Kokopelli's Trail was named after Kokopelli, a magical being recognized by many Native American groups of the Colorado Plateau. He’s the humped-back flute player and is associated with the Flute Clan of the Hopi Indians. Legend holds he was able to drive back winter with his flute playing. He wandered from village to village with a bag of songs on his back and, as a symbol of fertility, was welcome during spring planting.

I don’t know about that fertility stuff, and it’s not spring yet, but I wish I had his flute last week when I went mountain biking on the Lion’s Loop of Kokopelli’s Trail. Temperatures hovered around 50 degrees for this brisk ride on a loop located 20 miles west of downtown Grand Junction off I-70. Despite the cold, however, it provided a quick escape from the trials and tribulations of town. It’s easy to get to, easy to hike, harder to ride and quite refreshing. If you take the entire loop, you’ll overlook the mighty Colorado River near Salt Wash, before it exits the state and flows into the canyonlands of southeast Utah.

A lengthy stretch of this trail is open to motorized vehicles, hiking and bicycling, although most of it is designated for non-motorized use.

There are a couple spots where you can drive and park to reach this loop. You can take the Loma Exit off I-70 and travel south over the highway to the frontage road. Turn right on the frontage road and in .3 miles, veer to the left (south) toward a large parking and staging area.

I prefer to continue on the interstate and take the Mack Exit (Exit 11). At the bottom of the off-ramp, turn left and cross under I-70. The trailhead is straight ahead of you up the gravel road.

From the trailhead, go east on the graveled road approximately 1.2 miles, where you hit an intersection with Mary's Loop. To follow Lion's Loop, go right and climb a short, steep stretch over the ridge.

The section of trail from the frontage road south over the ridge and to the cattle reservoir intersection is both part of Mary's Loop and Lion's Loop. It’s marked with brown carbonate signs with directional arrows, but watch closely, because out here in the desert, they fade over time. The Lion’s Loop and all the Kokopelli's Trail, which runs from Loma to Moab, Utah, was built and is supported by the local Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Association (COPMOBA), BLM, and many other organizations and volunteers. It’s also supported by the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association), which urges everyone to plan ahead, leave no trace, control your bicycle, never spook animals and ride on open trails only.

You’ll find spectacular views overlooking the Colorado River here. You may also find archaeological artifacts, rocks, plants and other objects of interest. Please allow others a sense of discovery – be considerate of others and the environment by leaving what you find.