Devil’s Canyon loops through a striking and beautiful sandstone canyon. It travels along a creek across the canyon and through juniper trees. An unfinished and deserted cabin can be seen at the halfway point of the loop. Don’t be surprised if you encounter several horses, or even a donkey.
The Devil’s Canyon Overlook Trail takes you to a beautiful overlook of the Grand Valley, Devil’s Canyon and The Flume Creek Canyon. The DT/ST trail travels trough junipers to Flume Creek Canyon where you can access the Pollock Bench Trail and its canyon.
The D3 signs designate the trail for Devil’s Canyon and the d1 signs represent the trail for the Devil’s Overlook.
Getting There:
From I-70, travel west from Grand Junction to the Fruita exit (Highway 340/Exit 19). Travel southwest on Highway 340 for one mile to Kings View Road. Turn right (west) onto Kings View Road and go just over one mile to the Devil’s Canyon sign. Turn left at the sign and park a quarter mile up. The trailhead is at the end of the road near the gate.
7M Loop (Devil’s Canyon Loop):
From the parking lot, follow the DT road to the D4/D1 junction. Veer left on D1. Continue on D1 a short distance to a left at D3.
On D3, you will cross a wooden bridge and turn right into the creek bed. Continue up along the creek bed to the next trail junction. Make a left at the D3 trail sign. The trail becomes increasingly difficult due to the increase in elevation. This trail makes its way up the left/east side of the creek. You will travel up and down through the canyon. You reach the cabin at the halfway point.
From the cabin, follow the trail as it winds up and down through the canyon back to the base of the creek bed. Make your way back to the parking area along D3/D1.
6.6M (Devil’s Canyon Overlook):
From the parking lot, follow the D1 signs along the main DT road to the trail junction. The trail continues to the right where you will reach the D4 and No Mountain Biking sign.
Continue on the DT road, then veer left at the D1 sign. Keep going along the DT road into a small canyon where it makes a left and switchbacks up on the way to the overlook.
The trail turns right through the junipers to the top elevation of 5,200 feet. Here the trail turns right as it slides down to the Flume Creek Canyon Trail junction. If you wish to continue longer, you can add Flume Creek or the Pollock Bench trails. Or, you can head back the same way you came out.
For The Expert:
If you wish for a longer trail run, you have a couple of options. You can add these two runs together and get a good 14 miler. If you decided to do this, I would suggest doing the Canyon Loop first, but you can do them the other way.
For an even longer option, just add the Flume Creek Canyon or Pollock Bench Trails onto the end of the Overlook run. You could run either of these as an extra out and back and cover as much distance as you wish.
Christopher Schnittker is the owner of Running Outfitters in Grand Junction. He also co-authored The Grand Junction Trails and Camping Guide. He can be reached through his website www.outdoorguru.com.