Hiking

\ Kindred Reserve is a city park located next to Tiara Rado Golf Course. It is fairly new. In the past, everyone seemed delighted in the easy, level hike. We will see views of the majestic Colorado National Monument, a stream, a woodland, and a peaceful lake. It is about 2 miles, accounting for some backtracking, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

In order to allow for daytime warmup, and following suggestions from the survey, we will meet Thursday at 1000 AM, at the specially marked parking lot at 2064 S. Broadway. The lot is just West of the driving range parking lot. To get there go South on Redlands Parkway (Think 24 Road) until it turns into South Broadway.

For this week, here is one of the all-time favorites for this group: Rustlers Loop. This McInnis Canyon area hike has great views of the cliffs high above the Colorado River. It is about 3.5 miles and about 100 foot elevation gain, one of our easiest and fun for all. Meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey Museum, East side of the parking lot at the later time of 10:00. We will carpool to the trailhead. Even though we will start late, the temperatures will be in the 30s with full sun. Dress warmly. Maybe afterward, we can eat at the award-winning Fruita restaurant, Munchies. Up to you...

The hike this week starts out in the Devil's Canyon Parking lot and goes South on Sadie's trail and shares hiking with several other trails in the area.  It is mostly easy, with a short moderate part of the hike.  Elevation gain is 100-200 feet and the hiking time is about 2 hours.  It will be sunny with temps in the 30's. Dress warmly.  

We will meet in Fruita at 10AM to  (to let things warm up) at  Dinosaur Journey parking lot, East side and carpool to the hiking site.  Lunch and social time at Munchies,  up to you

The hike this week is Snooks Bottom,  which is a lake park in Fruita and then proceed to top Opal Hill. 

Snooks Bottom  is an area off Kings View Road, where we will circle the lake for about 1.2 miles of fairly flat trail and then proceed to the nearby Opal Hill, where we will hike to the top for another 2.8 miles.

This Thursday we will hike in McInnis Canyons to an old settler's cabin that has been partially restored to preserve its rustic appearance, known as Skinner's Cabin. According to one hiker, " It's a super easy trail with beautiful rock formations and fun and informative placards" This hike is so short that we will combine it with the nearby Fruita Paleo Trail. On this trail you can read the informative geological and paleontological signs, close your eyes and imagine that you are walking amid the dinosaurs. 🦕🦕 🦕 Total for the 2 hikes is less than 3.5 miles and 200 feet elevation gain. Hike time, about 2 hours. It should be sunny 🌞 and cold, around 30 degrees. Jim is to be thanked for suggesting these 2 hikes and will be leading, as I need to be out of town Thursday.

Note: As with last week, There is a slight chance that the atmospheric river, now hitting California , may cause a weather problem here again. Watch this space for more information. As usual if it rains at hiking time, the hike will be cancelled. Otherwise we should have a good hike.

We will meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey Thursday, at 10:00 (Still late). We will then carpool to the trailheads. Afterwards, we may find ourselves at Munchies. Who knows?

This week we will hike along the Riverfront Trail. The hike will follow the hard surface walkway along the scenic Colorado river,  with sightings of ravens, geese and ducks likely.   You will see the sunlight glinting off bales of recycled cans and colored bottles.  Y'all recycle, right?  We will go under a large bridge (guess which one?) where you will see interesting artwork, including a man who has very large teeth but cannot bite. You will visit a community that you may not even know exists, that includes a fine park area that could potentially accommodate an undercover seated party of 60.  The hike will be about 2 hours, and 4 miles out and back.  There are 4 benches along the way for those who tire during their walk.  If you wish, you could just sit and enjoy the river and wait for the others to return to pick you up.  

 Now that it is warmer, we will go back to the old time of 0845 to meet for the carpool.  It will be bright and sunny with temps in the 40's.   To reach the Redlands Boat Launch carpool meetup location,  from 24 Road, cross 6&50 South on to Redlands Parkway.  Turn at the Redlands Boat Launch and park in the large parking lot.  Lunch or coffee afterward, if you wish. 

Once in a while, it is good to hike Serpent's Trail on the Monument.  This is a more difficult hike since there is elevation gain, but it is a favorite.  If you think it is too hard, you can rest on a rock with me until the others come back down.  The weather will be good, temps in the 50's, and sunny. Great views of the CNM.  We will meet at the Devil's Kitchen parking area at 0900.  (First right as you go into the monument from Junction) Why don't we meet at the easy-place?  Cause the location is popular and there will not be enough spaces for us all.  The CNM is a fee area.  Most Seniors have park passes.  If you do not, contact me to get a ride in.  

