Rocky Mountains

Grand Mesa Trail

The World’s Largest Table Mountain

East of Grand Junction, the Grand Mesa is an astonishing place. Here, nearly 500 square miles of pristine forest have been lifted some 5,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, creating what some call the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. Many natural and man-made lakes make the mesa a fishing haven. Unlike anywhere else in Colorado, the peerless subalpine ecosystem here goes on and on without ever rising to a peak. With a paved and plowed road providing nearly year-round access, the Grand Mesa is one of the best places in Colorado to look for spruce-fir species such as Three-toed Woodpeckers, Red and White-winged Crossbills, and the hard-to-find Boreal Owl. The mesa also supports reintroduced and growing populations of Shiras moose. It’s worth a prime spot on any nature lover’s itinerary.