How To Explore Colorado's Little Bookcliff Wild Horse Range Trail

If you enjoy hiking in Western Colorado, you probably already know many of our trails in Mesa County are soaked in sunshine. Shade is not always easy to find. When daytime highs reach triple digits, this can become serious real quick.

Some hiking trails around Grand Junction offer a better experience during the spring before the summer heat arrives. Exploring Colorado's Little Bookcliff Wild Horse Range in March and April means hiking with the mustangs, without the dangerous heat.

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Colorado's Little Book Cliff Wild Horse Range

TSM GJ W Adams

The Little Bookcliff Wild Horse Range is great for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Several trails wind through the range, allowing guests to choose between shorter hikes like Coal Canyon (6 miles) or the longer 12-mile Main Canyon. A detailed map from GJhikes.com shows the many trails throughout the wild horse range and can be found here.

Exploring Coal Canyon

Hiking Coal Canyon reminds me of the trails in the Colorado National Monument and the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The rock walls and canyons hide mustangs, big horn sheep, and petroglyphs. Taking the time to study how the Hoodoo Trails connect various routes through the wild horse range will allow you to explore this area from the Cameo trailhead to the summit of Mount Garfield.

Little Bookcliff Wild Horses

Little Bookcliff Wild Horses - TSM GJ W Adams

Sometimes the herd of wild horses grows to nearly 200 mustangs living inside the Little Bookcliff range; however, BLM aims to keep the number between 100 and 125. A small group of mustangs can be found near the entrance to Coal Canyon, with larger numbers found further into the Main Canyon route.

Got great photos from inside the Little Bookcliff range? Open our station app and submit. We would love to see them.

LOOK: The Best Scenic Hiking Trails in Colorado for Photographers

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Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

Hiking Colorado's Mount Garfield: 26 Pro Tips for First Timers

The hike to the top of Mount Garfield in Mesa County is a 3.4-mile roundtrip leading to one of the best views of the Grand Valley. Elevation gain, traction, and exposure to sun and heat can all make this hike a challenging one. We asked you to share some tips for those trying the hike for the first time. Keep reading to learn the ropes from the pros in the Grand Valley.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams