McDonald Creek Trailhead

About McDonald Creek Trailhead

Hike along a stream bed for several miles to the Colorado River in search of rock art sites among outstanding scenery. Please be considerate of this fragile desert canyon - All the rock art can be seen without leaving the trail. Binoculars are a very good way to see the rock art details. Please walk only in the streambed to help preserve the natural beauty and your sense of discovery of this area. The McDonald Creek Cultural Area is closed to camping and campfires and the trail is open to foot traffic only.

How to Get There

From Grand Junction, travel on I-70 west and take the exit to Rabbit Valley (2). Take a left and go over the interstate and straight into Rabbit Valley. Continue on the dirt road. Take a right at the first intersection and a left at the second intersection (you will see a sign about camping opportunities in Rabbit Valley at the second intersection) - from here, travel approximately 2.3 miles to the trailhead.

Plan Your Visit to McDonald Creek Trailhead

Heading to McDonald Creek Trailhead? 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)