Battlement #2160 (West)

About Battlement #2160 (West)

This page describes the western half of the Battlement Trail. This portion of the trail traverses the Battlement Mesa, and can be accessed from the west via the Battlement Road or from the east via the Beaver Creek Trail. The trail stays along the top of the mesa, giving it an easy grade with good, wide tread. Along the way, the scenery alternates between stands of coniferous trees and open meadows. The trail crosses beneath North and South Mamm Peaks at approximately 4.5 miles from the Beaver Creek Trail (or 3.5 miles from the Battlement Road). Visitors can also expect to encounter several easy creek crossings along this route.The entire Battlement Trail is 17.5 miles long. From the top of the ridge above Beaver Creek, the trail descends into the Mamm Creek drainage and continues another 9.5 miles to the southeast. This ridge offers excellent views of the Mamm Creek drainage, Hunter Mesa, and the Grand Hogback.The Battlement Trail is open to hikers and horseback riders. This area is popular during big game hunting season. Please note that the trail is not regularly maintained between the Battlement Road and North Mamm Peak.Historical note: The Battlement Trail is also known as the "Government Trail," the "CCC Trail," or the "Cayton Trail." In the early twentieth century, forest ranger James Cayton followed this approximate route while patrolling the Battlement National Forest. You can learn more about James Cayton by visiting the webpage for the Cayton Ranger Station.

How to Get There

Via Battlement Road: From Rifle, head west on I-70 to Parachute (15 miles) and take exit 75. Turn left and follow County Road 215 across the Colorado River, and then turn right onto Battlement Parkway. Follow the Parkway to Stone Quarry Road (1.5 miles) and take a right. Proceed 0.3 miles and then take a left onto County Road 302 (Underwood Lane). Follow County Road 302 for 6.3 miles to the Battlement Trailhead. From the Battlement Trailhead, proceed up the Battlement Road for 2.2 miles. At 2.2 miles, after crossing through a large park, look for the end of the Battlement Trail off to the left, just before the road makes a sharp right turn.Via Beaver Creek Trail: From Rifle, travel south on Railroad Ave, cross over the Colorado River, and proceed straight through the first roundabout. Turn right at the second roundabout onto 7th Street, and then take a left turn onto Garden Lane. After a short distance, turn right onto County Road 320 and follow it for 2.5 miles. Stay left at the fork and proceed onto County Road 317. Follow County Road 317 for 7.3 miles to the Beaver Creek Trailhead (becomes Forest Road 824 after 5.6 miles). Along the way, you will pass several private driveways and well pads; please respect private property and stay on the public road. From the Beaver Creek Trailhead, follow the Beaver Creek trail for 1.12 miles to the top of the ridge. Enjoy the views of the Mamm Creek drainage, and then turn right to stay on top of the Mesa.

Plan Your Visit to Battlement #2160 (West)

Heading to Battlement #2160 (West)? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)