Name: Blue Mesa Trail
Rating: 4.0

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Avoid this trail during wet weather or if muddy conditions are present. This trail is an out-and-back to avoid a trespass as the trail drops into the Blue Creek Ranch. A bushwhack up to the mesa top is possible at mile 8 where existing two track exists to make this ride into a loop.

Description

The Blue Mesa Trail is found off Hwy 141 on CR P 12, 1/4 mile north of Mesa Creek. Follow P 12 up for 1.5 miles to the first unmarked doubletrack coming in from the left. The trail follows a bench high above the "narrows" section of Hwy 141 south of Gateway, Co.

Spectacular views of the Sew Em Up Mesa WSA are seen directly across the Dolores River to the west. The trail climbs steadily as it rounds the mesa, paralleling the cliffs above. After mile 7, the trail begins its descent into Blue Creek and the ranch at the bottom.

To avoid a trespass, this ride is ridden as an out-and-back with a fun descent back to the trailhead. For the more adventuresome, at mile 8 you can bushwhack up to the mesa top in less than one half mile and 200 ft of elevation gain. Blue Mesa has miles of doubletrack, from the old uranium exploration days, which will head south and eventually bring you off the mesa rim on the southeast side. This brings you back to P 12.