We’re smack dab in the middle of mud season right not. Some of the trails are starting to dry out but it can be hard to find a good long section of dirt to rack up the miles on. Here are some great trails to run right now that are close enough for a day trip.
Rifle Falls Trail –
Rifle Falls is a true gem among the Colorado state parks, offering unmatched scenery and plenty of recreation.
The main attraction, Rifle Falls, can be heard from the parking area. The water thumps down against Rifle Creek and continues on through the park and down to Rifle Gap State Park.
Many caves and caverns exist near the waterfalls. There is one main cave to explore and several other smaller ones. Definitely bring a flash light so you can see inside. If you’re up for it, be prepared to crawl on your hands and knees at one point. The caves are calcium-rich, so your jeans will get dusty!
3 main trails within the park.
- Coyote Trail – is the most popular; 1.5 mile total, winds past the base of the falls and caves before looping back above the falls.
- Bobcat Trail – 1 mile, one-way, connects with the Rifle Falls State Fish Hatchery.
- Squirrel Trail – 1.5 mile, total, runs along Rifle Creek near camping.
You can run a number of these trails or hop on one of the many jeep roads in the area to log some extra miles.
Palisade Rim Trail –
The Palisade Rim Trail is a recently completed project that offers great views, petroglyphs and serious cliff-side hiking. The trail can be done as an out and back, or just the lower loop can be done, but the entire experience is a Grand Valley classic.
Park at the boat launch on HWY 6 just north of the trailhead rather than the shoulder of the road (illegal). Then head back south towards the trailhead and the start of the trail will be easy to locate. As with most trails in the area avoid this one after rain, especially the upper loop.
From the boat launch parking, go south along the road for a couple hundred yards to a large gate where the trail starts and follows an irrigation ditch for another couple hundred yards. The trail then starts climbing, steeply at times up great singletrack with some technical rock features along the way. This first section is the steepest on the loop.
The first climb follows great singletrack and technical rock sections across dry washes as it switchbacks up ~800 feet to the upper loop connector trail. The trail is great in either direction, but for simple navigating and great views, take a right at every junction and you’ll see all of the highlights.
When you reach the Upper Rim Loop, you’ll see signs indicating petroglyphs just off the trail near the junction. Check them out now if you want a break on the climb, or on the way down if you don’t want to break your flow. Follow signs for the Upper Loop and then stay right at the next junction. Amazing exposure along the rim awaits as you hike over rocky shale, packed dirt and slickrock. The back side of the loop heads away from the cliff’s edge and weaves in and out of washes to bring you back to the petroglyph junction. Head right again to see all of the trails and you’ll also get a better view into some of the side canyons. Stay right again at the final junction to end up back at the road.
Rattlesnake Arches and Pollock Bench-
This route links up some of the best canyon country wilderness in the Grand Valley. The second greatest concentration of arches outside of Arches National Park, singletrack that weaves along the cliff edge for miles and an abundance of solitude.
Starting from the Pollock Bench Trailhead, follow signage for the trail Pollock Bench Trail – P1 as it climbs up out of the parking lot. Around 1.6 miles there will be a junction, head left to enjoy theP1 – Pollock Bench Trail while cruising downhill. At the top of the next climb you’ll reach a junction with the Flume Canyon Trail network. Stay right to reach the spectacular section along the edge of the canyon’s rim. After a couple of miles on the edge you’ll reach a junction heading uphill to the right for horses, stay to the left along the canyon edge until you reach the next junction which should have signs directing you to go left onto the Rattlesnake Canyon Arches Trail – R1.
Once on the main trail, it is well marked with signposts, cairns and a well-worn track as it weaves in and out of washes, and over sandstone slick rock. After a long and loose climb up to the beginning of the long traverse, around mile 6 you’ll come to a junction with the Upper Rattlesnake Arches Trail. Go right, cruising over flat ground as you reach the final sandstone cliff formation. When you round the final corner, start looking up and left to see the arches. You’ll pass by a number of smaller arches, finally arriving at Rattlesnake Arch (the main event). Continue another quarter of a mile to the final arch (Cedar Arch). Here there will be a sign indicating you have reached the end of the trail. You can either turn around here, or scramble through the arch via some steep chopped steps (Class 3/4) and join the Upper Rattlesnake Arches Trail.
If you choose to scramble, go through the arch and head right to get on a doubletrack trail. At the first junction you reach, head left and down off the top of the mesa back to the trail you came up earlier. Retrace your steps all the way back to the junction with the P1 – Pollock Bench Trail. Take a left to join the P1 – Pollock Bench Trail, stay left at the next junction to avoid the horse cut-off, and then enjoy the smooth trail as it winds across the mesa top through grasses and cacti. Back at the first junction of the day, stay left to head back to the parking lot.