5 Reasons to Wait Before Hiking ‘Discovery Trail’ on Grand Mesa [LIST]

For the time being, you might want to avoid hiking the "Discovery Trail" located at the Grand Mesa Visitor Center. No doubt it is a fine trail, but now might not necessarily be the proper time.

Either this is the shortest trail in human history, or snow shoes are required. See that snow bank immediately left of the trail head sign? That's the Discovery Trail.

While the Grand Mesa is awesome 365 days a year, for the moment at least, you might want to select one of the other nearby trails for your hike. Here are five reasons you should avoid the "Discovery Trail" until such time as the snow melts.

1. The trail is only about an inch and a half long (before you hit the snow bank)
2. You need a ski lift just to get out the door
3. Snow shoes are required, just to get past the first three feet
4. The trail only goes one way....up
5. There's no telling what's on the other side of the snow bank

The top of the Mesa was gorgeous this last weekend. There are trails o' plenty available for hiking. In the case of the "Discovery Trail," Mother Nature simply had other plans. Lingering snow, combined with a little shade, has resulted in a snowbank blocking the trail. In any event, make a point to get up to the visitor center on the Mesa before it gets too hot, and more importantly, before mosquitoes get too thick.