Jouflas Trail

About

The Jouflas Trail is a 5.5-mile moderate singletrack hike located near Fruita, Colorado, on the Western Slope. Starting from a trailhead marked by a cattle guard and parking area, hikers follow the McDonald Creek Trail southwest for approximately 1.5 to 2 miles before turning left at a cairn. The route heads south, hugging the rim of the Colorado River where views of the water are visible below. At roughly 5.5 miles, the trail diverts from the river to pass beneath large sandstone cliffs and walls. The path crosses slickrock sections marked by cairns and winds through juniper forest before meeting a cattle fence. Hikers follow the fence northward to return to the starting point near the parked vehicles. The trail is open year-round and typically takes about three hours to complete at an elevation of 5,037 feet. Wildlife observations include bald eagles along the river in winter and western bluebirds throughout the season.