Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction

5 Hiking Trails to Explore near Mesa County, CO

Now that weather is turning and the Colorado temperatures are milder, it’s a great time to take advantage of all the beautiful nature surrounding us. Luckily, we live in a natural-wonder-packed part of the state with hundreds of miles of trails just waiting to be adventured upon. Check out five hiking trails near Mesa County, CO below!

Best 5 Scenic Hiking Trails near Grand Junction

Nature at Palisade Trail, CO

Serpents Trail

Grand Junction, CO

Serpents Trail is a moderate trail located near Devil’s Kitchen within the Colorado National Monument. It runs 1.75 miles one way and features 16 switchbacks that earned it the nickname “the crookedest road in the world.”

Palisade Rim Trail Head

Palisade, CO

The scenic Palisade Rim Trail is 13 miles long and can be finished between three and seven hours depending on the hiker’s abilities. It is dog-friendly and offers opportunities to mountain bike and ride horses.

Mesa Top Trail Head

Eckert, CO

Mesa Top Trail brings hikers through 7.7 miles of aspen and spruce, as well as open meadows. Hikers gain about 700 feet of elevation throughout the hike and there are hiking and backpacking opportunities available on the trail.  


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Grand Mesa National Forest

Crag Crest Trail

Grand Junction, CO

The Crag Crest National Trail is in the Grand Mesa National Forest and is a designated National Recreation Trail. It’s a 10.3-mile trail that can be accessed from both Island and Eggleston Lakes. It features a 6.5-mile crest portion and a 3.4-mile loop.

Canyon Rim and Window Rock Trails

Grand Junction, CO

Canyon Rim and Window Rock Trails combine for a 1.8-mile total hike in Colorado National Monument that provides hikers a beautiful view of Praying Hands and Independence Monument.

If you are interested in checking out other hikes in Colorado, check out this awesome article highlighting local hikes from the Visit Grand Junction. Need a vehicle to get you there? Check out our inventory! Thanks for reading!