ELEVATION CHANGE:   Varies  (5300' - 7200')

LOCATION:    8  miles northwest of Grand Junction 

LENGTH OF TRAIL:   73 miles (all trails combined)  

TECHNICAL LEVEL:   Easy to difficult 

APPROXIMATE TIME TO COMPLETE:   2 - 12+  hours

SEASON:    April - October    Note:  Summer temperatures in the area can exceed 100°

FACILITIES:   None 

DRINKING/STREAM WATER:    Plan to pack in 1 gallon per person, per day. 

DIRECTIONS: 18 Road: From Grand Junction drive west on I-70 to Fruita Exit (#19).  From the off ramp travel 0.1 mile then go right to the roundabout.  Continue straight through the roundabout, travel 2 blocks and turn left on Maple Street.  Travel 4 miles north on Maple St. (17 1/2 Rd).  Turn right at N. 3/10 Rd, 0.5 mile to 18 Rd.  Go north on 18 Rd for 7.5 miles to a parking area on the left.  A carsonite post on the right hand side of the road, directly across from the parking area marks where the single track begins.  Upper 18 Road Parking Area:  Continue up 18 Rd another 1.7 miles to where 18 Rd ends, and park up top, above the old gate.   16 Road:  From Grand Junction drive west on I-70 to Fruita Exit (#19).  From the off ramp travel 0.1 mile then go right to the roundabout.  Using the roundabout go west on Aspen and turn left to access Hwy 6.  Go approximately 1.5 miles and turn right on 16 Rd.  Go north for 12.7 miles and park at the main junction of Coal Gulch Rd and Garvey Canyon. 

The Book Cliffs Trail system consists of five interconnecting trails (Chutes, Edge Loop, Frontside, Prime Rib - Joe's Ridge, Zippity) consisting of single track and two-track trails and roads.  The bike trails can be accessed from either 18 Rd or 16 Rd just north of the town of Fruita.  Some of the tracks are a fun easy ride with minimal elevation changes of only 500 feet, with other trails being technically difficult and gaining 2500 feet in altitude.