Feeler: Grand Junction trails mid June

[Java]

Hoping to be in Grand Junction / Fruita area around June 17 or so, and want to do some easy / moderate trails with some hiking too focusing more on cool places than 4x4 challenges as I'll have my wife along. Bangs Canyon Playground, Rattlesnake Canyon, Rabbit Valley, Escalante Canyon, Divide Road, the Debeque Wild Horse area, Grand Mesa and the Dolores Triangle are things I'm considering. There's camping, tons of cheap hotels, VRBOs, lots of options.

[Gretchen]

I'll be up in that area June 12-15 doing the Calamity Mesa Loop.

[Java]

That is a scary trail! :thumb: My June time off starts on the 15th, maybe we can wave to each other on the highway when I'm heading out and you're heading back.

[Java]

Tabeguache Trail between Highway 141 and Bangs Canyon. I've done part of this on the Bangs Canyon side as well as the hikes from the same trailhead, it's awesome, like being in Moab. The trail has been completed to 141 and looks amazing. On the 141 end it's just a few minutes from 402 / Divide Road, which connects to a great place full of historic stuff called Escalante Canyon. Hoping to run it on Friday June 17th or Saturday the 18th.

This begins at Bangs Canyon Trailhead. That Toyota...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwNM5vY6aAk

These guys run it in the reverse direction, from 141 to Bangs Canyon:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abGFvSxOyog

[DaveO]

We are going to be in GJ that weekend too (17-20).
Camping at the KOA in town because we are planning on hitting a few of the breweries/distilleries in town, but could meet for a trail, or two, or drinks... lol We won't be hiking/biking because our dog hurt her ankle/paw last week and we know she will try to overdo it if we hike/bike and she is supposed to take it easy for six weeks.

[Java]

We're still figuring out what we'll be doing, might be staying on Grand Mesa atleast one night. We're considering the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Smith Mountain Jeep Trail one day with a hike at https://www.gjhikes.com/2013/05/gunnison-gorge-wilderness-ute-trail.html but don't have anything set yet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuPlnwryMlU

[Java]

Looks like this has morphed into a Black Canyon of the Gunnison trip plus Peach Valley and Smith Mountain Road Loop, probably do Grand Junction / Moab in the fall instead.

Here's some resources, just FYI:

Starting from Peach Valley: https://www.jeeptheusa.com/smith-mountain-20.html

Extending the Smith Mountain road into a loop, this is a hiking site but he did it on a bike and recommends an OHV: https://www.gjhikes.com/2018/02/smith-mountain-loop.html

Great map of the area: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/GGNCAbro_webfriendly.pdf

Hiking Curecanti: https://www.nps.gov/cure/planyourvisit/hiking.htm https://www.gjhikes.com/2012/12/curecanti-national-recreation-area.html

Hiking Black Canyon: https://www.gjhikes.com/2012/12/black-canyon-national-park.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuMz-sl67RQ

[Java]

Most likely going to basecamp out of Hartman Rocks: https://www.blm.gov/visit/hartman-rocks-recreation-area


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n49bky8bJkg

[Tom]

Most likely going to basecamp out of Hartman Rocks: https://www.blm.gov/visit/hartman-rocks-recreation-area


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n49bky8bJkg
Long way from the Black Canyon. At least 1 hr maybe 1.5.

Nice area though. We used to have our high school keggers out there. Was sleeping there in my car one time when the Gunnysack police came and practiced shooting their tommy gun.

[Java]

It's such a nice area, not typical Colorado and it's so close to gas and stuff. I drive longer than that to trailheads all the time, plus we're hiking three trails in Curecanti which is right there: Pine Creek, Mesa Creek and Hermits Rest. I also want to check out the Blue Mesa and Sapinero Cutoff roads. We're going to drive to both sides of the Black Canyon park and hike Chasm View, drive the East Portal road and see all the overlooks, and there's a road and hike in the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness that looks good, so no matter where we are coming from it's a lot of road time. It's a fluid situation anyway, road construction on 50 may be a game changer when the time comes. No set plans, just posting this stuff incase anyone else isn't aware of these areas.

[Jim]

Thumbs up for Black Canyon of the Gunnison. I've been to both sides - east side, as I recall, is more remote / lesser traveled.

Some day I'll drive down to the river...

[DaveO]

We will do some exploring while we are there.
Always wanted to go back (with the Jeep) since we visited there with the Hot Rod power tour many years ago!

Thanks for all of the ideas!!