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A great tour of the wilderness complete with historic structures, towers and dry washes.


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Map Key

6.9

Miles

11.1

KM

Loop

5,218' 1,591 m

High

4,592' 1,399 m

Low

798' 243 m

Up

794' 242 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

31%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildlife

Overview

A great wilderness loop that is very navigable and provides a feeling of solitude despite being near Fruita/Grand Junction. This route is also loaded with historic features, geology and a great diversity of trail surfaces. The area is used by many, but most people stay within a mile of the parking lot. By venturing further into the canyons you often have the trail to yourself.

Need to Know

The dry wash is not always dry, so depending on the conditions and weather be prepared for some wet spots or tricky navigation to stay dry. If a summer storm is looming, best to avoid the washes all together due to flash flood potential.

Description

Start at the main Devil's Canyon Trailhead parking lot and head up the wide gravel road up D1 - Devils Canyon. Stay left at the first fork, and then go right at the second junction following signs for D1 - Devils Canyon and D4 - Devils Canyon.

The trail will climb gradually and near the top of the rise you'll reach another junction. Go left to stay on D4 - Devils Canyon as it begins winding down into the dry wash. You'll eventually meet up with the wash after a series of stone steps and then continue north up the on the Devils Canyon Loop - D3 trail.

Before you have to ascend the metamorphic basement rock there are two options, you can head left and have a shorter outbound segment, or go right (highly recommended) so you get the climbing done sooner, and once you reach the cabin your return trip will be shorter and faster.

So, stay in the wash past the first junction and then climb up the steep but short hill to reach the plateau. The next section is a wonderful stretch of rolling terrain below steep cliffs as you make your way back into the canyon towards the cabin. The cabin is pretty obvious and can be fun to check out (be careful since it is old, unmaintained, and dilapidated), and when you are ready to finish the loop find the trail that heads downhill, to the west on the right side of the cabin. A couple of steep wash descents/ascents await and some of the best tower scenery comes on the return trip.

When you are back in the wash, continue past the D4 - Devils Canyon junction on the left (which is easy to miss anyhow) and continue in the wash until it joins the obvious wide doubletrack of the D2 - Devils Canyon Trail. Head left and then stay right at the major junctions to follow the wide gravel path back to the parking lot.

Contacts

Shared By:

Andrew Walters with improvements by Kester Spindler

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 20 votes

#2

in Fruita

#687

Overall
  4.5 from 20 votes
5 Star
55%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
5%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Fruita

#140

in Colorado

#687

Overall
30 Views Last Month
5,429 Since Jul 14, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
7%
60%
7%
27%
0%

Photos

D3 in the snow.
Dec 29, 2020 near Fruita, CO
And I shall name him ... Spaceship on Pedestal Rock!
Apr 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
Looking into a sandstone side canyon.
Oct 24, 2015 near Fruita, CO
Scoping out the namesake cabin.
Jul 17, 2015 near Fruita, CO
And I shall name him ... Desk Rock!
Apr 17, 2017 near Fruita, CO
Running back at sunset with Phantom Spire in the distance.
Jul 17, 2015 near Fruita, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 2, 2023
Missy Juliette
May 24, 2021
Michael Gebeau
Dec 28, 2020
Jesse L
Perhaps best in the snow
Feb 29, 2020
Rebecca Langstaff
Oct 1, 2019
Michael Gebeau
Apr 7, 2018
Becky Provine
Do NOT take the “out” loop following the wash with dogs/kids!! The down-climbs req canyoneering skills. Do out/back on the recommended “Up” trail.… 7.4mi
Jun 11, 2017
Jay Puhler
Jun 11, 2017
Brett Montgomery
Hike with Jay. 9mi
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