Rattlesnake Canyon Parking

About

Rattlesnake Canyon Parking serves as the access point for the Rattlesnake Arches in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, located near Fruita on the Western Slope. The site is notable for containing 35 natural arches, including eight major arches, representing the second-largest concentration of arches outside of Utah’s Arches National Park. The primary hiking route is the Pollock Bench Trail, a 15-mile roundtrip trek from the Pollock Bench Trailhead. This route is classified as strenuous and involves technical scrambling, minor cliff scaling, and sliding sections. Hikers should expect to spend approximately two hours on the trail, though the full loop is significantly longer. The area is accessible via a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle or the hiking route. Facilities at the trailhead include a large parking lot and vault toilets. Pets are permitted on the trail, though the Pollock Bench route has little shade and no water sources. The best time to visit is from September through November, when weather conditions are generally mild.