Nestled up against the book cliffs in the 18 road area, this route keeps the uphill challenge to a. The book cliff mines were coal mines located near grand junction, colorado, united states. The ride starts at the 18 road bookcliffs recreation area and takes you high up into the book cliffs. Directions take interstate 70 west to fruita exit 19. A free backpacking permit is required before starting your overnight adventure. The longest trail in little book cliffs wilderness study area is ute a wellknown trail measuring 11. If a campground has remained open and you choose to cancel your reservation, the participating agencies of recreation. Edge loop ride fruita 2020 all you need to know before. Campground amenities at many parks include restrooms, fullelectrical hookups and shower facilities. Home to wild horses, theres always something new to. Why fruita, colorado is a mountain bikers paradise. Located outside grand junction and fruita, co, this small national monument is a little gem.
The distinctive formations offer plenty of hiking, camping and more. Enjoy world class single track mountain biking trails as well as designated routes for offhighway vehicles, hiking, and horseback riding. The book cliffs are a range of eroding, steepsloping cliffs, also called escarpments. Fruita also provides a group campground for up to 36 people. Hundreds of miles of worldclass mountain biking trails such as the kokopelli trail. With all the options you can mix up the start and finish. The trail was built by a consortium of local groups and the blm as a recreational venue for dirt bikes, mountain bikes, hikers and equestrians. Informed rvers have rated 16 campgrounds near fruita, colorado. Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah, the book cliffs are the worlds largest continuous escarpment. Cpw issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority. The 30 best campgrounds near grand junction, colorado. Excellent variety of trails for all levels of rider.
Whether you have offroad toys, such as mountain bikes or atvs, or if you just want a relaxing evening or weekend away, youll find what youre looking for. For an introductory whitewater experience packed with scenery, sweet campsites, and the ability to bring your fourlegged, furry friends, look no further than ruby horsethief canyon on the colorado river. Highline lake state park, colorado camping reservations. The fruita section of the campground provides views out to the bookcliffs and.
Just eight miles northeast of grand junction, the little book cliffs wild horse area encompasses more than 36,000 acres of rugged canyons and plateaus. Desert camping with views of the book cliffs nicholas highline lake state park. Best places for camping in fruita colorado pedal adventures. Jouflas campground rabbit valley is open march to middecember. Very close to grand junction, fruita serves as a bedroom community for many who work in grand junction. Book cliffs view, fruita, colorado trail run project. Beginning in the floor of the valley the trail follows a route that leads to the top of the little books cliffs near corcoran point. The bookcliffs define the skyline of grand junction. There are concrete picnic tables, fire pits with metal grates, and toiletsone for every 5 or 8 campsites. Further, being located on the banks of the colorado river and having the book cliffs to the north, plus having colorado national monument and thousands of acres of public land nearby, the town is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts. North fruita ohv area, book cliffs, layton wash, coal gulch, edge loop, ross ridge, hunter canyon, eighteen road campground, chutes, frontside, joes ridge, zippity. With over 3,900 campsites, and 50 cabins and yurts located throughout the state. I drive this trail during late fall and winter, because of the cooler temperatures, and the lack of. North fruita desert campground, 18 road camping outdoor project.
Adjacent to the fremont river and surrounded by historic orchards, this developed campground has 71 sites. Turn north onto cherry street and take the first right onto aspen avenue. The grand junction field office manages more than one million acres of public lands surrounding the western slopes largest population center. The moab region, including arches and canyonlands national parks, is an easy day trip only 100 miles to the west. The elevations listed above are a little deceiving. Camping in colo rado is a great way to revisit the simplicity of nature. Ninety minutes closer to denver than utahs fattire hub and tucked against the colorado river and colorado national monument, fruita s kokopelli trail system boasts the same soughtafter red rock featureswith a lot less highway time. For classic redrock camping, head to the colorado national monument. A handful of chain motels and local inns are scattered throughout fruita, but most visitors are. At the north end of the area lie the book cliffs, one of the longest, continuous. Grand junction field office bureau of land management. People on the front range make monthly pilgrimages to this epic spot for desert camping and mountain biking. Reserve a campsite online or learn more about lodging and activities at highline. The fruita campground is often described as an oasis within the desert.
Closest town in fruita with laundry, groceries, library, shops, restaurants, dispensery, and liquor. This is a great place to hike, especially in the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the horses are readily seen. Robb colorado river state park, are great optio ns. My book lists saddlehorn and highline as the best with divide fork, hay press, island acres and colorado river state park as other options. View grand junctions wild horses visit grand junction. Truthfully, this area is more of a car camping area with some nice day hikes. North fruita desert recreation area colorado motorcycle. Go through the roundabout and continue on aspen to maple street. Dispersed camping near fruita, mountain bike trip fruita forum. Colorado parks and wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Books cliff view overlook, colorado national monument. This is an awesome stretch of blm land about five miles from the city with views of the book cliffs. Nearby are renowned mountain biking trails, dinosaur sites and red rock hiking.
