Rabbit Valley | Colorado
Rabbit Valley Area, located in western Colorado’s McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, offers a striking high-desert landscape at the edge of the Colorado Plateau. Scattered juniper trees, rugged canyons, and expansive vistas reveal views of the Colorado River, the San Juan and La Sal Mountains, Colorado National Monument, and Grand Mesa. The area is also known for its rich cultural and paleontological resources. Rock art illustrates the rich cultural history of the area, while dinosaur fossils offer a window into life millions of years ago.
Explore Rabbit Valley by hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, riding off-highway vehicles on designated routes, and camping beneath wide-open skies. Rabbit Valley’s high-desert climate brings little rainfall, sparse vegetation, and summer temperatures that can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Plan ahead, bring plenty of water, and practice outdoor ethics to help protect the area's natural and scientific resources.
Things to Do
Hike: Explore the high-desert landscape on designated trails, including:
- Rabbit Valley Trail Through Time (hiking only): This short trail on the north side of I-70 offers family-friendly glimpses into the Jurassic.
- Rabbit's Ear Trail (hiking only): From Rabbit’s Ear Trailhead, climb to sweeping views of the Colorado River, Grand Mesa, and the La Sal Mountains. This 6.6-mile loop trail crosses exposed high-desert terrain and offers a sense of the rugged landscape encountered by travelers on the historic Old Spanish Trail. The elevation gain is about 700 feet.
- McDonald Creek Cultural Area (hiking only): From McDonald Creek Trailhead, follow the streambed through a scenic desert canyon toward the Colorado River. Look for Indigenous rock art, including pictographs associated with Fremont cultural traditions, being sure not to touch or harm. This hike can be enjoyed separately or as part of the longer Jouflas Loop.
- Jouflas Loop (hiking and horseback riding): From McDonald Creek Trailhead traverse the base of Wildhorse Mesa through juniper-dotted desert landscape. Permitted uses vary along the route, so check maps and follow posted signs. Hikers must yield to equestrians.
Horseback Ride and Mountain Bike: Ride scenic desert trails through rugged terrain and open canyons. Horses and mountain bikes are allowed anywhere that motorcycles and OHVs can travel, notably Kokopelli Long-Distance Trail and Western Rim Trail. Horseback riding is also allowed on Jouflas Loop (see above). Shared trails accommodate different users, so watch for others around blind corners. All users must yield to horseback riders and avoid muddy routes to prevent trail damage.
Ride OHVs: Explore designated routes by ATV, UTV, dirt bike, or four-wheel-drive vehicle. Routes vary by permitted vehicle type, so check trail maps and signs before riding. Knowles Overlook is a popular destination that may require high clearance and cannot be accessed by vehicles exceeding 30 feet.
Camp: Camping in Rabbit Valley Area – both north and south of 1-70 – is allowed in five developed campgrounds; dispersed camping is not allowed. All sites cost $20 per night and must be reserved in advance or on-site through Recreation.gov. See the Rabbit Valley Campgrounds section below for details.
Features and Services
Hours and Seasons: Rabbit Valley is open year-round. Spring and fall generally offer more moderate temperatures.
Access and Road Conditions: Road maintenance varies by distance from the interstate and seasonally. High-clearance vehicles and four-wheel drive may be necessary to reach some destinations, including Knowles Overlook. Stay on designated routes and park only in designated areas.
Camping: There are five campgrounds in the Rabbit Valley area. Reservations must be made through Recreation.gov—this can be done in advance or on-site once a campsite has been selected, if availability allows. Stays are limited to 7 days per month. Dispersed camping is prohibited. Read more below for additional details.
Toilets and Waste: Vault toilets are available in the five campgrounds. Outside of the campgrounds, please use an approved system to pack out all solid human waste. There are no trash facilities - please pack out all trash.
Water and Electricity: Drinking water and electricity are not available. Bring everything you need for your visit.
Cell Service: Cell reception is consistently good in all of the campgrounds except Knowles Overlook. Elsewhere in the Rabbit Valley area, service may be limited or intermittent, so download maps and trip information in advance.
Pets: Keep pets under control and pack out pet waste from trails and developed areas.
