Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area

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ELEVATION CHANGE:   2300' (5000' - 7300'))

LOCATION:   5 miles northeast of Grand Junction

ACREAGE:   36,113

SEASON:   March - November

FACILITIES:  None

DRINKING/STREAM WATER: Streams are sparse and the water will need to be filtered well. Plan to pack in 1 gallon per person, per day.

DIRECTIONS:  There are two accesses into the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area, Coal Canyon and Winter Flats Rd..  Coal Canyon entrance:   From Grand Junction take I-70 east to the Cameo exit, cross the Colorado River and drive past the Public Service power plant. Stay on the main road.  The road will veer westward for approximately 1.5 miles where you will come to a very obvious parking area.  NOTE:  The Coal Canyon Trail is closed to motorized traffic from December  1 - May 30, hiking and horseback riding are permitted year round.   De Beque/Winter Flats Road entrance:  From Grand Junction take I-70 east and take the De Beque exit.  Cross over the Colorado River and stay on main road, take a left in to the town of De Beque (4th Street) stay on this road until you come to the gas station, take a left and follow the road all the way to the end.  This is 2nd street.  Proceed to Winter Flats Road and turn right here. Travel approximately 20 miles, this will take you to a fork in the road, the right branch will take you to the North Soda area (the northern most point of the Wild Horse Area) and the left branch will take you into the Indian Park area.  CAUTION:  Winter Flats Road is a 4X4 road year round and usually impassable during winter months and in rainy conditions.

The Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area consists of 36,113 acres of public lands characterized by gentle sloping plateau dissected by four major canyon systems (Main, Coal, Cottonwood and Spring Canyons) with many side canyons.  Excellent opportunities exist for solitude and unconfined recreation. The outstanding scenic beauty, topographic diversity and the presence of the wild horse herd offers photography opportunities also. The ruggedness and abrupt slopes leading to the valley floor give it distinct character with many challenges for the visitor.

The 1971 Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act provides for the management, protection and control of all unbranded and unclaimed horses and burros on public lands administered by the BLM. Though wild horse herds live in many parts of the western United States, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area is one of only three areas in the United States set aside specifically for them.  Just 8 miles northeast of Grand Junction, the Wild Horse Area encompasses rugged canyons and plateaus. From 80 to 120 wild horses roam the sagebrush parks and pinyon-juniper covered hills which dominate the area. Natural barriers such as cliffs and canyons are supplemented with fencing to define the area and control horse movement.  Every 3 to 4 years, 20 - 60 wild horses are rounded up and adopted out through the wild horse adoption program, to control herd levels.

WILD HORSE VIEWING:   Wild horses are most frequently spotted in sagebrush parks scattered throughout the horse range, traveling in small bands made up of a stud and his harem of mares, or in bachelor bands of young stallions.  Horses use the higher country in spring, summer and fall, moving to lower country in winter where there is less snow and feed is more easily found. Some of the best opportunities for catching a glimpse during the summer months is in the Indian Park or North Soda areas (the De Beque/Winter Park Rd entrance).  And during the winter they may be spotted in Coal Canyon or Main Canyon (Coal Canyon entrance).  NOTE:  The herd is constantly on the move and viewing them is usually a matter of being at the right place at the right time.

HIKING/HORSEBACK RIDING:  There are many hiking and horseback trails in the area. We ask that you use existing roads and trails.

Main Canyon:  4 miles one way to the confluence of Cottonwood and Main Canyons.  From the parking area at the Coal Canyon trailhead there is a gravel road leading up the hill to the right to a locked gate, with a go-round where you can take your bike or horse through. Follow the 4X4 road that traverses down to the lower reaches of Main Canyon (biking is allowed on this trail).  About 1 mile up Main Canyon you will come to a canyon on your left, this is Spring Creek.  Another 4 miles up Main Canyon is the confluence of Main and Cottonwood Canyons, at this point, Main Canyon goes to the right.

Spring Creek:  5 miles one way.  The second canyon going left off of Main Canyon is Spring Creek Canyon. When you come to a Y, take the left fork.  This is where the trail starts up some steep and treacherous terrain.  It's about 3 miles to the stock tank and another 2 miles to where Spring Creek Trail meets up with Hoodoo Trail.

Round Mountain Trail:   5 miles one way.  At the confluence of  Main and Cottonwood Canyons, take a right and go through a gate.  At this point the trail goes up the canyon a short distance and then up a hill out of Main Canyon.  This section of the trail is steep and there are some rocks to climb. When you reach the gas well pad on top, take the road to Low Gap.

Cottonwood Canyon:  3 miles one way.  At the confluence of Main and Cottonwood Canyons, take a left and continue on the trail which goes up the hill. The trail stays up on the side of Cottonwood Canyon and has some narrow spots with steep drop-offs. This leads to a road which will take you to Monument Rocks, a primitive BLM picnic area and campground.

Coal Canyon:  3 miles one way.  NOTE:  From December 1 - May 30 Coal Canyon is closed to motorized travel. There is a go-round to the right of the locked gate for use by hikers and horseback riders. From the parking area travel straight ahead (north) it's 3 miles to the gas pad.

Hoodoo Trail:  4 miles. Starting at the gas well pad in Coal Canyon, take the upper road.  After a short distance a trail starts following the right side of the canyon, periodically intersecting the road. The last part of the Hoodoo Trail winds it's way up the side of the canyon and is very steep.

Coal/Hoodoo/Spring Creek Trail Loop:  14 miles. Begin at Coal Canyon Trailhead, follow the road and the trail signs.

Tellerico Loop Trail:  10.2 miles round trip. From I-70 take the Horizon Drive exit, at the off ramp take a right on to Horizon Drive. Stay on Horizon Drive until you come to H Road (this is the last road before you drive into the airport) take a left on to H Road and go for about 1/4 of a mile, the first real right will be 25 Road, turn right onto 25 Road, travel 6 miles north of Highline Canal to the Tellerico Trailhead.

MOTORIZED TRAVEL/4X4:  Motorized travel is allowed on designated trails in the Wild Horse Area. Coal Canyon is closed to motorized travel from December 1 - May 30.