After reading the GJmole article by Rika Evans about her trip up to Mount Garfield, I started thinking about all of the great hiking trails that the western slope has to offer. I took a quick poll from some local outdoor lovers, and compiled a top 10 list of their favorite hikes:
Hanging Lake, Glenwood Springs
- Mount Garfield: A four mile hike takes you to the highest point (6,765 feet) of the Bookcliffs, the trailhead is located just west of Palisade, overlooking stunning views of the Grand Valley.
- Hanging Lake: Located off of I-70 East of Glenwood Springs, this 1000 ft. trail leads up to a beautiful crystal clear turquoise lake and waterfall.
- Crag Crest Trail- Grand Mesa: Hiking up this ridge provides brilliant 360 degrees of the best views in Colorado.
- Rattlesnake Canyon: Located in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and contains the second largest concentration of natural arches in the country.
- Morning Glory Arch, Moab: Located in Negro Bill Canyon, the trail follows a stream up to a large natural bridge.
- Liberty Cap- Colorado National Monument: A wide, scenic desert canyon that winds through a lush pinion-juniper forest found on the monument.
- Monument Canyon Trail- Colorado National Monument: Takes you on a 6 mile hike beside many of the Colorado National Monument’s most popular rock sculptures including Independence Monument, Kissing Couple, and the Coke Ovens.
- Rifle Falls: An easy half-mile trail to the top of the falls, with several vantage points along the way. The trail is
Morning Glory Arch, Moab
located north of Rifle.
- Rifle Arch: Drive north from Rifle on Highway 13 and you will reach the trailhead. The 60 foot tall sandstone arch spans nearly 150 feet wide and overlooks the Colorado River Valley.
- The Kannah Creek trail: Passes through a variety of Colorado ecosystems as the trail plunges from Colorado’s largest flat topped mountain, the Grand Mesa.
Please feel free to leave comments about more of your favorite western slope hikes!!
Colorado National Monument, Fruita
Great list!
FWIW the Grand Mesa is not only the largest flat top mountain in Colorado, but in the World.