Bike and Hike!
Combine Biking and Hiking. It truly is the ideal way to experience Glenwood Canyon's beauty! Don't miss out on your hiking plans because vehicle parking lots are full. This happens a lot during peak summer hiking months. Simply rent a bike and leave from town, or take our shuttle to the western trailhead and enjoy your hike during a downhill biking adventure.
Canyon Bikes specializes in Bike & Hike adventures throughout Glenwood Canyon. The paved, 16 mile, Glenwood Canyon Recreational Trail offers a gentle ride along the Colorado River, at the base of Glenwood Canyon. The scenery will take your breath away! The trail also invites you to try any of the 3 spectacular hikes directly along your biking route. A lock is provided so you can lock your bikes at a trailhead, and set off on a beautiful hike. Below are trail descriptions for each hike.
- Hanging Lake Trail - approx 2 hours roundtrip
- Grizzly Creek Trail - out and back for as long as you want to hike
- No Name Trail - up and down for as long as you want to hike
Hanging Lake Trail
Difficulty: Challenging Trail
Trail Use: Moderate
Length: 2.4 miles
Elevation: Starts at 6110 feet, ends at 7160 feet, highest point 7160 feet
Elevation Gain: +1050
Open To: Hiking
Access: From Glenwood Springs, drive 9.5 miles east on I-70 to the Hanging Lake exit (there is no westbound exit, if traveling westbound, take the Grizzly Creek exit and get back on I-70 going west). The trailhead is on the north side of the highway, about a .25 miles east of the parking lot. There is a full rest stop with restrooms, drinking water, and information. Parking can be busy in the summer months.
Trail Highlights: The trail follows up Dead Horse Creek Canyon, to Hanging Lake and Sprouting Rock. The trail begins in oak brush, Pinon Pin and Juniper, then enters a Douglas fir forest with serviceberry and cottonwoods. The trail is well-maintained with many switchbacks and stairs.
Some parts of the trail are rocky and there are steep stairs carved into the rock at the final approach to the lake. There is a short trail off shoot that will take you above Hanging Lake to Sprouting Rock (be sure to take this).
Grizzly Creek Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Use: Moderate
Length: 3.4 miles
Elevation: Starts at 5994 feet, ends at 7733 feet, highest point 7733 feet
Elevation Gain: +1773 feet - 34 feet = +1739 feet
Open To: Hiking
Access: From Glenwood Springs travel east on I-70 to the Grizzly Creek exit, #121. The trailhead is on the north side of the highway next to the upper parking lot.
Trail Highlights: The trail travels up from the Colorado River through the canyon cut by Grizzly Creek, following the creek most of the time. The first 1/2 mile of the trail is broad and fairly level offering good spots to have a picnic near the creek.
The trail will become narrower and surrounded by dense, lush vegetation, some areas are very rocky. The last 1 1/2 miles are steep and covered with loose rocks with good views of Grizzly Creek and Glenwood Canyon near the top. The trail ends at a metal aqueduct that takes water out of the creek to be used for Glenwood Springs’ water supply.
Grizzly Creek History: Grizzly Creek was named by a man called Ryan, a wealthy game hunter who killed the largest grizzly bear in western Colorado in 1881 near the upper part of Grizzly Creek Canyon. Glenwood Canyon is home to a wide variety of wildlife including mule deer, porcupines, mountain lions, squirrels and some bighorn sheep, but no grizzly bears! The creek bed is dense with deciduous trees and shrubs which attract numerous species of song birds. Although it is difficult to cast in some areas because of the dense vegetation and large boulders, Grizzly Creek offers excellent fishing for whitefish in the lower stretches and brook trout in the upper sections.
No Name Trail (Jess Weaver Trail)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Use: Moderate
Length: 6.3 miles
Elevation: Starts at 6260 feet, ends at 9746 feet, highest point 9746 feet
Elevation Gain: +3216 feet - 130 feet = +3486 feet
Open To: Hiking
Access: Travel west on I-70 from Glenwood Springs and take the No Name exit. Turn right after you exit and travel 0.7 miles to the parking area and trailhead.
Trail Highlights: The trail follows No Name Creek and the hillsides along the creek, with the first 1.5 miles being a fairly gentle grade. The trail then leaves the creek with a number of switchbacks and continues along the hillside for 1.5 miles, crossing three smaller streams, before returning to and crossing No Name Creek.
If you can find the aqueduct you can follow this to Grizzly Creek Trail which will lead you back to the Interstate at the Grizzly Creek trailhead and picnic area.
The trail returns to the hillside for another 1.5 miles before again crossing No Name Creek. The trail forks to the right, this trail is East No Name. Most of the trail is very rocky with grades of 20-30 percent. The trail ends at FDR 631, from here you can follow the road until it heads back to the east and catch East No Name and take it back down to it’s junction with No Name.
Note: There are a number of good camping sites along the upper reaches of the trail and water is available along the entire trail route. No camping along the first 5 miles. The trail offers excellent views of Glenwood Canyon, which is home to a wide variety of wild-life including mule deer, porcupines, mountain lions, squirrels, and bighorn sheep. The creek bed is dense with deciduous trees and shrubs which attract numerous species of song birds.
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Note:Information comes from the White River National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver. All distances are one way. Feel free to call the bike shop for more information.
Pack it in – Pack it out
!!LEAVE NO TRACE!!