Exploring the Douglas Pass area (Grand Junction, Fruita: camping, place to live, price)

[griff09m]

I've always wanted to explore the area around Douglas Pass, which I've only driven over twice before. On a map it seems clear enough. There are roads heading out on the ridge both east and west from the pass. Do any of you know what those roads are like in good summer conditions? What kind of vehicle can explore them and for how far?

In order to make this thread more worthwhile, I might as well share my thoughts on this area. I can't wait to spend more time out here! It's a beautiful place, an unexpected alpine environment. I would imagine camping and hiking are limited, however. Grand Junction is a wonderful place to live, and this is just one of the amazing little areas you can find.

Finally, what is the name of the mountain range that Douglas Pass is in? Some people describe the whole place as the book cliffs, but even lifelong Grand Junction natives can't tell me.

[jazzlover]

The Book Cliffs actually extend from east of Grand Junction all the way west well into Utah--nearly as far as Price. As for the roads around Douglas Pass, they can be OK, but rough and extremely dusty in dry weather. In wet weather, the "'dobe" soil, just as it is in most of west central Colorado, can make the roads nearly impassable, even in a 4WD with mud-type tires. Depending on location, there will be a lot of oilfield traffic, as well.

A more scenic and historic drive is along the old Uintah Railroad grade over Baxter Pass, a few miles to the west. It, too, can be nearly impassable when wet, and horribly dusty when dry. Read up about the railroad and the gilsonite it hauled to the refinery near Mack.

BLM Cultural Resource Series: Colorado-Cultural Resources Series No. 2 (Chapter 8)

http://ds.heavyoil.utah.edu/dspace/b...01964_0012.pdf

For many years, gilsonite was refined into gasoline at the refinery located west of Fruita, and sold at many places on the Western Slope. Before the days of unleaded gas, one could always tell when a car was burning "gilsonite gas" because it produced an orange-colored residue in the exhaust system. My family and I used a lot of gilsonite/coal gasoline in my younger years.