We have driven past this eastbound I-70 pull-off countless times and thought about placing a cache here to assist travelers wanting to get a better view and perhaps a photo of Mt. Garfield without the windshield and wiper-blades! Well, today we happened to have a geocache container in the car.
The first settlers in the Grand Valley arrived in 1882 near the nearby community of Palisade (famous for it's peach orchards and wineries). They named this promontory Mt. Garfield in memory of President James Garfield who was assissinated in 1881.
It appears to be a place void of people, but the opposite is true. On any given day in most any weather conditions numberous people hike the two mile trail to the summit which is 2,000 feet above I-70. A parking lot is available at the base. It can be accessed by exiting I-70 at Palisade (Exit 42). then going south until you cross of the irrigation ditch bridge then turning right on G-7/10 road and following it approximately 1.5 miles where you will be turning right onto 35 - 8/10 road. Continue north until you cross under I-70. DO NOT ENTER THE UNDERPASS IF IT IS FLOODING! Continue beyond I-70 a short distance to the parking lot. Yes, the trail is that well-worn skinny-steep path on the ridge!
THIS HIKE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT-OF-HEART! YOU MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE SEASONAL CONDITIONS. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN RAINING OR SNOWING CONDITIONS UNLESS YOU ARE APPROPRIATELY EQUIPPED.
DO NOT ATTEMP TO ACCESS THIS CACHE FROM THE WESTBOUND LANES OF I-70. It is located at the eastbound pull-off at the posted coordinates.
Mt. Garfield
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