I developed an affinity for the desert canyons of the southwest while living in Utah for a number of years. These canyons, with their own ecosystems and fantastic shapes carved by wind and water in the soft sandstone of the area, are special places for me.
The sense of peace and isolation offered by the canyons is magical. Footprints left by previous visitors are in many places erased by the last rainfall. The impermeable slickrock causes any rainfall to concentrate in the canyons as flash floods, certainly something to avoid but providing a natural cleansing of the landscape.
This week, we explore one of Colorado’s own canyons just south of the Colorado National Monument. Although in a popular recreation area, you likely will encounter only a few other hikers once in the canyon proper. The return path, along one of the premier mountain biking and off-road routes in the Grand Junction area, is heavily used on weekends in the spring and autumn – during the week you may not run into any other trail users. Make sure you also visit the Mica Mine, a short, easy hike to some fascinating geologic features including a mountainside of quartz and large mica deposits.
This part of the state can provide a nice, warm escape from early season cold in the Front Range as we found in early October.
Hike description
From the parking area, take the foot trail signed to Rough Canyon and the Mica Mine. In 0.3 miles reach a trail intersection (waypoint “Trail junction”) at which the two trails divide. Head left for Rough Canyon and drop down into the wash as it narrows and deepens.
Hiking a canyon trail is nothing like hiking in the mountains – the trail alternates between wandering along the sandy bottom of the wash and detouring onto the sides to avoid large boulders or other blockages. Keep an eye out for spots where the trail exits the canyon bottom. These are sometimes marked with cairns, three or more rocks piled on top of one another. Expect progress to be slow, possibly taking twice as long as it takes you to cover the same distance on a mountain trail.
Shortly into the canyon, one of the few sections of maintained trail heads up and right to avoid a difficult bit in the canyon bottom. The trail heads back down quickly after this.
As you hike along, note the debris snagged by the vegetation – evidence of flash flooding. Don’t be caught down here when there’s a chance of thunderstorms!
Continue down-canyon until after a total of 2.4 miles, when the canyon walls open out and you find yourself walking on an expanse of slickrock. Off to your right is a waterfall.
The trail continues for a short distance before intersecting a rough road at a fence on the left side of the drainage; this is the popular Tabeguache Trail, 140 miles long, but only 1.6 miles from your vehicle if you turn left.
This trail is mostly on slickrock, gently contoured sandstone dissected by deep canyons. Signs and white painted stripes show the way. The impressive ramparts of the Colorado National Monument are off to your left.
If the Tabeguache Trail is too crowded you may want to return to the parking area the way you came, up Rough Canyon – just allow extra time for the uphill journey. We enjoyed the broad vistas from the Tabeguache Trail, a contrast to the enclosed feeling of the canyon depths.
After returning to the parking area, consider taking the easy trail to the Mica mine, 1.4 miles each way.
Watch for signs of mica and quartz along the trail. Near the mine the ground is littted with brilliant white quartz crystals.
Once you are at the mine, the large deposits of mica are quite obvious, embedded in the quartz hillside. Stay away from the mine entrance.
The details
Getting to the trailhead:
From Interstate 70, the most direct route is to take Exit 26 (22 Road). Turn southeast on U.S. 6 & 50 and drive 5 miles to an intersection with Broadway (Colorado 340). Turn right and take Broadway across the river for 0.8 miles. Almost immediately after the bridge, turn left on Monument Road (signed to Colorado National Monument). In 0.2 miles turn left on D Road. In 0.3 miles turn right on Rosevale Road and take this for 0.9 miles before turning right on Little Park Road. Follow Little Park Road for 5.4 miles before turning left on a gravel road signed “Bangs Canyon Staging Area.” Drive 0.3 miles to the parking area (waypoint “Parking”).
Hike statistics:
Rough Canyon to Tabeguache Trail loop: 1,400 feet of elevation gain in 4.7 miles round trip (moderate, sometimes primitive trail hiking).
Mica Mine: 450 feet of elevation gain in 2.8 miles round trip (easy).
USGS Quads: Glade Park, Colorado; Island Mesa, Colorado
