Posted by Doug Andrews on July 12, 2006 at 4:09 PM
I'm going to be in Grand Junction first part of next week on business and I'll have some free time (an afternoon). I've only been upto Grand Mesa in April and everything was still snowed in. Anyone have any suggestions for scenic spots or trails up there to give my camera a little workout. Thanks.
Maybe Art will pipe up here soon.
I know the south side fairly well (access from Hotchkiss Paonia area) but not the north side, which is closer to Grand Junction. Although I've been at the top and bottom of Lands End Road I've never driven it - I hear it's quite a drive straight up the west end of the Mesa, lots of switch backs and a heck of view from up top. You head south on Hwy. 50 just past Whitewater and take a left at Kannah Creek. I'm pretty sure it's marked.
The views into the West Elks are magnificent from the southeast side (Overland Reservoir and Leroux creek area) but that might be too much driving for one afternoon.
The scenic byway drive is nice and may be your best bet for the time. Take the Colbran exit off of I-70 and just keep going on over the mesa to 92 on the other side and back to GJ through Delta. You can access the "top" of lands end from this route also.
I haven't been on Crag Crest trail on top but I hear it's very nice with some great views.
I drove up the Lands End Road a few days ago. The road is in great shape.
At the top, I turned left at the Forest Service Visitors Center. This is the old road.
The flowers were fantastic. I also went out the Flowing Park Road to the south.
If you are after columbines, the oldest, biggest bunches are located below the
campground on Island lake, and on the east end of Alexander Lake.
Discussion
3 repliesI know the south side fairly well (access from Hotchkiss Paonia area) but not the north side, which is closer to Grand Junction. Although I've been at the top and bottom of Lands End Road I've never driven it - I hear it's quite a drive straight up the west end of the Mesa, lots of switch backs and a heck of view from up top. You head south on Hwy. 50 just past Whitewater and take a left at Kannah Creek. I'm pretty sure it's marked.
The views into the West Elks are magnificent from the southeast side (Overland Reservoir and Leroux creek area) but that might be too much driving for one afternoon.
The scenic byway drive is nice and may be your best bet for the time. Take the Colbran exit off of I-70 and just keep going on over the mesa to 92 on the other side and back to GJ through Delta. You can access the "top" of lands end from this route also.
I haven't been on Crag Crest trail on top but I hear it's very nice with some great views.
At the top, I turned left at the Forest Service Visitors Center. This is the old road.
The flowers were fantastic. I also went out the Flowing Park Road to the south.
If you are after columbines, the oldest, biggest bunches are located below the
campground on Island lake, and on the east end of Alexander Lake.
Art Lund
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2103/print_n_go.html
http://www.grandmesabyway.org/LandsEnd.htm