March and April are the perfect months for a Grand Junction adventure

By Steve Graham

Deep springtime snow is a given in much of Colorado. But the mesas and high desert of Mesa County are typically dry and warm in the spring. And with 76 percent of the area around Grand Junction preserved as public land, recreation opportunities abound.

“If there’s something that you’re interested in, there’s probably an opportunity to do that here,” said Arlene Jackson, chief of interpretation at Colorado National Monument.

Grand Junction is flanked by Grand Mesa, known for great mountain biking trails, and the Colorado National Monument, which is not a monument or statue.

“We are so much more than that,” Jackson said.

Rather, it is a large outdoor playground for hikers and cyclists, with massive spires, canyons and climbs, and a captivating night sky.

“At night, it’s a dark sky zone providing a spectacular starscape in the clear desert sky,” said Elizabeth Fogarty, director of Visit Grand Junction.

To find less crowded adventures, drive past the monument to McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area, a 123,000-acre wilderness of canyons with the second highest concentration of arches in North America.

Chris Hermann is interim executive director of the Colorado Canyons Association, which works to protect and preserve McInnis Canyon and two other nearby conservation areas.

“We want to make sure they stay as they are,” he said. “The flipside of that is making sure that we don’t love them to death.”

To that end, his group advocates “leave no trace” recreation. He wants everyone to stay on marked trails, pack out all waste and respect wildlife.

He said the past year brought huge increases in visitation for these areas. With many recreation activities closed during COVID-19 lockdowns, more hikers, bikers and motorists were traveling through, and jeopardizing fragile cryptobiotic soil and other parts of the ecosystem.

Park officials ask that you respect the environment and wildlife while hiking, biking and horseback riding in and around all these recreation areas during the warm, dry spring.

The following are some activities in the Grand Junction area.

Hiking

Jackson said early spring often brings comfortable hiking temperatures and few visitors to Colorado National Monument. By April, temperatures and crowds are increasing. Also, a variety of wildflowers, including cactus, bloom in March and April.

Throughout spring, trails tend to dry out earlier around the monument than on the Front Range.

“The soil is a lot rockier and sandier,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s favorite spring hike in the monument is No Thoroughfare Canyon, which passes some natural pools and small waterfalls, and is among the greenest areas in spring.

“If you’re careful and quiet, you can see the frogs and toads back there,” she said.

You might even catch migratory birds and bighorn sheep with their lambs.

Hermann said he is often hiking in shorts and t-shirts by March, and he enjoys the relative isolation of the McInnis Canyon area. He suggests the Rabbit Ears hike in Rabbit Valley, a short drive off Interstate 70 west of Fruita (note that Google Maps can’t help you find the trailhead. Consult a local or a guide).

“It gets you up to places where you can see the river,” said Hermann. “If the weather is right, you can see the La Sal Mountains.”

He said hikers also likely won’t run into ATV or mountain bike traffic.

After any of these hikes, replenish your fluids and calories at Ramblebine Brewing Company, a new taphouse with an attached food truck in Grand Junction.

Mountain biking

Outside Fruita, the Kokopelli trails comprise 26 routes and 49 miles of riding that blends death-defying ridges, technical descents and flat desert cruising. The trails have something for everyone, including a connection to a 140-mile ride to the mountain biking mecca of Moab, Utah.

Hermann said the secret is now out about the Pollock Bench Trail in McInnis Canyon, a 5-mile lollipop loop of desert singletrack for either hikers or mountain bikers.

On the other side of Grand Junction, the first phase of the Palisade Plunge Trail is slated to open this spring, offering 17 miles of singletrack dropping from Grand Mesa into Palisade.

Time it right and you can celebrate the adrenaline rush at Peach Street Distillers or Talbott’s Cider Company. Both make craft beverages in Palisade, sometimes with the legendary local peaches.

Road biking

The 23-mile Rim Rock Drive through Colorado National Monument is one of the top rides in the state, and was a highlight of the old Coors International Bicycle Classic. With 2,300 feet of climbing over stunning vistas, it is a great way to see the area and get a serious workout.

Try to hit the road early in the morning. The rising sun on the mesas is stunning, and vehicle traffic is at a minimum. Park crews minimized the number of guardrails, and the shoulder is mostly narrow to non-existent, so slow your roll and keep your eyes peeled. It’s also recommended to ride with lights at any time of day, especially for visibility in tunnels.

The route ends in Fruita, and cyclists can recover at Copper Club Brewing Company, known as “Fruita’s Living Room,” before taking a flat shortcut back to Grand Junction.

Horseback riding

The Little Book Cliffs area is just north of Grand Junction. Roughly 36,000 acres of rugged canyons can be reached on horseback, and is one of the remaining wild horse habitats in the nation. Ride horses to visit wild horses.

Reach the area off a dirt road from the Cameo exit on Interstate 70. The gate to the area is locked until May 1, but hikers and horseback riders can enter year-round. Rimrock Adventures in Fruita offers guided horseback rides for those who want to explore the sanctuary.

After a day in the saddle, head back to Grand Junction and stop for a drink at Highlands Distillery, which also offers tours.

There is plenty to do in Grand Junction. The Art on the Corner program has brought more than 100 sculptures to the downtown area, which has plenty of restaurants, galleries and an ax-throwing bar.

Also, paddleboarding and rafting on the Colorado River starts up again in the spring.

Finally, the city hopes to host some concerts again this summer at a new amphitheater in Las Colonias Park.

As always, check local businesses and guides for the latest restrictions and information about COVID-19.

Steve Graham is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor who takes his two boys biking, hiking and brewery-hopping in northern Colorado.