Rabbit Valley

Located in western Colorado, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area offers stunning views and endless recreational opportunities ranging from camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and off-roading. Five distinct campgrounds within Rabbit Valley were built for different user-types, from tent camping sites that retain a secluded feel to large group sites that can accommodate large RVs and trailers. The campsites and facilities are located with easy access to I-70 and within minutes of Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado. Reservations are required for all camping within Rabbit Valley. Roads are not maintained and can be narrow and rough. Access to Knowles Overlook is through a dry stream bed and changes quickly with passing storms; 4-wheel drive and high clearance may be needed. The best sites for RVs are the Koniklos (Equestrian) and Fluffle campgrounds and select High North sites. For each campsite, read the allowable equipment section for vehicle length and number limitations. Fluffle Campground has group sites with varying capacities that can accommodate up to five vehicles, up to 60 feet in length, plus day-use trailer parking spaces and a 4-pen corral. At High North Campground, site one is a group use site accommodating vehicles up to 60 feet; vehicles longer than 50 feet will want to consider approaching from the north via Hwy-6, as the access road from I-70 requires navigating a tight switchback turn. All other High North sites can accommodate two vehicles of various lengths. Koniklos (Equestrian) Campground is intended solely for visitors who come to Rabbit Valley for horseback riding; each site has an individual corral, there are 10 day-use parking areas and 2 day-use corrals, and sites accommodate two vehicles up to 60 feet. The road to Koniklos is through a rocky wash and is not easily accessed by low-clearance vehicles. Jouflas Campground is intended for tent camping, with no group sites, and cannot accommodate vehicles longer than 25 feet. Knowles Overlook Campground is for tent and overland style campers, maximum vehicle length 30 feet, with high clearance and 4x4 strongly recommended; be weather weary in visiting this campsite as access is through a wash. Rabbit Valley is nestled among scattered juniper trees at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, with scenic views of the Colorado River, the San Juan and La Sal Mountains, the Colorado National Monument, and the western flanks of the 10,000 ft Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. The area is known for its paleontological resources, including the family friendly Trail Through Time, a self-guided interpretive hike where you can experience dinosaur bones on the landscape. Vegetation is sparse, with only occasional green-ups and wildflower blooms following wet weather. Average annual precipitation is less than 10 inches, and temperature extremes range from below zero to 105 degrees Fahrenheit; spring and fall are more moderate. Just west is Fruita, a hub for outdoor recreation on nearby public lands including the red-rock canyons of Colorado National Monument and the rest of the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, home of the Kokopelli trail system, the Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness. The Grand Valley, formed by the Colorado River flowing between Palisade and Loma, offers scenic drives, hiking, horseback riding, biking, rafting, rock climbing, wildlife viewing and off-roading, and is well known for its orchards, vineyards and wineries and the communities of Palisade, Grand Junction and Fruita.