By: Ziggy Ross, Tourism Editor
Photos by: Olivia Peleaz
Grand Junction is home to many different hiking trails throughout the land. Some are popular among the people of the town, while others are hidden in plain sight from many people. The Riggs Hill hiking trail is one of these hidden gems that exists within this small town.
At the beginning of the trail, a kiosk is placed with trail guides and history of the site posted and available for hikers to take with them. The informational packet highlights the eight different points of interest along the trail with numbers.
Many dinosaur skeletons and remains were found in Colorado. Grand Junction is no exception. According to the informational packet available, Riggs Hill is the location where the first Brachiosaurus bone was discovered by Elmer Riggs in 1900. A cast of the bone sits along the trail for hikers to enjoy, while other fossils may be found in the dirt surrounding these small hills.
The trail is owned by the Museum of the West, a museum located in Grand Junction that aims to teach people about the history of Colorado. This museum worked with the Bureau of Land Management to make this trail a possibility for the people of Grand Junction. Dr. Julia McHugh, an employee with the museum, expressed the popularity of this trail, despite it being a bit hidden.
“This trail is extremely popular among Redlands residents,” Dr. McHugh said. “People especially love walking their dogs on the trail.”
The museum has been upkeeping Riggs Trail for many years, and recently started expanding it.
“In 2020, the museum acquired 5 additional acres at the location,” Dr. McHugh said. “This land has 2 geocachers, so it’s like a scavenger hunt. This became a popular spot during the pandemic for many residents.”
Grand Junction residents are not the only people to visit this trail, as many visitors make sure to stop by on their way through.
“I haven’t been hiking too many times, but I’m glad I took a chance with this trail” BJ Bierhorst said, a frequent visitor to Grand Junction. “Seeing a historical site like this was the highlight of my trip.”
This trail runs for about 0.75 miles, and it takes the average hiker about 30 to 45 minutes to complete if all eight points of interest are stopped at and observed according to the informational packet available. There is no bathroom along the trail, so hikers are advised to use facilities before making their way to the trail. Hikers are also advised to bring water and snacks along with them, but to make sure they clean up their trash and not to interact with the wildlife.
The trail is open from dawn to dusk each day. The location of the trail is not very clear, as there is no exact address that can be entered into a GPS to find the trail. However, hikers can input “Riggs Hill” into their Apple Maps or Google Maps, which will lead to the general area of the trail. The parking lot for the trail can be found off of S Broadway and across from Meadows Way.
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