Find the top rated running trails in Montrose, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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I often ride this trail from Fruita into Grand Junction (Eagle Rim Park) and back. The first couple miles from Fruita are a bit boring as it is a straight shot and parallel to I-70 but after that it gets more interesting. Today lots of bikers and walkers, plenty of room for everyone. The section from Fruita into Grand Junction is the newest portion and the trail is nice wide concrete. The older section of trail is narrower and some asphalt. Still a nice ride. Many of the underpass sections have some nice art work on them. A few weeks ago a bobcat ran across the trail only a few feet in front of me. Another section of trail is being built going from Fruita west, I believe it will then connect to the Kokopelli Trailhead near Loma.
A nice and pleasant, flat ride especially if you keep your focus toward the river and not the usual urbanization or industrial influences or highway hijinks in the opposite view direction. Brief sections have less intrusive stuff and more natural beauty than others. Only climb of note is the short easy one to Eagle Rim Park where you can take a lap and do some tricks in the nice bike park there. There is a very good overlook of the entire Grand Junction valley there too.
There is some great public art, "graffiti-like", along the way too.
This area of Colorado can be exceptionally hot in the summer. But that means it can be really pleasant in the cooler months and very ride-able on nice winter days. Given the abundance of vegetation along the river course (lots of big Cottonwood trees), it would be spectacular in fall when the leaves are changing. Spring would nice too with it all greened out and likely lots of birds.
I rode this trail with one of the local tour outfitters. (There are at least two companies that organize bike tours out of Telluride and Mountain Village.) I highly recommend doing this, especially if you are new to mountain biking like I am. The guides haul everyone's bike up to the Lizard Head Pass trailhead, and from there it is downhill to Iium.
The tour company advertised this as a ride that is good for beginners and families. Take that with a grain of salt, and realize that this is rugged country - what the locals consider "easy" feels challenging to someone without mountain bike experience and who comes from a flat state like Illinois. Also realize that there are a couple of steep (but short) descents, and a few places where there are steep side slopes. If you are not comfortable being near the edge of a drop-off, there are places on this trail where you might be a bit nervous. (You could always dismount and walk the bike on these sections.)
Those caveats aside, this was one of the most memorable bike rides I've taken, and the scenery is spectacular! I would do it again.
I read about this trail and wanted to check it out on my drive between Durango and Telluride. I am from out of state and not familiar with this area. I started in Ridgeway and headed out to the state park. I asked a gentleman at the visitor center right in town about the trail beyond end of pavement because I had both road and mountain bike with me, and he informed the trail continues beyond end of pavement, so I took mountain bike. Overall it was a warm July afternoon ride, and dry. The scenery is ordinary with not much foliage or greenery The trail at the end of pavement is a fun single track and it is cooler there due to body of water. Being alone I did not go too far and recommend avoid solo travel as the area was quite deserted, even though a state park.
The bike shop in Telluride runs guided trips and shuttle on this trail.
Looking forward to the new rest area, peach groves, shaded benches, not to mention a great view. Located near the new RV campgrounds. A nice ride or hike from Junction to Palisade.
We started the ride at Los Colonias Park next to the botanical gardens. There is parking, water, restroom, and a shaded gazebo with picnic tables here. We headed towards Fruita cycling the recently-completed Monument View Trail to the Blue Heron trail to the Colorado Visitor Center in Fruita.
The condition of this trail varied depending on the section. The trail starts out nice and smooth at about 12 feet wide from Los Colonias Park. It then narrows to about 8 feet with lots of roots and cracks in the pavement until you reach the new section called Monument View near the Blue Heron Boat Launch. Then, it is smooth and wide to the Fruita visitor center.
At some points, the path is curvy and runs along the river. At other points, it is flat and runs parallel to the road. The description in this website doesn’t always match the reality of the path. Yes, at some points you do have nice views of the surrounding mesa and the river. However, the description fails to mention that if you start your ride at Los Colonias park near downtown Grand Junction, you will be cycling through industrials areas. Some of your view will be that of junk yards, gravel pits, storage yards, trucking company parking lots and other industrial-type businesses. So, unless you are wearing blinders, it isn’t as pretty as described. If you want pretty all the way, park at the Blue Heron Boat Launch and head out from there.
