Walk Blue Mesa Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The steep descent off the mesa means the return climb hits harder than you expect for a one-mile loop — take it slow on the way back up, especially in summer heat when there is zero shade on the exposed trail.
Winter visitors should watch for ice patches on the paved upper section, particularly on the north-facing descent where sun never quite reaches during short winter days.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Hit this trail in the first or last hour of sunlight — the banded clay hills practically glow at low angles, and midday sun washes out the color contrasts that make this place special.
The bentonite clay gets slick as an ice rink when wet. If there has been rain in the last 24 hours, wear shoes with aggressive tread or consider postponing — the descent off the mesa becomes genuinely treacherous on wet clay.
Bring a polarizing filter if you shoot photos. The blue and purple bands pop dramatically when you cut the glare, and the petrified wood chunks photograph best from ground level with the banded hills as a backdrop.
Photos
NPS Photo/Stuart Holmes
