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Mesa County
The Edge - Fruita/Grand Junction, Colorado
Proceed North out of Fruita on Maple/17 1/2 Rd. Turn East on N 3/10 Rd. In 1/2 mile turn North on 18 rd. After the pavement ends follow the main graded dirt road 4.3 miles to a parking area on the West side of the road. This the main parking area for several trails in the 18 Road area such as Prime Cut, Chutes and Ladders, Joes Ridge, Lipon Canyon, The Frontside, Zippity Doo Dah, and The Edge. Welcome to paradise.
GPS: Latitude: Longitude: Elevation:
The Bookcliffs - The Southern Exposure on the Bookcliffs is dry and fast right now. Hopefully it will last until the last weekend in April, which is the Fat Tire Festival. Jerome a old year old Cross-Country Rider riding a 3 from here URL: Colorado Singletrack Pictures Posted on 03/05/99
WAH - WAH! To all of the crybabies who do not like a little doubletrack in the mix. I overheard some people complaining about this ride after completing it in about 7 hours. I guess a 30 miler was a little too much for them. See you at the fat tite festival the last weekend in April. JD a 30 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Ellsworth Truth from Fruita, CO URL: Over The Edge Sports Posted on 01/20/99
The Edge - Ride North on the main road to the 2nd intersecting road to the West. Turn west and follow the road approximately 200 yards to the singletrack on the right. Follow this singletrack up past the 1st intersecting trail (Joes Ridge) and turn left up a small wash following the rock cairns. This section dips and weaves through Pinyons and Junipers following small washes. It eventually intersects another trail to the left on top of a large ridge (Zippity Doo Dah). Go right and climb to a steep section that descends into a wash and follows the contour of the base of the Bookcliffs. In this section, just keep right at any intersections. Eventually the trail wraps around into Coal Gulch. The singletrack runs out (temporarily) at Coal Gulch Road where the ascent starts slowly. At the first fork in the road keep right and start the real climb. Upon reaching the top enjoy the view of the Roan Ciffs white face. Follow the road to the South avoiding any side roads that drop down until Ross Ridge is reached. Ross Ridge is at the top of the Bookcliffs and you will know you're there by the spectacular view of the Uncompahgre Plateau, The La Sals, The San Juans and the Grand Mesa. The ridge road heads west and descends quite steeply. Just follow it until it flattens out a bit. Keep an eye out on the right side for a carsonite marker or cairn (the rednecks out here hunt carsonite markers for sport). This narrow twisty singletrack will drop you quickly into Lipon Canyon. It hits a stream bed and follows it to a 30ft waterfall that is usually dry. There's a fixed rope there, but if you want you can hike a bike around it to the West. Follow the streambed and eventually the singletrack cuts out of the streambed and does some rollercoastering up and down. When the canyon opens up the singletrack cuts to the west again. Follow the contour of the Bookcliffs again until running into another dirt road. After turning left on the dirt road follow it downhill to another ghost carsonite marker/cairn on the right. This singletrack leads to a diamond shaped corral. At the corral follow the singletrack left (right or straight is Chutes and Ladders). This section is the home stretch and will lead you almost directly West to the parking lot (you can see it from a ridge about a mile out). If returning at sunset, popping up from the cow pond on the final pitch, it can be a sight to never forget. I have been there a few times. About the only thing to avoid here is MUD. The Morrison Formation makes the worst imaginable goop that sticks to everything. Inquire with locals before going or email me and I will be glad to share or even go with. Singletrack=60% Dirt Road=40% LoDij a 35 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Trek Y/Trek 850SHX from Grand Junction, CO E-mail:LoDij@webtv.com URL:Adveture Quest Posted on 01/19/98
