Trip
Hiking – Comanche National Grasslands - Picket Wire Canyon
Please join us for an easy/moderate hike in Picket Wire Canyon in the Comanche National Grasslands near La Junta. This is a primitive canyon along the Purgatoire River with colorful canyon walls.
Contacts
- Sat, Oct 4, 2025
- El Pueblo
- Hiking
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 8.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 525 ft
- High Point Elevation: 4,633 ft
- Pace: 1 1/2 to 2 mph with breaks as needed
- 12 (11 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
The hike will start at the Withers Canyon/Dinosaur Footprints Trailhead which is southwest of La Junta at approximate lat/lon of 37.65964, -103.57093. Directions can be found on Google Maps. We’ll plan to hike to the Dolores Mission and Cemetery, which is about an 8-1/2-mile round trip, with the option of extending slightly or adding a side trip. This is an upside-down hike with about 400’ steep elevation loss/gain at beginning/end of the hike. Total elevation gain is 525’
If you would like, bring a camp chair and beverage of your choice for a post-hike libation at the trailhead.
We will meet at the Southeast corner of Albertsons Parking lot at 1601 Hwy 50, Pueblo, 81008 for a 7:30 am departure. From there we will carpool / caravan for the approximately 2-hour drive to the trailhead. The weather has been dry, so roads should be in good shape, but a high clearance or AWD vehicle is suggested.
An additional meeting point can be arranged along US 50 if desired.
Required Equipment
Bring snacks, lunch and 2 liters of water, in addition to the other 10 essentials. Sun protection will be important. The weather forecast currently shows a high of 78 degrees, but there is a potential for hotter weather in that location. We’ll check again a day or two before, but dress in layers for cool weather in the morning and potentially hot weather in the afternoon.