Serpents Trail trail head is on the eastern side of the Colorado National Monument. The trail called "the crookedest road in the world" it was part of the main road until 1950, it is said to be more then 50 switchbacks. The picture on the left shows a small example of the switchbacks.
The beginning of the trail has a large picnic area called Devils Kitchen picnic area. There are a bunch of nice picnic tables scattered around the area and a couple covered patio type picnic areas as well. If you walk towards the west, you can visit Devils Kitchen. We did not go that way this time but it is only about a quarter mile walk up a sloping hill.
We opted to head up the Serpents Trail. This trail is about 1 3/4 mile long and it is up hill the whole way. Be sure to bring plenty of water. The trail itself is very smooth and well maintained but the steady climb could tire you out fairly quick if you're out of shape as I am.
The trail does eventually end. There is a small parking area and a few big rocks
just off of the main road were you can sit and relax for a moment before you begin your trip back down. With the kids, it took us just over two hours to get to the end.
Sometimes going down can be about as rough as going up. We made pretty good time going down, we actually made it in just under 1 hour.
Plan to spend a long day if you decide to visit the Colorado National Monument, there are basically endless sights to see and a very large variety of hiking trails to explore. There is a $7 park fee but it is good for 7 days.
Riggs Hill
Riggs Hill is located a little over five miles from downtown Grand Junction. You can get there by taking Broadway Road from 1st and Grand, then turn south onto south Broadway and travel about a mile or two and the parking area will be on your right. You can't miss it.
Riggs hill is reported to be the site of the first official dinosour excavation in western Colorado. It's named for paleontologist Elmer S. Riggs. Riggs discovered fossils of the Brachiosaurus dinosour in this location back in 1900. Riggs hill is owned and maintained by the Museum of Western Colorado.
There are a number of trails that lead all over the mountain. 
If you take the southern trail that follows south Broadway there is a cast of a Brachiosaurus backbone and a small plaque describing the area. There is a nice trail that leads you to the top of the hill that provides a great view if the Grand Valley and the Colorado National Monument. The trail is not a real maintained one, there are a lot of little ledges you have to step up on and plenty of loose, rocky soil that 
makes you be cautious of where you step. Once you get to 
the top there are more little trails that lead to different areas, we opted to stay on the more travelled trails. On the north portion of the hill there is what appeared to be an old fence marking the boundry of the area. We did not see any signs indicating private property, so explore at your own discretion. The trail we took eventually looped around and ended back at the parking area.
Riggs Hill would have to be added to my "more liked" list just because of the geography and the close proximity to town. I enjoy every chance I get to go outdoors and this area just enforces my reasons for exploring new areas. The trail was just enough to be cautious of your steps but not tricky enough to be worried about getting in too deep, plus it is always great fun to explore a place you have never been before. Reading about the history of this area and being able to see the cast of the Brachiosaurus backbone made the trip very exciting. I would recommend this little hike to most any one.
MICA MINE
The Mica Mine trail is part of the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area located to the South/Southwest of Grand Junction. To get there you head West on Grand Avenue from 1st street and turn South onto Monument Road. Turn left (east) onto D road which turns into Rosevale Rd and follow it a little over a mile until you see Little Park Road on your right. Continue travelling on Little Park Road for about eight to nine miles and you will see the Bangs Canyon staging area on your left.
The Mica Mine trail is a really pretty hike. The trail is actually an old two track road that has been 
weathered down over the years. Towards the end of the trail there is an old Mica mine. There are little pieces of mica and quartz laying all over the ground. A little farther past the mica mine there is a pretty water fall. I was told you can climb up to the top of it. I'm not sure if the trail continues or stops. The water fall is at the end of the canyon. I took this latest trip with a class of sixth graders on a school field trip so due to all the kids we turned around at the water fall and headed back. I would like to explore this place a little more.
The beginning of the trail takes you down into a small canyon where you follow 
a little stream. Early spring and fall are the best times to hike this trail. The temperatures in the summer months can reach the high 90's or above. I just went in the middle of May and it was pleasant, the bugs were not out yet, the temperature was decent and the stream had running water in it. The last time I went on this trail it was late summer and the gnats were out thick and the stream was dried up.
The trail itself is easy, there are a couple places that require you to step carefully. Be sure to wear water proof shoes if you're 
going in the early spring, there are many stream crossings you have to make but most of them are shallow enough or have stepping stones that you don't get too wet. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather because this trail would be a bad place to encounter a flash flood as there are very few places to go to get to high ground.
Pollock Bench
Pollock Bench is approximetaly 10 miles West of Grand Junction. To get there you head West to Fruita and turn Left (South) at the Fruita exit and go about 1.5 miles to Kingsview Estates. Turn right (West) and stay on the main road for about 6 more miles. The road turns to gravel after a time but it is well gravelled. The road eventually ends and the trail head is on the left just before the road ends. There is a sign indicating Pollock Bench trail head.
The trail is listed as moderate to strenuous but it wasn't too bad. The trail itself is a designated trail and well marked. There are two options to take at the trail head, F1 and P1. P1 is Pollock Bench, F1 is Flume Canyon. The BLM website says Pollock Bench is 7.3 miles round trip but the maps you can get at the trail head states is it 5.4 miles. I didn't measure any mileage.
There are quite a few branches you can take to go in different directions. One of the side trails will take you to Rattlesnake Arches which is an awesome little hike that has the largest concentration of natual arches in the world next to Arches National Park.
Pollock Bench does a large loop and eventually hooks 
back in to the original trail. This trail offers some extrodinary scenery. Peace and tranquility is on the order here. We ran across some pretty cool lizards such as the collared lizard and the Western Whip Tail lizard plus a multitude of birds and varmints. There are Big Horn sheep in Devils Canyon which is close by so I suppose it wouldn't take much for them to wander over in this area too.
The trail is definetaly worth checking out, just be sure to bring plenty of water and bug repellant because the gnats can get pretty bothersome in the summer months.
