Guides/Overland routes/Colorado
Overland route63 midifficulty: easy

Grand Mesa Scenic Byway

RegionColoradoAgencyU.S. Forest Service, Colorado Department of TransportationLast verified—
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway — overland route near Cedaredge, Colorado, Colorado
Photo by Sally Pearce / Federal Highway Administration via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
63mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Any street-legal vehicle. Paved its full length and plowed year-round.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
Spotty on the mesa top; service near both ends.
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Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is a 63-mile paved highway, CO-65, that crosses Grand Mesa between I-70 at Plateau City and US-50 at Delta. The mesa is one of the largest flat-topped mountains in the world, rising 6,000 feet above the surrounding valleys to a summit at 10,839 feet. More than 300 lakes dot the mesa top, most stocked for fishing. Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison National Forest manages the surrounding land.

The road is paved its full length and plowed year-round. Most drivers run the byway in two to three hours, longer with stops at the lake basins or the visitor center. There are no technical obstacles. The interest is the dramatic climb up the mesa edge and access to the lake-and-spruce forest on top.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Winter conditions. The mesa stays cold; ice patches persist into spring on shaded sections.
  • Wildlife. Elk and deer cross routinely on the mesa-top corridor.
  • Crosswinds at the rim. Particularly at the Land's End spur.
  • Limited services on the mesa top. Fuel is at the bottom on either side.
  • Rapid weather changes. Snow squalls possible in any month at 10,000 feet.

Location

63 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 39.046, -108.057

Trail facts

4 fields
AgencyU.S. Forest Service, Colorado Department of Transportation
Nearest townCedaredge, Colorado
Websitewww.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug
Approx. location39.046, -108.057

Getting there

Directions

From I-70 at Plateau City (north entrance). Take I-70 to Plateau City, then turn south on CO-65.

From Delta / Cedaredge (south entrance). From Delta on US-50, take CO-92 east to Hotchkiss, then CO-65 north to Cedaredge and the byway.

Photos

2 photos

Photos · 2

Field notes

Getting Oriented

Grand Mesa rises from the Gunnison River valley near Delta in the south to the Colorado River valley near Plateau City in the north. The byway crosses the mesa from south to north on CO-65. Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison National Forest's Grand Valley Ranger District manages the mesa-top corridor. The Land's End Road, a separate gravel route, descends the mesa's western edge with views into the Uncompahgre Valley.

Trail Overview

Sixty-three miles, point-to-point, paved. The southern climb out of Cedaredge gains about 5,000 feet to the mesa top via switchbacks; the northern descent drops about the same to Plateau City. The mesa-top section runs through spruce-fir forest with lake basins on both sides of the road. There are no off-road sections.

Points of Interest

  • Grand Mesa Visitor Center. USFS visitor center at the mesa-top crest with interpretive displays on the mesa's geology and ecology.
  • Land O' Lakes Overlook. Pullout near the visitor center with views over the lake basins.
  • Land's End Road. Separate gravel route descending the western edge of the mesa with views into the Uncompahgre Valley.
  • Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Small ski area on the mesa, open in winter.
  • Lake basin loops. Multiple FS roads off the byway loop through stocked lakes for fishing access.
  • Cedaredge. Apple-orchard town at the southern foot of the mesa.

Where to Camp

GMUG maintains a string of mesa-top developed campgrounds: Carp Lake, Eggleston, Spruce Grove, Jumbo, Cobbett Lake, Big Creek, Island Lake, and Little Bear. Dispersed camping is allowed on FS land off side roads. Cedaredge and Plateau City have private campgrounds.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • The mesa-top campgrounds fill on summer weekends. Reserve in advance through Recreation.gov.
  • The Land's End Road off the byway is a worthwhile gravel side trip with one of the best views in western Colorado.
  • Bring fishing gear. The mesa's lakes are heavily stocked.
  • Top off in Cedaredge or Plateau City. The mesa-top lodges sell limited supplies but no fuel.
  • The mesa stays cool. Bring layers in any season.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Grand Mesa Scenic Byway?
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is rated easy. The route runs 63 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Grand Mesa Scenic Byway?
Any street-legal vehicle. Paved its full length and plowed year-round.
When is the best time to visit Grand Mesa Scenic Byway?
The best months are May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Is there cell service at Grand Mesa Scenic Byway?
Spotty on the mesa top; service near both ends.