Colorado · Hiking

Mesa

1.5 mi
round trip
43 ft
climb
4,405 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Mesa open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 7 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mesa is a short, out-and-back hike of about 1.5 miles in the Comanche Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 43 feet from a low point of 4,341 feet to a high of 4,405 feet, and it is rated hard. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so it works for hikers and riders alike. The closest neighbors are Vogel Canyon, Overlook and Prairie, each about 0.3 miles away. Withers Canyon Trailhead, about 8 miles off, offers camping. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at La Junta show May highs around 77°F and September highs around 83°F, while July averages about 93°F.

  • Best time to go · Apr–May, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Mesa

    Best months: April–May and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      47° / 17°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      50° / 20°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      60° / 28°

      4 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      67° / 37°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      77° / 47°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      89° / 58°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 63°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      90° / 61°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 52°

      4 wet

    10. Oct

      71° / 37°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 27°

      3 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      47° / 18°

      3 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at La Junta 20 S, CO, 2.3 mi away at 4,210 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.