Lion's Loop

About

Lion's Loop is a 5.1-mile hiking trail in Fruita, Colorado, rated difficult with an elevation of 5,167 feet. The route typically takes about three hours to complete and offers year-round access with parking available at the trailhead. The trail begins on Mary's Loop, just north of Steve's Loop, starting with a steep, loose quarter-mile climb along an old stock road. This initial section is often rutted but transitions into singletrack. After two-thirds of a mile, hikers pass a viewpoint on the left overlooking Steve's Loop and the Colorado River. The trail continues as doubletrack before becoming singletrack in style, then intersects another stock road at a switchback. From this junction, the trail heads north uphill along the Kokopelli Trail for approximately 2 miles. The northern and western sections span roughly 2.75 miles of dirt road climbing over Mack Ridge to Hawkeye Road. The route features challenging ascents and technical descents through high desert terrain, undulating sandstone ridges, and juniper forests. Hikers can see views of the Book Cliffs, the Colorado River Valley, and Horsethief Canyon. The trail is open all year, from January through December.