Towering thousands of feet above I-70 and stretching 200 miles east to west, Grand Junction’s Bookcliffs are an intimidating challenge to even the most skilled nature walkers. The prominent outcrop, known as Mt. Garfield, can be reached by a 2-mile trail that rapidly ascends 2,000 feet. The Bureau of Land Management cautions, “These trails are extremely steep, rough and challenging.”

If strenuous workouts and heights don’t scare you, take 1-70 east until you reach exit 42. Turn right on 37 3/10 Rd and take another right onto G 7/10 Rd immediately after crossing an irrigation ditch. At the end of the street, take a right and head straight through the looming underpass – foreshadowing is a funny thing.

Once you loop around to the trailhead, it’s time to get those legs pumping. The trail shoots up a gray hill of mancos shale without much of a clear destination in site. Luckily, there are plenty of unique boulders dotting the landscape to distract you from the burning in your thighs. By distract, I mean they serve as excellent tanning slabs to kick back and relax.

An abandoned coalmine can also be spotted toward the top the incline, and while the curious nature walker may be inclined to investigate, the structure is incredibly dangerous. Toxic chemicals and weak support make entering the mine out of the question, but you can still appreciate its historical merit.

When the mine was active, over 1,720,000 tons of coal poured out of its mouth. That’s nothing compared to the 4.9 billion tons estimated to still be buried under the massive sedimentary structure.

The abundance of coal has to do with the areas geological past. Sediments eroded from the mountains in Utah and became finely-grained sand along the Western Interior Seaway that covered the Grand Valley during the Cretaceous. As land uplifted and the sea receded, marsh-like areas generated a plethora of peat, which gradually transformed into coal over time. A lucky nature walker may even stumble on remaining marine fossils.

A tiny mesa extends from the top of the incline to a rocky ledge, which sometimes has “wild” horses or mountain goats grazing. This is a great place to recharge and get ready for the final battle against gravity.

After hoisting yourself around the rocky ledge, a relatively flat trail curves around the cliffs and once again takes a steep climb. Fix your eyes on the American flag marking the top, and you’ll be there in no time.

Looking out from the summit of Mt. Garfield is like soaring on eagle wings. The green fields, lazy rivers and beautiful mountains on the perimeter resonate with the spirit of the west.