McInnis Canyons
McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area in western Colorado offers dramatic sandstone canyons, high-desert plateaus, and multi-use trails. Access is via U.S. Highway 6 and Interstate 70, with trailheads for world-class mountain biking, canyoneering, and long-distance hiking.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Northwest Colorado |
| Subregion | Colorado Plateau |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Mesa County and Garfield County |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 38.935 |
| Longitude | -107.97 |
| Maps |
12:54 PM LOCAL TIMEMcInnis Canyons National Conservation Area protects a landscape of sweeping sandstone mesas, deep river canyons, and expansive high-desert plateaus formed by the confluence of the Colorado River, Glenwood Springs, and Fruita valleys. The area is crossed by major routes like U.S. Highway 6 and I-70, providing relatively easy land access to trailheads that serve recreational needs from the city of Grand Junction down to remote backcountry. Visitors come to Castle Valley and the Book Cliffs for mountain biking, particularly around Loma and De Beque, and to canyon trailheads for can-y bits of canyoneering and wildriver swimming. The landscape supports desert-adapted flora and fauna like Antilocapra americana (pronghorn) and Vulpes vulpes (red fox), and the area’s geology reveals layers of Entrada sandstone, Morrison formation, and basalt flows. Be prepared for variable desert weather—hot in summer, cold and windy at elevation—bringing layered clothing, plenty of water, and navigation tools. Whether you're planning multi-day trail routes, kayaking sections of the river, or linking viewpoints from roadside overlooks, McInnis Canyons rewards those who respect its remote corners and pack out what they pack in.
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