Weather and Safety: Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F, and shade is scarce. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and shade. Be alert for other visitors on shared routes and travel at safe speeds.
Accessibility
The trails in Rabbit Valley are rocky and rugged. Most would not generally be considered wheelchair accessible.
The toilets in the Rabbit Valley campgrounds are accessible. Adjacent parking spaces are packed gravel and may vary in accessibility for mobility devices.
Camping
Scroll down below the map to find everything you need to know about camping in Rabbit Valley.
Overview
Five distinct campgrounds within Rabbit Valley were built for different user-types, from tent camping sites that retain a secluded feel to large group sites that can accommodate large RVs and trailers. See the “Recreation” section under the Facility Information tab to find a campground that will meet your needs. For each campsite, visitors need to read the allowable equipment section for vehicle length and number limitations for their selected site(s).
Please note, roads are not maintained and can be narrow and rough. Access to Knowles Overlook is through a dry stream bed and changes quickly with passing storms. 4-wheel drive and high clearance may be needed to access Knowles Overlook. The best sites for RVs are the Koniklos (Equestrian) and Fluffle campgrounds and select High North sites.
Located in western Colorado, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area offers stunning views and endless recreational opportunities ranging from camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and off-roading. Visit Rabbit Valley for an amazing outdoor family adventure or to find solitude on an amazing landscape.
The newly expanded campsites and facilities are located with easy access to I-70 and within minutes of the City of Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado for access to local amenities.
Fees associated with camping are directly invested in the maintenance, improvements, and development of the Rabbity Valley experience. Reservations are required for all camping within Rabbit Valley.
Recreation
Rabbit Valley offers recreational opportunities for every user. Bring your ATV, motorcycle, mountain bike or horse and enjoy the expansive beauty of Western Colorado. Enjoy a camping trip with friends or family in the endless beauty of the canyons.
Campgrounds by User-Type
- Fluffle Campground
- Groups sites with varying capacities that can accommodate up to five vehicles (see individual campsite descriptions for vehicle limitations).
- Sites can accommodate vehicles up to 60 feet in length.
- There are day-use trailer parking spaces and a 4-pen corral here as well.
- High North Campground
- Site one is a group use site that can accommodate vehicles up to 60 feet in length.
- Vehicles longer than 50 feet will want to consider approaching the campground from the north via Hwy-6 as the access road from I-70 requires navigating a tight switchback turn.
- All other sites can accommodate two vehicles of various lengths, see individual site details for vehicle length limitations.
- Koniklos (Equestrian) Campground
- This campground is intended to be used solely by visitors who visit Rabbit Valley for horseback riding.
- Each site has an individual corral. There are also 10 day-use parking areas and 2 corrals for day-use.
- Campsites can accommodate two vehicles up to 60 feet in length.
- The road to this campsite is through a rocky wash and is not easily accessed by low-clearance vehicles.
- Additional day-use parking and horse corrals are available at the Fluffle Campground.
- Jouflas Campground
- This campground is intended for tent camping.
- No group sites.
- The campground can not accommodate vehicles longer than 25 feet.
- Knowles Overlook Campground
- This campground is intended to be used by tent and 'overland' style campers.
- Maximum vehicle length is 30 feet - HIGH CLEARANCE AND 4X4 ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
- Be weather weary in visiting this campsite as access is through a wash.
- No group sites.
Natural Features
Rabbit Valley Area is nestled among scattered juniper trees at the edge of the Colorado Plateau. With scenic views of the Colorado River, the San Juan and La Sal Mountains, the Colorado National Monument, and the western flanks of the 10,000 ft. Grand Mesa - the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, make this a must-see area.
This area is known for its paleontological resources with the family friendly hike the “Trail Trough Time.” Here you can learn about this area’s history and experience dinosaur bones on the landscape through a self-guided interpretive hike.
Veg
Photos
Contact Us
Addresses
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
From I-70, take exit 2 and turn south until you come to the BLM kiosk. Follow the map and directions to specific campgrounds and loops.
Fees
Campsite rates are $20 per night and include up to 10 people and 2 vehicles. There is an $8 non-refundable reservation fee for each reservation. Please note, you cannot change your check-in date. If you would like to change your check-in date, you will need to cancel your entire reservation and rebook.