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EASTERN RIM TRAIL
| RATING
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 View from the east rim slickrock into the Colorado River Basin |
COMMENTS: Developing single tract loop. Trail should improve a lot over the next few seasons. Secret hike to trail head. Trail is sandy in parts, but the views are fantastic.
STARTING POINT: McDonald Creek Trailhead - From Grand Junction, follow I-70 west about 30 miles to the Rabbit Valley exit (Exit #2). Turn left (south) at the stop sign, cross over the freeway and a cattle guard. Stay on the main road going straight (southwest) for about 2.5 miles. Drive with caution, the road is very narrow in several places and has a couple of blind corners. The turn into the canyon is marked by a very large rock which looks like a gumdrop. When you reach this rock, you'll turn left (east) onto another two-track road which follows the stream bed for about .3 mile to a parking area. CAUTION: A high clearance vehicle is required to get the trailhead.
TRAIL TYPE: SINGLE TRACK 60%, DOUBLETRACK 40%
APPROXIMATE RIDE TIME: 2-3 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate with some technical sections of singletrack.
| McDonald Creek | 0 miles | |||
| Knowles Overlook Trail | 0.7 miles | |||
| E Rim Return | 1.0 miles | |||
| Trial #2 | 2.4 miles | |||
| West Rim Cutoff | 3.0 miles | |||
| Trail #6 DT | 7.6 miles | |||
| Kokopelli DT | 7.7 miles | |||
| Knowles Overlook Trail | 8.0 miles | |||
| McDonald Creek | 8.7 miles |
RIDE DESCRIPTION: Ride the up Kokopelli Trail doubletrack beyond castle rocks and two doubletrack crossings. Go to the top where you intersect with the end of trail 2 at mile 2.4. Descend the sandy doubletrack to west rim cutoff (left off the main kokopelli). Go left when the trail divides at a sandy area. This is the tricky area. The division of east and west rim is found just after a very sandy section near a large tree (mile 3.0). Get off bike and hike down to visible trail that heads north. Begin following developing singletrack. Stay off the slick rock until the last canyon before the Knowles overlook. You can ride it all the way to a great snack spot. Find the singletrack. again and follow the rim down to trail #6 (knowles overlook trail) at mile 7.6. Take a left up a short section back to the kokopelli trail and head down to the parking lot via the doubletrack you ascended.
MAP OF RIDE: [HIGH RESOLUTION MAP]
