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BLM Camping

Lunch Loops Community Rec Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

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Lunch Loops Community Rec Area

One of the Truman administration's projects after World War II was the reorganization of governing bodies, including the formation of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1946. It manages 10 percent of American surface land and millions of subsurface mineral acres. The BLM works to keep the public land maintained for commercial, conservation, and recreational uses. Colorado regional territory managed by BLM offers millions of years of American history. These lands show how the continent's interior formed and what lived here before humans. You can visit the remains of older civilizations and see evidence of the nation's growth westward. Camping is possible and encouraged across the country on BLM lands with various fees and restrictions. To find BLM sites, search for "BLM camping near me."

The Lunch Loops Community Rec Area is located on the southern edge of the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Visitors can explore more than 20 miles of trails by foot or bicycle in this day-use area. The multi-use pathways vary from beginner-friendly to extremely difficult, covering terrain similar to that found at the Colorado National Monument to the west. A parking lot at the Tabeguache Trailhead offers a great place to park your RV and is equipped with bathrooms and an info center.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Kids Meal

This mountain bike trail is rated green and sits next to the parking lot. Its climb and descent are 60 feet. There are several technique-developing signs to help new explorers hone their skill set.

Length: 0.25 miles

Intensity: Easy

Ali Ali Loop

Rated blue, this path climbs 97 feet and drops 54 feet. It is a fast ride on mountain bikes with an average time of four minutes and 40 seconds. The trail is rocky and technical.

Length: 0.5 miles

Intensity: Intermediate

Eagle's Tail

This black-diamond trail climbs 795 feet and drops 173 feet. Average times on mountain bikes are approximately 18 minutes. It provides panoramic views of the Colorado National Monument up and along the ridge.

Length: 2 miles

Intensity: Difficult

Fishing and Boating

The Gunnison River merges with the Colorado River at Grand Junction. The waters here are wider and slower than the fast-moving waters downstream in Utah, making it a great spot for relaxing kayaking. Anglers can catch rainbow and cutthroat trout, bass, catfish, walleye, and pike.

Climbing

The terrain in the Lunch Loops Community Rec Area is better suited for hiking and mountain biking than rock climbing. Climbers have some decent options next door in the Colorado National Monument area, with several towers and desert cracks.

Wildlife Viewing

The best wildlife viewing opportunities are west of the Lunch Loops Community Rec Area in the Colorado National Monument. You will find a variety of animals on the trails or in surrounding areas. Several species of raptors and songbirds fly above the canyon, including golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, mourning doves, and white-throated swifts. Carnivores like the coyote, gray fox, and mountain lion hunt for prey like desert cottontails, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. Collared lizards, plateau striped whiptails, and the midget-faded rattlesnake are viewable among the rocks across the area.

Picnicking

With a lack of BLM RV camping sites along the trail loops, visitors will not find benches for picnicking. Most paths are narrow and inclined, providing minimal room for sitting comfortably. Visitors will find some space near parking areas, but the best picnic spots are outside the trail system. You can find locations along the Gunnison and Colorado rivers or in parks in Grand Junction itself.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

As a day-use area, the Lunch Loops Community Rec Area does not have dedicated BLM campgrounds or RV sites. There are several RV camping sites in and around Grand Junction that provide visitors with overnight RV amenities. That includes sites at the Grand Junction KOA Holiday and Canyon View RV Resort. You will find several RV dump stations in Grand Junction as well.

Free Camping

Bureau of Land Management free camping is available nearby at the Grand Valley Open OHV Area. Campsites in this area can accommodate RVs of all sizes, but there aren't any amenities available. The Nine Mile Hill area also offers free dispersed camping for RVs and tents.

RV Rentals Near Lunch Loops Community Rec Area Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Lunch Loops Community Rec Area BLM trip

Use proper off-trail footwear if you plan to run or hike the paths beyond the edges of the parking lot, as the terrain climbs and drops in elevation on all but the easiest trails. Sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50 is a must in the high-elevation desert-like conditions of the Lunch Loops area. Many of the narrow sections will only support traffic in one direction, so avoid blocking access by camping or picnicking on the trails.

Dedicated Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are off-site, so be prepared to be without RV amenities while parked at the trailhead during your time at the Lunch Loops. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

Cleanup and sustainability are part of the BLM's mission to manage public lands for maximum commercial, conservational, and recreational activities. Visitors to the Lunch Loops Community Rec Area must follow all restrictions and rules enforced by the BLM and other agencies. That includes reducing your footprint by cleaning up camping areas and trails, packing out additional trash, properly disposing of waste, and leaving natural objects in place. The philosophy of leaving no trace provides current and future visitors recreational enjoyment in a pristine natural setting.