Redlands offers a variety of ways to spend time outdoors: a ten-mile loop, paths along the Colorado River, and golf courses with their own connections to the landscape. To plan your visit, it helps to start by distinguishing among trail types, activities, and scenery. A loop for walking or biking, a park trail network with additional recreational options, and trails for several non-motorized sports each offer a different focus.

Hiking and River Trails

The Monument Trail is a ten-mile loop through the Redlands landscape. It is a route for hikers and cyclists and is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. If you prefer a clearly defined loop, this type of trail differs from the network of trails at Connected Lakes Park. There, the trails pass through tall stands of trees and along the banks of the Colorado River.

Connected Lakes is in the north-central part of the Redlands. At Connected Lakes Park, fishing and picnicking are additional options alongside the trails. If you would like to combine a walk with fishing or a picnic, both options are available in the park.

Different landscape features are the main consideration when choosing a route: the trails at Connected Lakes Park run along the Colorado River, while the Lunch Loops offer views of the Grand Valley. If you are planning outings around a riverfront or valley views, this difference provides a specific point of reference.

Walkers can reach additional sections of the Riverfront Trails from Connected Lakes, including the Audubon Trail and the South Rim area of the Redlands. The Riverfront Trail runs from 25 Road to Redlands Parkway and continues into the Redlands. A section of the trail is also located at the Redlands Parkway underpass.

More Trails and Golf

The Lunch Loops offer non-motorized trails for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running, and are suitable for a range of skill levels. They are easy to reach from Grand Junction and offer views of the Grand Valley. Compared with the Monument Trail, a ten-mile loop for hikers and cyclists, the Lunch Loops bring together several sports and a range of skill levels.

Tiara Rado Golf Course is located on the Redlands at the foot of Colorado National Monument and is a scenic 18-hole course. Redlands Mesa Golf Course is nestled among Grand Junction's distinctive red mesas; its 18 holes were designed by architect Jim Engh. The setting and course design therefore provide specific points of reference for comparing the golf options.

Getting Your Bearings on Redlands Parkway

There are two specific points of reference along Redlands Parkway. A section of the Riverfront Trail is located at the underpass. The parking lot for the Redlands Parkway Boat Ramp is about half a mile along the parkway before the bridge.

Discover more destinations: Fruita, Grand Junction, De Beque, Palisade.

Go to the main travel overview: Mesa.