There are benches along the path but most of them are not strategically placed. Most are in full sun and many are placed at weird places like across from an industrial site or, if along the river, right in front of a tree which blocks the view of the river.
However, overall, we enjoyed the ride and would recommend it. Water was available only at the beginning at Los Colonias Park and at the end of our ride at the visitor center. Our roundtrip mileage was about 28 miles with a couple of detours.
This review is for an out-and-back ride. We cycled from downtown Grand Junction down 7th Street for one mile to the start of the trail at Los Colonias Park which is next to the botanical gardens. Parking, water, restroom, and a shaded gazebo with picnic tables are available here. We headed in the direction of Palisade. Heading in this direction, there is a gap in the trail after about 2.4 miles. You will cycle on C ½ Road for about 0.9 miles before turning right at the end onto 29 Road for a half mile to connect back up to the trail. C ½ Road is lightly traveled; 29 Road is a bit busier but there is a bike lane and a wide sidewalk.
Throughout the ride, the bike path was in excellent condition and very wide. However, additional signage is needed especially at the Corn Lake section of the Colorado State Park. Since we are not from the area, if we hadn’t read about the bike path continuing at an underpass under the highway, we would have simply not continued on. For the most part, the bike path is away from streets and traffic and feels remote (when really it isn’t). The ride had a country-like feel to it. The bike path ended abruptly at a county rode. A passing cyclist told us that we would need to cycle the road to get to the town of Palisade. We turned around at this point.
We highly recommend this section. Our round-trip mileage was about 20 miles. There are no services and no water available along this route. There are some benches along the path but most are not shaded. Get a big-picture map from a local bike store. Individual section maps are available for download at one of these sites:
http://riverfrontproject.org/
http://www.gjsentinel.com/bike
Excellent trail over 15 miles. You can ride all the way to Fruita. You can catch the trail at the botanical gardens and several other places with no parking fees. The starting place on the map charges for parking.
If yo park at the trail head on W.Main St in town and start there. The entire trail is concrete path. Follow the path, it does fork left and right just a few hundred yards into the trail, it doesn't matter which way you go it meets up in the same place. The trail follows the Uncompahgre River, stay left and cross the bridge over the river into Baldridge park.
Meander through the park keeping right after the bridge. Follow the path to Rio Grand Rd cross Rio Grande stay on the path, the cross the road again. The trail then goes fairly straight and flat for the next 3 miles following the river for 1.5 miles.
Cross Chipeta Rd you will end up behind the Ute Indian Muesem. By now you have gone close to 4 miles since the start. The concrete trail goes about another mile and then ends, this is where I turn around and head back. On the way back it is alot easier ride as you are going down in elevation although you wouldn't know it.
The entire round trip is 8.5 miles and is very scenic takes about 50 mins of actual cycling time. Wee worth the ride
Best to Start in the town of Ridgway at the town Park on Railroad St which is right off Hwy 62/Main St Ridgway. The entire trail is concrete paths. The first 1/2 mile is through town, then you cross over Railroad Rd and head along the river passing Dennis Weaver park you cross a cool old railroad bridge. It is flat for a little while then there is a small uphill climb. Once on top you are cycling adjacent to HWY 550 heading north. You then drop down onto about a 100 yard stretch of a residential road. Crossing County Rd 24 follow the trail along the river into Ridgway State Park, follow the path for another 1.5 mile until the path ends. You have now gone 4.3 miles. That took me about 25 minutes.
On the way back you are looking at the San Juan Mountain Range. There is one stretch of about 200 yards that is uphill other than that it is quite an easy ride and very scenic.
Highly recommend, easy ride, 8.5 mile round trip that took me 50 minutes of actual riding. There are public restrooms along the way.
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