Colorado · Hiking · Near Clifton

Mesa Creek

Mesa CreekPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.6 mi
round trip
2,102 ft
climb
9,771 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Mesa Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Mesa Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mesa Creek is a hard out-and-back hike of about 2.6 miles on Forest Service land in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail climbs roughly 960 feet one way, with the high point at 9,771 feet and the low point at 8,803 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about mile 0.98, where the grade reaches 27 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at about the same elevation put July highs around 68°F with lows near 42°F, and the trail is open seasonally from July 1 to September 30. The trip starts at the OLD MESA SKI HILL parking, and the hike is estimated to take about two hours. The Moose Manor Cabin is just 0.1 mile away, and Jumbo Campground is 0.4 mile off. The West Bench hike is 0.5 mile away and the Glacier Springs Cutoff mountain biking route is 0.6 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Black Bear Cabin

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Slopeside cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Clifton

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Mesa Creek

    Best months: June–September. 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

      26° / 6°

    2. Feb

      27° / 4°

    3. Mar

      34° / 12°

    4. Apr

      40° / 17°

    5. May

      49° / 27°

    6. Jun

      62° / 37°

    7. Jul

      68° / 42°

    8. Aug

      64° / 40°

    9. Sep

      57° / 34°

    10. Oct

      45° / 24°

    11. Nov

      34° / 14°

    12. Dec

      26° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 11.4 mi away at 9,852 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Glacier Springs Cutoff TrailPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Glacier Springs Cutoff Trail

~1 min drive

1.76-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 585 ft gain and loss.

Scales LakePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Scales Lake

~4 min drive

4.45-mile out-and-back to Scales Lake in Colorado, 2,040 ft gain.

GRIFFITH SKI LOOPPhoto: Moo.The.Cow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

GRIFFITH SKI LOOP

~4 min drive

13.2-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Colorado with 1,960 ft elevation gain and loss.

Mesa Lake ShorePhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mesa Lake Shore

~1 min drive

1.26-mile loop trail at Mesa Lake Shore in Colorado, 9,885 ft elevation

OverlookPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Overlook

~7 min drive

3.96-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 38 ft elevation gain.

Mesa TopPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mesa Top

~6 min drive

15.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado reaching 10,739 ft.

Crum Reservoir TrailPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crum Reservoir Trail

~1 min drive

1.5-mile out-and-back trail at Crum Reservoir in Colorado with 230 ft gain/loss

Kannah CrossingPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kannah Crossing

~4 min drive

5.14-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 131 ft elevation gain.

Palisade PlungePhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Palisade Plunge

~6 min drive

23.63-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 489 ft elevation gain.

Lost LakePhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lost Lake

~1 min drive

2.02-mile out-and-back trail to Lost Lake in Colorado, 225 ft gain, 10,118 ft max elevation