It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. It has an area of about 500 square miles (1,300 km2) and stretches for about 40 miles (64 km) east of Grand Junction between the Colorado River and the Gunnison River, its tributary to the south.
How long does it take to drive through the Grand Mesa?
There’s a detour about halfway through the byway that leads to the Lands End Visitor Center. A beautiful overlook expands below. The trip takes about 2 hours with the detour, and 90 minutes without.
Is the Grand Mesa the largest flat top in the world?
No visit to Grand Junction would be complete without a trip to its biggest attraction: Grand Mesa. This distinctive formation, with its flat top and steep cliff sides, covers hundreds of square miles. It’s the largest flat top mountain in the world — and, consequently, is chock-full of things to do all year long.
What is on top of the Grand Mesa?
HISTORY OF GRAND MESA
The formation’s top layer is hard basalt and was formed about 10 million years ago, and it rests on layers of shale and sandstone. The softer layers were eroded over millions of years by the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers.
Is Grand Mesa worth visiting?
It runs for more than 62 miles from the northern terminus in Mesa to the southern terminus near Cedaredge. The drive offered dramatic landscapes, several points of interest, spectacular views, and little towns. Here are the 10 reasons we now think of Grand Mesa as the true hidden gem in this part of Colorado.
Can you drive up the Grand Mesa?
Getting to the Grand Mesa National Forest
The Mesa can be approached by driving eastward on I-70 or down US 50 out of Grand Junction. In the summer and fall, the venturesome driver can take US 50 to Lands End Road straight up the face of the mountain on a gravel road full of switchbacks.
Is the Grand Mesa a volcano?
Geology. Grand Mesa isn’t just the largest flat-top mountain in the world, it’s actually an extinct volcano that formed 10 million years ago. It’s estimated that the lava flows from the Grand Mesa volcanic field originally stretched for some 320,000 acres (129,499 ha).
Why are there so many lakes on the Grand Mesa?
At 800 square miles, northwest Colorado’s Grand Mesa is one of the largest flat-top mountains in the world, and its landscape sets it apart from much of the rest of Colorado — that so many lakes can be found so close together is a bit of an anomaly in this high-altitude state.
What is the flattest mountain in the world?
When discussing mountains – arguably the most famous( and obviously the flattest) is Table Mountain. The main feature of Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs.
When did the Grand Mesa erupt?
between about 10.9 and 9.6 million years ago
Geology. The mesa is topped by a hard layer of volcanic basalt. This layer formed between about 10.9 and 9.6 million years ago, by the eruption of at least 27 separate lava flows from a vent in the Crag Crest area and probably other vents.
How much snow does the Grand Mesa get?
According to Dobbs, that area of the Grand Mesa gets about 420 inches a year.
Why are mesas flat on top?
Combined with strong winds, these heavy rains erode the softer sedimentary layers over time. As a result of this type of erosion, mesas end up as tall landforms with steep sides and wide, flat tops. The top, durable layer (called cap rock) remains while the softer rock along the sides erodes away over time.
What causes a mesa?
Mesas are formed by erosion, when water washes smaller and softer types of rocks away from the top of a hill. The strong, durable rock that remains on top of a mesa is called caprock. A mesa is usually wider than it is tall. Mesas are usually found in dry regions where rock layers are horizontal.
Where can I see moose on Grand Mesa?
On the Grand Mesa, moose are found most frequently Gambel oak-dominated woodlands, followed by aspen, then conifer forests, and mixed aspen-conifer stands. Only 3% of locations since 2005 have been in willow or riparian areas. Approximately 60% of the locations are between 8,000 and 9,000 feet in elevation.
Why is Grand Junction famous?
Now home to more than 20 wineries, Grand Junction is known as Colorado’s Wine Country. The warm days and cool nights are exceptional conditions for producing hearty grapes, and red wine varietals in particular flourish in the conditions.
Why is Grand Junction popular?
Grand Junction is one of the capitals of the Western Slope and is packed with fantastic, exciting, and absolutely beautiful things to do. To start, Grand Junction is the home of the Colorado National Monument — a rust-colored canyon known for its rock formations, hiking trails, and epic views out over the Grand Valley.
Are there elk on the Grand Mesa?
Grand Mesa is located in western Colorado. The large National Forest area has backcountry hunting opportunities for trophy elk. The terrain is rugged, and the high altitude makes for a physical hunt.
What is the largest lake on the Grand Mesa?
Island Lake
Island Lake is the largest of the group, and vacationers can get a spectacular glimpse of it from the scenic Land O’Lakes lookout on the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway.
How long is Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument?
23-mile
One of the grandest scenic drives in the American West, the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive offers redrock canyons, crisp blue skies, and glorious views along the way for motorists and bicyclists. The road is inseparable from the identity of the Monument.
What’s the difference between a mesa and a plateau?
Plateaus are an extensive, raised, flat-surfaced area. Mesas are isolated, broad flat-topped mountains with at least one steep side. Mesas are abundant in the southwestern states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.
Can you swim in the lakes on the Grand Mesa?
Fishing, Boating & Paddleboarding
Several different species of fish, including rainbow and cutthroat trout, swim in the lakes and freshwater creeks that flow throughout the Mesa.