships to achieve that vision. The little book cliffs wild horse range is located in northwest colorado, about 8 miles northeast of grand junction. Best trails in little book cliffs wilderness study area. Directions there are two routes to access the little bookcliffs wsa.
Cross over the colorado river and continue on the dirt road good for all cars. From grand junction take i70 east to the cameo exit. The book cliffs are an enormous area that spans two states. One of the most popular hikes on the book cliffs is to the top of mount. There are really nice views of the cliffs that extend north from mt. Hiking trails in the grand junction, colorado and surrounding area. The longest trail in little book cliffs wilderness study area is ute a wellknown trail measuring 11. Grand junction and fruita are only a few miles apart, so you dont even have to choose. See more ideas about grand junction colorado, utah and colorado plateau. Many times these concretions are quite fossiliferous while others contain beautiful crystals of barite andor calcite. Mount garfield, a palisade at the pinnacle of the book cliffs, looks down on the town of palisade, located on the east end of the. The elevations listed above are a little deceiving. Nestled between the book cliffs and the colorado national monument, grand junction is the largest city between denver and salt. The bookcliffs define the skyline of grand junction.
A nodule where a pocket of barite and calcite crystals may have been found, in the book cliffs area. Activities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and photography. Arizona 6 colorado 947 new mexico 45 utah 530 nevada 27 wildflowers. The trail is aptly named as it runs along the edge of the cliffs in many places offering some rather precipitous views of the grand junction area from a vantage point some feet above the valley floor. Little book cliffs wilderness study area has 17 trails in the vicinity, including 16 hiking trails, for trail running and 14 for other activities. The 2019 budget book cover shows apano ramic night time view of the city of grand junction looking east from the colorado national monument towards the lit tle book cliffs to the left and grand mesa to the right. Make sure to visit the lunch loops the next time you come to camp in fruita. The peak is easily approachable from us interstate 70 and offers a nice scrambling opportunity. Looking for a local nursery and landscaping company in the grand junction, co area. Garfield as the highest point of the book cliffs, north of grand junction, and overlooking the town of palisade. Book cliffs to grand junction 2 ways to travel via taxi. The drive would be lonely but for a constant companion. The mountain was named after president james garfield a year after garfields death. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner.
The tellerico trail is located in the little book cliffs wild horse range north of grand junction, colorado. A trio of climbers hike in the colorado national monument near grand junction, colorado photo mike mccoy. Your guide to the grand junction bookcliffs rmhp blog. Hubby and i were looking for a nice easy hike since we spent a whole day on the top of the mountains the day before and wanted to see something different. Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah. Book cliff mountains, grand junction, colorado this is just one of the amazing views i have every day. In grand junction, they define the regions impressive skyline and offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun and recreation. On the northern skyline, the book cliffs can be seen along i70 heading west to the utah border and beyond, towering over the valley. The book cliffs appear mostly along the southern and western edge of the tavaputs plateau. Beginning in the floor of the valley the trail follows a route that leads to the top of the little books cliffs near corcoran point.
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