Dave Wood Interpretive Trail

About

The Dave Wood Interpretive Trail, also known as Simms Mesa Loop, is a moderate hiking route located in the Plateau Division of the Uncompahgre National Forest near Montrose, Colorado. Situated at an elevation of approximately 8,050 feet, the trail begins at the Forest Service boundary on Dave Wood Road. It follows a smooth, graveled path through thickets of oakbrush and tall stands of ponderosa pines. The route is designed as an interpretive nature walk, featuring numbered posts that correspond to a brochure or online guide detailing local ecosystems and history. The trail connects to the Simms Mesa Loop Connector Trail, which adds interpretive stations 5 through 9. Parking is available at the trailhead, and the route is pet-friendly. While the database lists the difficulty as moderate and the typical duration as about 2 hours, external sources describe the path as suitable for families and even baby strollers, with some noting a round-trip distance of 0.8 miles and a duration of 30 minutes. The trail is accessible from September through November, offering fall hiking opportunities in a forested sub-alpine environment.