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National Recreation Trails - Crag Crest Trail
The Crag Crest Trail in the Grand Mesa National Forest, Colorado, was designated as a National Recreation Trail by Forest Service Chief John McGuire on March 14, 1978.
The Trail is on top of Grand Mesa, which is one of the largest flat top mountains in the world. The Grand Mesa rises more than a mile above the surrounding valleys to an elevation of over 11,000 feet. The Crag Crest National Recreation Trail was established for recreational enjoyment because it offers many scenic vistas and a unique display of geologic history.
Trail Information
The Crag Crest National Recreation Trail is a 10 mile long circular trail consisting of a crest portion and a loop portion.
The crest portion (6.5 miles) rises steeply from the East Trailhead to the top of Crag Crest. From the West Trailhead, the crest portion rises more gradually to the top of Crag Crest. Sections of the trail on the top of the ridge called Crag Crest are narrow with steep drop-offs on both sides.
The loop portion (3.5 miles) provides an alternate return route.
Only foot travel is allowed on the crest portion between the East Trailhead and Cottonwood Lakes Trail junction.
Both foot and horse travel are allowed on the loop portion and on the crest portion between the West Trailhead and Cottonwood Lakes Trail junction.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all portions of the Crag Crest Trail.
Vistas From Crag Crest
The view from Crag Crest extends in all directions. To the northwest, the Book and Roan Cliffs appear as multi-colored cliffs and slopes. These cliffs are north of Grand Junction. Battlement Mesa is the rugged lava-capped mountain to the north. Different stories have been related about the origin of Battlement's name. Some say the name describes its castle-like shape as seen from the north. Others believe the mesa received its name because of a skirmish between Indians and U.S. Army soldiers prior to 1881.
The highest point on the Grand Mesa is Leon Peak, located to the east. This 11,234-foot peak was once used as a fire lookout. In the distance, east from the trail, are the Elk Mountains, the Ragged Range, the Anthracite Range, and the Beckwith Range.
The view to the south includes Gunnison Peak, the West Elk Mountains, Uncompahgre Peak, the San Juan Range, and Lone Cone Peak.
To the west the Uncompahgre Plateau can be seen, and on the western horizon, the LaSal Mountains in eastern Utah may be visible.
Geology
Grand Mesa is the product of several hundred million years of geologic processes including volcanic action, glaciation, uplift deposition and erosion. rock layers, visible on the lower slopes of Grand Mesa, show that the area had been a beach, then a large shallow sea, and finally, a vast swamp between 70 to 100 million years ago. Decaying vegetation in the swamp ultimately formed the huge coal deposits of Grand Mesa. As recently as 50 million years ago the area was a lake basin in which sand, silt, clay, and a low grade oil shale were deposited to form sedimentary rocks.
The results of the last 10 million years of Grand Mesa's geologic history can be observed from the Crag Crest Trail. About 10 million years ago, lava poured from cracks in the earth's crust onto a broad, flat plain. Several successive lava flows built up a layer of volcanic rock about 400 feet thick covering the older sedimentary rocks.
The entire area has been gradually uplifted over the last 10 million years to its present 10,000 foot elevation. Because of erosion, the hardened lava flows now cover only the western end of Grand Mesa.
Crag Crest was formed by the actions of wind and water which eroded the softer sedimentary rocks under the hardened lava cap. As the underlying support was weakened, slip surfaces developed in the rock. Large blocks of rock slipped as units down these surfaces and tilted backward forming depressions. Many of these depressions are now lakes. The diagram below shows this geologic process called slumping.
From the Crag Crest Trail above Upper Eggleston Lake, evidence of slumping can be seen. Looking down at Butts Lake and the steep rocky slope above the lake, it is possible to visualize how the blocks of rock slipped and tilted to form the basin that contains Butts Lake. The rolling terrain to the north and south of Crag Crest is largely the result of the slumping process. The slumping process is still active--eventually the narrow ridge we know as Crag Crest will be destroyed.
One of the latest chapters in the geologic history of Grand Mesa occurred within the last million years. During the great ice ages, when ice covered much of the northern United States, mountain glaciers were a dominant feature in Colorado. Grand Mesa was covered at least twice by thick layers of snow and ice, which moved as glaciers into surrounding valleys. When the ice masses melted, sediment from glacier streams and low boulder covered ridges called moraines were left on the top and sides of Grand Mesa. Sometimes blocks of ice became separated from the main glacier and melted in place, forming surface depressions which now contain small lakes and ponds.
Natural History
The Crag Crest Trail rises from 10,150 feet at Eggleston Lake to 11,189 feet along the crest. At the lower elevations, the trail passes through stands of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir and open meadows. Quaking aspen, with leaves which are light green in the summer and brilliant yellow in the fall, grows among the dark green conifers. Patches of low-growing Oregon grape are found in and near these forested areas.
The forests and meadows provide food and cover for large game animals such as elk and deer. They may be seen feeding in the open meadows in the early morning or late evening. Black bear, mountain lion, and coyote also live on the Grand Mesa but are seldom sighted in areas where there are large numbers of people.
Porcupine, snowshoe rabbit, pine squirrel, chipmunk, pocket gopher, and various species of mice are some of the small mammals often seen along the trail. The pika or 'cony. and the yellow-belly marmot can often be detected among the rocks. Ravens, woodpeckers, flickers, finches, hawks, blue grouse, chickadees, robins, jays and humming birds are a few of the many kinds of birds which may be observed in the Crag Crest area.
Many of the lakes and reservoirs scattered over the Grand Mesa can be seen from high points along the trail. A large number of the natural lakes have been enlarged by damming and are used for water storage. Annual precipitation on the Grand Mesa is 30 inches or more with most of the water coming in the form of snow, which melts in the spring filling the lakes and reservoirs. The water also seeps into the porous, sedimentary rocks of the Grand Mesa and appears at lower elevations in springs or wells. This vast storage system provides water for the surrounding communities and for irrigating farmland.
Many of the lakes, reservoirs, and streams are stocked with trout and provide excellent fishing. The water is too cold for comfortable swimming. Although fishing has been the main attraction on the Grand Mesa, scenery, solitude, cool temperatures, and other opportunities attract many visitors.
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from Away.com
