Palisade Plunge

Route Information

The Palisade Plunge provides ~32 mi of trail atop the Grand Mesa and along its stunning west flank as it traverses and descends to the Colorado River and the Town of Palisade below.

The route begins at the Mesa Top Trailhead on Hwy 65 at over 10,730′ altitude and covers nearly 12 miles of the topmost stretches of the Grand Mesa on rolling intermediate singletrack at typically cool mountain temperatures, moving through mixed forests and meadows to reach Shirttail Point Trailhead on the western rim of the Grand Mesa. At Shirttail Point, the trail begins its first substantial descent through a reconstructed section of the historic trail pioneered in the early 1900s by local legend John Otto, champion of the nearby Colorado National Monument. The “Otto’s Wall” switchback section of the trail is not for the faint of heart – ride (or walk) carefully! Note: beginning your ride at Shirttail Point still yields a 20+ mile challenging backcountry ride.

From that descent into the flank of the Kannah Creek basin, the trail traverses through dense aspen groves, skirting the volcanic boulder fields from the rim above, and challenges riders with a back-country epic riding flavor unique to the region. Crossing Lands End Road for a final time at ~15 miles, the Plunge begins another descent into Whitewater Basin, crossing Whitewater Creek, shifting riders into advanced singletrack and a hotter, drier, desert environment. The route’s variety of terrain and views of western Colorado landmarks mixes sections of tech and traditional backcountry trail while catching slickrock playgrounds and sections of extreme exposure. The final descent along a ridgeline with views of the Grand Valley will grab riders’ attention and not hand it back freely. The final finish is a techy classic desert canyon, ending at Hwy 6 and the Palisade Rim Trailhead. An additional 1+ miles along paved River Road delivers riders into downtown Palisade.

Be Prepared: See Suggested Ride Prep Information

The Palisade Plunge navigates remote, backcountry terrain with some sections of extreme exposure that require high levels of confidence and skill to ride. Less experienced riders may easily get in a difficult position with no alternate routes except backtracking to Lands End Road. Trail enthusiasts are encouraged to carefully consider their experience, skills, and preparedness before taking “The Plunge”. Remember you are descending from an alpine to desert environment where the temperatures in the summer season can increase more than 30 degrees by the end of the ride.

• Summer season temperatures can reach the high 90s to 100s on the lower section of the Palisade Plunge. Be sure to bring plenty of food and water with you and appropriate clothing and bike repair supplies.

• No direct potable water is available at the Mesa Top or Shirttail Point trailheads or on the trail. The last reliably available water is at Whitewater Creek, ~mile 16+, which requires filtering or treatment for reliably safe consumption.

• Preparedness at the start of your ride for hot weather and dry conditions throughout late spring to summer is critical.

• Check the weather forecast before you start your ride, you may encounter severe weather (wind, snow, hail, rain and lightning) in addition to seasonal hot temperatures on the lower sections of the trail.

Donate to the Plunge

The Palisade Plunge trail is an enormous project. Due to the scale of the trail and the terrain through which it was built, as well as additional parking, trailhead, restroom facilities, and a final paved path section that was needed, this project cost totaled roughly ~$3.43M. To ensure the long-term success of this trail, it is critical that the mountain bike, run, and walk community also supports the project and ongoing maintenance of the trail through locally-driven fundraising efforts. This Plunge Maintenance fund is the best opportunity for individuals and businesses to donate to the Palisade Plunge trail.

You can donate at any level, at any time, and as often as you’d like. After you’ve donated below, please share this information with your friend network and let them know how important this project is for the singletrack community of Colorado. If you’d like to donate by check instead of online, donations can be mailed to PO Box 4602, Grand Junction, CO 81502 with a notation that the donation is for the Palisade Plunge maintenance.

THANKS TO ALL PALISADE Plunge Supporters!

All Metals Welding, Ben Johnson, Christi Reece, Craig Hughes, Dana Mancuso, David Kuhny, James Neu, Jeff Kuhr, Jodi Niernberg, Jonathan Brule, Jordan Davy, Judy Vanderleest, Justin Elliott, Kate Pierce, Kevin Sperle, Marcus Popefz, Mark Esposito, Michael Neste, Mike Foster, Montrose Dermatology, Palisade Brewery, Palisade Chamber of Commerce, Palisade Cycle & Shuttle, Palisade Sunrise Rotary, Peach Street Distillery, Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Randy Miller, Sarah Shrader, Sarah Wood, Scott Howard, Sean Brumelle, Sean Cotter, The Gear Junction, Tim Fry, WealthSource Partners, William Roberts

*Supporters listed above have made contributions of $500 or more to the Plunge 

Plunge History

The Palisade Plunge connects the top of the Grand Mesa (10,700′+) to the Town of Palisade, CO, (4,700′) via 32 miles of back-country singletrack – yes, 6000′ of net relief. The Plunge is guaranteed to offer a challenging and fun experience on bike or foot. The Plunge route also connects with miles of existing trail atop the Grand Mesa, passing through stunning back-country terrain that most riders only dream of. The final connection into downtown Palisade and the fun amenities there completes via a paved path, and on to the Colorado Riverfront Trail for further connectivity.

“This project exemplifies how a community can come together and create something great for the community and visitors,” stated BLM Grand Junction Field Manager Greg Wolfgang. “This project will have many positive impacts on the Grand Valley for generations.”

Plunge FAQ