Whitewater Basin
Photo: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 7.9 mi
- round trip
- 377 ft
- climb
- 9,031 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Whitewater Basin is a 7.9-mile out-and-back hike in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in western Colorado. It rises from a low point of 6,857 feet to a high of 9,031 feet, a climb of 377 feet, and is a hard route. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 68°F with lows near 42°F, while September cools to highs near 57°F. Winter is harsh, with highs in the mid-20s and lows near zero from December through February. The trail is open from June 1 through October 31. It carries natural surface, and horses are allowed. Palisade Plunge, a mountain biking route, starts right beside it, and Land's End Wall and Beyond Civilization Wall offer climbing within a mile. Jumbo Campground is about 7.7 miles away.
- Palisade PlungeMountain biking0.1 mi
- Lands End Obs SnowmobileMountain biking0.8 mi
- Land's End WallRock climbing0.8 mi
- Beyond Civilization WallRock climbing0.9 mi
- Misspent Youth WallRock climbing1.8 mi
- SwitchbackHiking2.8 mi
- Moose Manor CabinCamping7.5 mi
Jumbo CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Glacier Springs Cutoff TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Palisade Rim Upper Loop TrailHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
West BenchHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Palisade Rim Lower Loop TrailHiking · ~14 min drivePhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Lost LakeHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Kannah Creek TrailHiking · ~7 min drive
- Mesa CreekHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Palisade Rim TrailHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Crum Reservoir TrailHiking · ~14 min drivePhoto: cogdogblog, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Palisade PlungeHiking · ~3 min drive
Best time to visit Whitewater Basin
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.
Jan
26° / 6°
Feb
27° / 4°
Mar
34° / 12°
Apr
40° / 17°
May
49° / 27°
Jun
62° / 37°
Jul
68° / 42°
Aug
64° / 40°
Sep
57° / 34°
Oct
45° / 24°
Nov
34° / 14°
Dec
26° / 5°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 18.7 mi away at 9,852 ft. The station sits about 800 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