And with the exception of a few privately held parcels of land, almost 96% of the 2. Rv parks in fruita, colorado top 16 campgrounds near. There are 58 individual campsites, and each site contains a fire ring with a grate and a picnic. Note that while marijuana is legal in colorado, it is still illegal in federal lands blm, nfs, nps, etc. The geography is identified by the bordering colorado river historically known as the grand river on the southern edge of town, the uncompahgre plateau known for its pinyonjuniper landscape, and the book cliffs range on the northern edge of the grand valley. When the sun goes down, theres plenty of camping, and a few okay motels, to be had around fruita. Head north on cherry street and take the first right onto aspen avenue. The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. The bike trails can be accessed from either 18 rd or 16 rd just north of the town of fruita. Camping near black mesa state park is easy with hipcamp, where private landowners offer oneofakind camping experiences.
Camping in capitol reef capitol reef national park u. Aweinspiring natural beauty and the dramatic red rock landscape of the colorado national monument. Here, an insiders guide for mountain biking in fruita, with trails listed in the recommended order in which you might like to tackle them. Primitive camping at the popular bookcliffs mountain biking area a few miles north of fruita off 18 road located north of fruita occupying. Jouflas campground rabbit valley mack, colorado free. Capitol reef offers two free primitive campgrounds in more remote parts of the park. The tellerico trail is located in the little book cliffs wild horse range north of grand junction, colorado. The 71site fruita campground is the only developed campground in capitol reef. If these spaces are full, continue north around the bend to the window rock trail parking area and use the window rock trail to connect down to the canyon rim trail. Views of the grand valley and the bookcliffs and colorado national monument. The area is especially popular in the spring and fall, when. This is a great start for your weekend and a perfect intro to fruita. The area is especially popular in the spring and fall, when mountain trails are still covered in snow and the desert isnt too hot. Many parks also offer campsites or cabins for large groups.
Blm site in grand junction colorado right below the bookcliff mountains. The compact campground, sitting at the southwest corner of 160acre highline lake, offers 31 shaded and grassy campsites for tents, rvs, and trailers. Find colorado campgrounds, rv parks, rental cabins, safari tents, glamping yurts or other lodging options among premier camping destinations in colorado. Camping and campgrounds in highline lake state park, colorado. The book cliffs are an enormous area that spans two states. Wake up to valley views from your tent or rv site in the saddlehorn campground. Mountain bike the book cliffs, north fruita desert campground. Each site has a picnic table and firepit andor above ground grill, but no individual water, sewage, or electrical hookups. Red rocks, canyons, beautiful wildflowers in the spring and even desert bighorn above on the canyon walls. Youll want to camp with the cool kids on 18 road, also known as the book cliffs. Colorado is home to more than,000 campsites, from state lands to federal ones and private sites. Colorado s 1st national monument is a true hidden gem. Exhilarating outdoor adventures including hiking, camping or skiing on the grand mesa. Fruita colorado offers several camping options, our usual goto spot is right by the trails on 18rd.
Robb state park has camping along the banks of the colorado river. Little book cliffs wilderness study area has 17 trails in the vicinity, including 16 hiking trails, for trail running and 14 for other activities. The sarlacc trail is located in the little book cliffs above the 18 roadnorth fruita desert area north of fruita, colorado. Seeing the wild horses at the little book cliffs wild horse area is a great day trip for hikers, bikers or horseback riders.
When you come to the dirt road continue another mile until you see a large brown sign and multiple pull offs. Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the area however north fruita desert campground offers. Most trails run up and down the cattle pastures while a couple run along the base of the book cliffs. Right across the border from worldfamous moab, its only slightly lesser known. By the time grand junction was three years old, it had become apparent to its citizens that they needed a good coal supply if. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of colorado s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. The mostly flatwater 25mile stretch runs through the red sandstone canyons of mcinnis canyon national conservation area, which borders colorado and utah. Surrounded by magnificent but easily accessible mountains the grand mesa, the colorado national monument, and the book cliffs, as well as hundreds of acres of public land, fruita offers the best in highdesert adventure getaways. Bookcliff campground at highline lake state park west of grand junction is one of the best and most popular summer camping areas on colorado s western slope. Colorado backcountry biker offers selfguided, supported, multiday huttohut trips on the uncompahgre plateau and runs a fullservice bike shop and rental facility. Incredible whitewater rafting on the colorado river. The book cliffs trail system consists of five interconnecting trails chutes, edge loop, frontside, prime ribjoes ridge, and zippity on both single and double track. Other than that, this is a great trail, with everything ranging from forest trails to cliff views, to moonscapes. Edge loop is a other mountain bike trail in fruita, colorado.
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