We saw white, furry mountain goats up on the rock itself. The North Fruita desert recreation area includes over 250 miles of designated recreation routes. Needle Rock is the unofficial symbol of Crawford Country, and it is worth the trip to see it up close. Needle Rock & the Needle Rock Trail: Needle Rock is the eroded plug of an extinct volcano that rises 700 feet above Missouri Flats about 4 miles east of Crawford. I really enjoyed this short, but challenging hike. Like. Needlerock Trail is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Crawford, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. Go 2.2 miles and go straight onto 4200 Rd. Off a dirt road, I recommend 4WD. Nice views and scenery. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Activities include hiking, rock climbing, and photography. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Turn right on Cottonwood Creek Rd. The rock quality is poor, but the summit offers excellent views. Needle Rock Trail is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Crawford, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. I was going to hike to area around Needle Rock but it was extremely hot and dusty that day. Activities include hiking, rock climbing, and photography. My kids (youngest is 2.5) made it up the trail fairly easily and enjoyed the whole hike! This trail is a loooot steeper than it’s made out to be. Fauna includes falcon and various other raptors, and various small mammals. Needle Rock Unit 3 offers clean, stylish comfort tucked into an amazing location for your vacation in Telluride. Less than 100 yards further uphill is The Thumb. Biking. Please do not attempt to park in the way of the landowners. Needle Rock Trail is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Crawford, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. Near Crawford, Colorado, I Hiked Needle Rock trail with my sister Jan and brother in law Jeff. Leaving extra equipment behind at this point would make it easier as would having trekking poles. I'd say it's easy for an experienced hiker. The brush can do a number on bare legs as the trail is very narrow. Welcome to the on-line version of our off-highway vehicle trail guide. Needle Rock Spur C #8712.1C Easy. Needle Rock lies within the western edge of the West Elk Mountains in western central Colorado. Very nice short rugged trail that climbs up to the back of the needle. I highly recommend this hike. Needle Rock Trail . Needle Rock is a 1.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Scottsdale, Arizona that features a river and is good for all skill levels. Take Needle Rock Road in Crawford to the parking area on the south side of the spire where the trail begins. I wished I’d had crampons for the upper portion of the trail, especially as I was coming back down. It is a relatively short hike, but there are a few sections that it is slightly difficult to gain footing. But it has unique "energy" … There are no facilities at this trailhead other than a small shelter and table. Needle Rock is an iconic landmark visible from Highway 92 near the town of Crawford. Go 1 mile and turn right right on 4300 Ln. This interactive map includes all the trail systems from our most recent paper maps. As others stated, it gets steeper toward the top. Vegetation consists mainly of oak, serviceberry, juniper, native grasses, and shrubs. ATV Riding. Regulations Crawford State Park is maintained for your use and enjoyment. Needle Rock, Castle Rock and Saddle Mountain. The volcanic plug stands at the western edge of the West Elk Mountains rising 800 ft from the Gunnison River Valley. Needle Rock is the unofficial symbol of Crawford Country, and it is worth the short trip to see it up close. Needle Rock originated in the late Miocene as molten rock which remained below the earth’s surface and intruded into sedimentary formations. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has administered the area since 1965. The trail is quite the ways off the main highway. Route: Start at Crawford’s post office on HWY 92 and Dogwood. Humboldt Peak is a straightforward, easy to moderate fourteener with beautiful views of Crestone Peak and Needle, also fourteeners. Saw and elk cow and her calf too. Its not geologically interesting, being igneous. Featured Routes. The first half of the trail is made of an old Forest Road making for an easy approach to the South Colony Lakes. Ward Lake Trail. Otherwise enjoyable and lovely views! Situated outside the town of Fruita, the 18 Road & Kokopelli Loop Trails provide options for riders to experience some of the most playful mountain bike trails in the State of Colorado. This is a great short hike. Weather. The higher you go on the base of Needlerock, the more beautiful the West Elk Mountains become. Needle Rock lies within the western edge of the West Elk Mountains in western central Colorado. It’s a short but steep trail, beautiful any time of the year! Follow Rio Verde Drive for another 9 ½ miles to Forest Road (FR) 20 and turn left. Needle Rock is an intrusive plug of monzonite porphyry cropping out 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east-northeast (bearing 68°) of the Town of Crawford in Delta County, Colorado, United States. Hiking. I recommend starting early in the morning, because the Western Slope of Colorado can reach triple digits quickly. I was honestly a little shocked to learn this hike is under a mile, because the climb up felt like it was a couple miles -LOL! From Pima Road, turn east on Dynamite Road and travel 3 miles to where it merges with Rio Verde Drive. Needle Rock is a prominent volcanic plug which rises close to a 1,000 feet from the valley floor. At one point we were on our hands and knees crawling up a nearly vertical incline. The first rock you will see is The Needle. Areas; CO … Central Rockies ... 