DIRECTIONS:

From Grand Junction and Fuita, head west on I-70 towards the Utah border and exit onto Rabbit Valley Road. Turn left on Rabbit Valley Road and enter the NCA. Follow the good dirt road for about 2.5 miles to the McDonald Creek Trailhead. In good conditions, most cars should be able to reach the trailhead, though an SUV or other higher clearance vehicle would be useful.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

McDonald Creek Canyon is a magnificent, and relatively easy, hike in the western part of the McInnis Canyons NCA. The trail follows the canyon down to the Colorado River through an impressive mix of canyon walls, rock formations, and canyon alcoves. Given that this hike takes a bit longer to reach than canyons closer to Fruita, the trail should be less crowded at the busier times.

From the trailhead, the trail descends gently among shallow cliffs and rock formations. Keep a lookout for petroglyph panels on your left. As the canyon closes in, the walls get taller and taller until they are towering above you. The trail follows the dry creek bed, often following cairns across slickrock. Before long, the creek bed becomes a steep narrow crack in the earth. The trail may become a bit tricky to follow in this section. Keep looking down canyon, find some cairns, and you’ll find your way.

It’s at this point that the canyon walls really start to soar. The further you hike down the Canyon, the more impressive the canyon becomes. Along the way, there are numerous alcoves to explore with the largest being designated by a trail marker and a short detour. After the alcove, the trail passes through a lush(er) area as you near the Colorado River and the mouth of the canyon.

Once you reach the mouth the of the canyon, the trail ends at…train tracks…. Unfortunately, the train tracks take away from the scenic wilderness experience. DO NOT cross the tracks, however, you can scramble up the canyon wall for a few feet to get a better view of the Colorado River and the mouth of Knowles Canyon across the way.