The Grand Mesa, just to the east of Grand Junction, reaches an elevation of about 10,800 feet. It gets tons of sun, yet it's a heck of a lot cooler in the summertime than it is down here in the valley. It's that elevation thing!

That's why I had to escape... with temperatures hovering around 92 degrees Fahrenheit in the valley, it wasn't the sun I was escaping from, it was the heat.

With that in mind, I grabbed my sunglasses, fly-fishing gear, map and sandwich. I had a full tank of gas in the truck, and Lake of the Woods Trail on the Grand Mesa was my destination.

Lake of the Woods Trail flows in, out and around a lush forest with meadows of thick, tall grass and wildflowers, patches of low-growing Oregon grape, dense stands of Aspen, Douglas fir and Englemann spruce. It bobs up, down, over and around small intermittent streams, and across a twisting and rocky terrain that includes splendid glimpses of the Craig Crest.

To reach the Lake of the Woods Trailhead (Forest Service Trail #506), travel east from Grand Junction on Interstate 70 for 20 miles to the Grand Mesa/Powderhorn exit (#49). That’s Colorado Highway 65, a National Scenic and Historic Byway. It travels over the top of the Grand Mesa.

Go through the town of Mesa, past Powderhorn Ski Area and head into the forest. About two miles past the Mesa Lakes Resort area, on the last long curve before heading up the final stretch to the top of the Grand Mesa, you'll come to Mile Marker 38. Beyond the mile marker is a long cabled guard rail. Just past the cabled guard rail, turn left on graveled Forest Road 250. (Before your navigator has a fit, this Forest Service Road is not marked.) Travel four-tenths of a mile to a parking area large enough for horse trailers at the end of the road.