Take a Hike: McDonald Creek Canyon

Originally published in the Spring 2020 issue of SPOKE+BLOSSOM.

West of Grand Junction and just shy of the Utah border lies Rabbit Valley and McDonald Creek Canyon — an extraordinarily scenic, historic and protected trail. Located in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation area, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) designated the canyon and land in proximity to it as the McDonald Creek Cultural Resource Management Area, in order to protect both the fragile, prehistoric archaeological sites and the canyon which was home to the resourceful Fremont Indians. 

The BLM wants visitors, today and in the future, to experience McDonald Creek Canyon just as the Native Americans did. For this reason, only foot traffic is allowed and hikers are encouraged to walk in the stream bed as much as possible to prevent the development of trails. Dogs are welcome, camping and campfires are not. 

This easy trail can vary in length between 3 to 4 miles depending on your choice of hiking the main route to the Colorado River only or including side canyon scrambles. Four panels of rock art (three pictographs and one petroglyph) can be seen between the trail head and the mouth of the canyon. 

The first rock art panel is approximately 1/4 mile down the stream bed from the parking area on a west-facing cliff about 15 feet up, prior to the stream bed to canyon transition. After another 1/4 mile the canyon narrows and takes a sandstone-sculptured drop-off carved by years of creek runoff. Follow the cairns for a short slickrock bypass, bringing you back to the stream bed and a view of the next two panels — one on either side of the canyon. The last panel is high on the wall of a large alcove 1/4 mile before the Colorado River. It’s helpful to bring binoculars to see the detailed art — attempting to climb up to them could damage yourself as well as the art. 

Late spring and early summer are the perfect times to enjoy this free, family-friendly hike, when a multitude of cacti and desert wildflowers display their splendor. McDonald Creek Canyon can be enjoyed year-round, but avoiding the summer heat and taking plenty of water is advised. Higher clearance vehicles are recommended but 4WD is not required. 

■ From Grand Junction, travel west on I-70 and take the Rabbit Valley Exit #2.

■ Turn left and go south over the interstate, continuing on the dirt road.

■ Go right at the first turn and left at all other junctions.

■ The trail head parking lot and facilities are located 2.5 miles from the interstate directly across from a sizable rock formation that looks similar to a large gumdrop.

Photos by Melanie Wiseman.