Thanks to the hundreds of backbreaking hours donated by mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers, the Grand Mesa has one of the best and newest trails on the Western Slope. Completed in July 2015, Mesa Top Trail #714 is a 14.6-mile, moderate out-and-back hike that skirts natural ponds and meadows, forests of tall pine and spruce sprinkled with quaking aspens and offers stunning vistas of the Elk and San Juan Mountain ranges.

Mesa Top Trail was designed to connect a large parking area off Highway 65’s peak to the 15-mile Flowing Park Loop for a combined total round trip distance of 30.5 miles. Overwhelmed? Don’t be. With accessible trailheads at both ends and several intersecting Forest Service roads and other trail off-shoots, you can create a Mesa Top Trail hike of any length you wish.

Although Mesa Top Trail is great for a variety of activities, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people during your exploration. Savor the solitude by making frequent stops, especially at the plentiful viewpoints.

While many Grand Mesa hikes are best in summer, hiking the Mesa Top Trail in fall is a true delight. Golden aspen leaves shimmer against a bluebird sky, their fallen counterparts paving the trail, while crimson, russet and honey-colored ground cover hugs the craggy basalt terrain. Both you and your furry friends will enjoy the cooler temperatures.

GETTING THERE

Mesa Top Trailhead is located just off Highway 65 near the Mesa/Delta County line on the Grand Mesa. The large parking lot, a staging area for snowmobilers in the winter, is located just south of Lands End Road. There are vault toilets and changing rooms.

To reach the Flowing Park Reservoir parking area at the opposite end of the trail, or other intersecting Forest Service roads, travel west on Lands End Road and take the first left onto Flowing Park Road 109.

THE TRAIL

The Mesa Top Trail is located in the Grand Mesa National Forest, and like other trails on the Grand Mesa, overall elevation stays relatively flat. Starting at the Highway 65 parking lot, the trail descends gradually over 7.3 miles one way, dropping from 10,733 to 10,018 feet in elevation.

As the trail begins, it skirts many meadows for the most part by staying just inside the trees. At mile 1, the trail heads away from the meadows toward the rim of the Mesa. Skid Trail branches off to the right at mile 2.4. At approximately the 3-mile point, the trail touches the Grand Mesa rim, offering colorful views of the Granby and Battlement Reservoirs as well as the towns of Eckert, Cedaredge and Delta in the distance.

A large portion of the Mesa Top Trail crosses rocky basalt stretches of varying sizes. Near mile 6, the trail crosses Trail #721 which drops off the top of the mesa toward the Granby Reservoirs. A rocky outcrop is the roughest part of the whole trail, with the final stretch smoothing out. The beautiful Flowing Park Reservoir greets you at the end.

Whether you chose a section of Mesa Top Trail, a shuttle one-way or round trip, this fall hike will not disappoint.

Originally published in the fall 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.