Hikes are easy-going, reasonably paced and typically 3-5 miles. They are either a loop or out-and-back, usually with less than 200 feet of elevation increase. Typically, we meet at a location and carpool to the trailheads. We meet every Thursday at 8:45 a.m. weather permitting to finalize plans and decide on carpools and depart at 9 am.

It is time for an easy hike again, one that has little elevation change. We have done most of the riverside trail between Clifton and Fruita; but one section we have not completed until now: the middle section. We will start near the river confluence that made Grand Junction come to importance, founded near the junction of the Colorado (formerly called the Grand) and the Gunnison River. We will learn about the 1882 bank robbery by Robert Parker, later known as Butch Cassidy. We will cross under the 5-span railroad trestle (A train was going through when I checked it out.) and the 5th street Bridge with the support piers covered with art. We will pass close to the Colorado river and view waterfowl. We will find out where you can play frisbee golf. You will learn where Grand Junction has it's Renaissance Festival. We will walk near the Botanical Garden and view the DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution) Memorial Garden and the Pollinator Garden. The out-and-back walk will be about 4 miles and 2 hours. There are many benches alongside the path that you may rest until the group returns, or they may be a rest and reflection on a future walk with someone special.

We will meet at 0900, at a place that we have not met before: From Riverside Parkway, near the big oil tanks, in the Confluence area meet behind the new Starbucks Coffee ( 2601 Dos Rios Dr setting on Google Maps) in the parking lot closer to the Kids Bike area. (The kids should be in school so they will not bother us.)

Afterwards we can have coffee nearby or go to a local restaurant, if you wish.

--Domiguez Canyon.  This beautiful canyon in the National Conservation Area, supported by the group, Colorado Canyons Association, is one of Newcomers best hikes.  It is located near Whitewater off of Bridgeport Road.   (Bridgeport is a former bustling waterport on the Gunnison River.)  We will hike along the Gunnison River to access the canyon. We frequently see big-horned sheep racing up the canyon.  We will not hike the whole canyon but it will be a longer out-and-back hike, about 2.5 hours with about 200 feet elevation increase.  We will hike the canyon to the petroglyphs and then return.  Bring extra water and a snack. Weather will be sunny, with temperatures in the 60's to mid 70's.  Don't forget walking sticks, unless you never use them. 

   We will meet in a different area, City Market on Orchard Mesa, off HWY 50.  Meet in the SW  corner, on Thursday, at 0845.  We will carpool to the trailhead. 

   Afterwards, those that wish will eat at the Dragon Treasure in Orchard Mesa (They  have a buffet that is open until 3). unless you prefer Burger King--"Home of the Whopper". 

The hike this week will be Interflume trail to the waterfall and back to the trail head on Flume 1.  It should take about 3 hours to complete.the 4 mile hike with 335 feet in elevation gain.  Moderate difficulty. We did this hike last year and everyone enjoyed it.  The scenery through the creek was great. 

    Thursday will  be sunny and  a little cool with temps starting in the 40's and ending in the 50's.  However, it seems that we may be blessed with rain all day Wednesday.  The trail is mostly rock and sand.  It should not be muddy Thursday; but please check for an email in case we have to cancel it.  

     Please meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey at 0845, East side.  We will carpool to the trailhead.  Lunch afterwa\rd at Munchies, if you wish.

We will hike McDonald Creek Canyon in the Rabbit 🐰Valley area, almost into Utah.  Yup, this is the trail head access that goes down a rough, winding  road to the "Jabba the Hut" rock.  You will traverse a well worn canyon, ponder ancient rock art and see some beautiful wild flowers.  We will be out hiking about 2 hours, with about 100 feet elevation gain, for this out-and-back hike.  However, this is somewhat harder than easy due to an area where we have to drop-down and climb-up (on the return) a 5 foot cliff. Fortunately, someone has built a rock pile to give you a boost. 

  Weather will be sunny and in the upper 50's and lower 60's, beautiful.  The hike is partly shady.  4WD cars needed to traverse the sandy, rough road, but you can carpool.

   Meet in Fruita at Dinosaur Journey, East side, at 0845 to form carpools.    Those that wish will go to award-winning Munchies afterwards.