Directions: The Dynamite Trailhead is located on John Brown Canyon Road in the town of Gateway.  JBC Road is off State Route 141 just south of the Gateway Canyons Resort. Follow JBC Road for just a few minutes, drive through the gate with a BLM Public Lands sign and look for the small white trailhead marker on the right.
If you only have time for one hike in the Gateway Trails Area, this is it.  The BLM trail system in Gateway explores a low mesa south of the Gateway Canyons Resort.  The area sits at the mouth of John Brown Canyon and offers amazing views of the surrounding red rock formations, including the iconic Palisade formation.

Many visitors start their hike at the resort but alternatively you can drive down John Brown Canyon road for just a few minutes and access the mesa via the Dynamite Trail.  This may just be the easiest way to start the hike.  You can park in the resort but it was not intuitive as to where to park to access the trails.  Parking on JBC road takes the guess work out of it.

The dynamite trail crosses a small creek and weaves up to the top of the mesa.  Once you near the top, you'll intersect with the Vista Grande Loop.  Hiking counter clockwise takes you to the views of the Palisade faster.  The views are immediate and in all directions.  It's amazing how Gateway sits at the mouths of about 6 different canyons.  The Palisade is on full display and the towering cliffs of John Brown Canyon are a constant companion.  

There are various other trails and loops that can be accessed via the Vista Grande Loop (Cutler Rim and Lumsden Loop) but the Vista Grande Loop shows you the majority of the terrain and has (probably) the best views in the area.

Once you pass the Lumsden Loop, you'll dip down off the mesa and hike up a dry wash heading west.  The trail then weaves through the desert floor and descends the southern cliffs back to the Dynamite Trailhead.

This loop is the perfect introduction.  The Gateway Area is incredibly scenic and you'll want to spend years exploring all the surrounding canyons.  Have at it, and please report back what you find...