Colorado · Hiking · Near Clifton

Mesa Top

Mesa TopPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
15.5 mi
round trip
440 ft
climb
10,739 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Mesa Top 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 Top, 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 Top is a hard hike in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route is out and back, about 15.5 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 440 feet. It starts at roughly 10,059 feet and reaches about 10,739 feet at the top. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs near 62°F and lows around 37°F in June to highs near 68°F and lows around 42°F in July. That station sits roughly 900 feet below the summit, so temperatures on top run cooler. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses. Two other hikes, Palisade Plunge and the County Line Connector, start right next to it. Island Lake Campground is about 2 miles away, and Grand Mesa, a fishing spot, is about 3.4 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Island Lake Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Slopeside cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 6 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 Top

    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, 9.5 mi away at 9,852 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

County Line ConnectorPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

County Line Connector

Next door

County Line Connector is a 1.02-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 31 feet of elevation gain.

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

Overlook

~2 min drive

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

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

Traverse

~2 min drive

2.11-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 28 ft elevation gain.

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

Scales Lake

~2 min drive

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

Mesa CreekPhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mesa Creek

~6 min drive

2.63-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 964 ft elevation gain

LionsPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lions

~2 min drive

2.57-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 69 ft elevation gain.

Island LakePhoto: ecksunderscore, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Island Lake

~6 min drive

3.02-mile out-and-back trail to Island Lake in Colorado with 53 ft of elevation gain.

West BenchPhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Bench

~5 min drive

West Bench is an out-and-back trail in Colorado, 11.55 miles and 124 ft of elevation gain.

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

Skid Trail

~4 min drive

2.76-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors