Mt Garfield Hike

That is an 18.9% average grade, 'nuff said. Mount Garfield is the most distinct 'peak' of the bookcliff range of mesas north of town.

That's Mt. Garfield waaay up there, above the beautiful CRV. Another beautiful day to be outside, it was in the 80's during the hike. I need more sunscreen though.

This is the first plateau you come to after scrambling up the steep debris fields and boulders at the base of the mesa. There are wild horses roaming around up here somewhere. No, I do not know how they got there, where they go, what they eat, or anything else. I just know they're there (watch out for poop).

Looking east from above the first plateau. If you look to the left, you can see the parking lot and if you zoom in you can even sorta see the car. You can also see the vineyards of Clifton and Palisade in the picture and one of the irrigation canals that runs near I-70.

Downtown GJ from the top. The land to the right is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It looks like sand but is really a very hard packed adobe soil.

Looking west toward Fruita. See, we really do live in the desert. Its just a really nice area of the desert.


It took me 2 hours to get to the top and about 40 minutes to get down. Now if I can get Kelly to come along next time...