7,322' 2,232 m High 7,304' 2,226 m Low. Needlerock Trail is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Crawford, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. Maybe someone should take a machete up there? The trail starts just up the gully and goes for an enjoyable yet steep 5 minute approach. At an elevation of 7,797 feet (2,377 m), the towering rock spire stands 800 feet (240 m) tall above the floor of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River valley. Needle Rock Featured Route 0.8mi Needle Rock WSA. Distance : 1.2 miles round trip Difficulty : Easy. Some reviews recommended wearing pants. The Thimble is a sliver of rock lying just East of The Thumb. It became quite slippery in parts. This is a highly unique geologic feature believed to be a neck of intrusive igneous rock, or a laccolith. Due to the nature of the rock, expect loose, chossy adventure climbing that is poorly protected. My grandparents live 4 miles away.. so getting there was easy. Gradually, with the passing of several million years, the overlying sedimentary beds eroded away, leaving this core of igneous rock that abruptly rises nearly 1,000 feet above the Smith Fork River valley. We went on a Sunday evening and had it basically to ourselves. It’s easy to see why Grand … Its great as a background in a photo. The last part is really steep and I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone. Approx. It will turn into Needle Rock Rd. There is a 0.8-mile trail that offers scenic views of the area. Good little jaunt. Gives a good view of Lamborn and Landsend Peaks. It's just a quick side trip if you're in the area of Crawford. Beautiful trail:). Within the boundaries of Crawford State Park are 337 land acres and the 400-acre reservoir, which was built in 1963 by the US Bureau of Reclamation. The Sangre de Cristo Range is one of the most unique and scenic ranges in the Colorado Rockies. It was rewarding to reach the top but I’m glad it wasn’t any longer of a trail! Mount Lamborn. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Let’s you get up to the back of it but nothing too wild, Needle Rock Trail - steep and rocky, unstable toward the top. Get Here. Bring lots of water. Beautiful views, but again, take hiking shoes and water. Nice, short, more challenging hike for kids but they loved it! Mileage: 7.6 miles. Needle Rock Needle Rock is a volcanic plug which originated as throat of a large volcano about 28 million years ago and stands 800' above the floor of the Smith Fork Valley. Ute Council Tree, Delta Once a 200-plus-year-old cottonwood where it's been claimed that Chief Ouray, his wife Chipeta and Ouray’s braves met with white settlers to smoke the pipe of peace and settle their differences, what remains of the Ute Council Tree is … It was definitely steep but my 59 year old uncle and I made it up and back down in less than an hour. This is a nice hike up, and very un-crowded. A storm was about to roll in so we stopped short of the top. For more information, please contact the … The view toward the top is fantastic, with views of the mountains, the back of Needle Rock, and Grand Mesa. Needle Rock is a rock tower located on the boundary of Telluride Ski Resort. Horseback Riding. It is the remnant of a volcanic plug that pushed up through the crust, and due to the relative hardness of the basalt of which it is made, has eroded significantly slower than the surrounding mancos shale and sandstone that makes up many of the rocks in the area. Trail on Smith Fork in Needle Rock Wilderness Study Area. This campground is basically the northern point of the Sinkyone (Usal Beach is the southern), making it very convenient with trailheads and a visitor center. They cannot be used to promote individual, for-profit … There were spots to stop and stack rocks too which they loved and nice views near the top. Nice trail and close to where I live so can be a good shorter regular spot. This split-level condo offers a bedroom and full bathroom on the first level with an open living area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom on the second level. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Follow FR 20 for 3 miles to Needle Rock at the river. Go east on Dogwood for .1 mile. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Colorado Mountain Biking Opportunities: Fruita Trails. Like stated before... view gets better the higher you climb. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Colorado Trail Explorer. The top of the trail gets steep and the dry gravelly path made the decline a little precarious. According to the Bureau of Land Management website, Needle Rock formed as the throat of a large volcano about 28 million years ago. OHV Riding (>50”) Nordic Skiing. Snowmobiling. Interesting geology, This is a great trail! This is a short connector trail or alternate route and has no details, though it will appear on all maps. Length 0.8 miElevation gain 554 ftRoute type Out & back The views are amazing especially during sunset over the Missouri Flats! The Needle Rock WSA is dominated by its namesake and main feature: Needle Rock. Good hike! It was myself, 4 year old and 3.5 year old. Any Activity. Note: Photos are to be used only to promote Colorado as a leisure destination or in a news story. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Off the beaten path, so definitely isolated. The views are worth the hike. Trail gets somewhat hard to follow the higher you climb. Not much shade so better to go outside of peak daylight / heat. It is usually climbed in the summer, but could be climbed in the winter and approached on skis. From the parking area on the south side of the spire, a trail leads up as far as one might want to venture on foot. Needle Rock Ditch is covered by the Paonia, CO US Topo Map quadrant Click any pin for more details; the number preceeding each trail/area name corresponds to the printed map. Motorcycle Riding. Snowshoeing. First of all, it's spelled NEEDLEROCK...not like it is above. 6 days in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Pulpit Rock Overlook South Rim Road 3 days in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES South Rim Road Rim Rock Trail Tomichi Point 4 days in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park … Mount Meeker is a high mountain summit of the Twin Peaks Massif in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America.The 13,916-foot (4,242 m) thirteener is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, 4.8 miles (7.7 km) west by north (bearing 285°) of the community of Allenspark in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. Steep and rocky in part but both kids made it up and back down safely. Would recommend this hike! Mount Lamborn, the high point of Delta County, lifts wooded slopes to its … Description This environmental campground has a pretty gnarly view of Needle Rock and Double Rock which are some crazy rock formations jutting out of the ocean. The brush is a little thick at the top so wear pants and sleeves that don't snag. Dominating the skyline, this interesting rock feature is located just outside Crawford Colorado (north of the Black Canyon). The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. The last quarter of the trial is steep and loose, but worth it to get to the base of the rock! 3. I wish I would’ve heeded their advice. A short but steep hiking trail gets you up close and personal with the geologic wonder. Needle Rock Trail is a 0.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Crawford, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. Go .5 miles. Fantastic views. 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