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Cave, Hike
Added on 25 Jul 2017
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Cave
Added on 25 Jul 2017
Andy's Tunnel
Grand Junction, Colorado
4.5 miles SW of Grand Junction, ColoradoAndy's Tunnel is a quirky little surprise hidden in the Lunch Loop trail system just outside Grand Junction, Colorado — a short natural rock tunnel, roughly fifty feet long, that you can walk right through in the middle of a desert ride or hike. Most of it is big enough to stand and walk in, making it a fun, shady retreat and a favorite curiosity along Andy's Loop in the Tabeguache trail network on the Colorado National Monument's doorstep. It's not a destination you'd drive across the state for, but as a landmark on a great loop of redrock singletrack, it's exactly the kind of find that makes the Lunch Loop special.
The tunnel sits on Andy's Loop, part of the beloved Lunch Loop (Tabeguache) trails, a compact web of mountain-bike and hiking routes carved into the sandstone bluffs and canyons southwest of downtown Grand Junction. Andy's Loop sees less traffic than the busier Tabeguache trails nearby, offering solid uphill grunts, technical singletrack, fast-rolling descents, and genuinely spectacular views around its back side. The trails are shared by mountain bikers, hikers, and horseback riders, so a bit of trail courtesy goes a long way, especially on the blind corners and narrow rock sections.
Access is easy and free. The Lunch Loop trailhead sits right on Monument Road, and Andy's Loop can be reached from there or from the Little Park Trailhead just across the road — both are only a few minutes from town, which is part of the system's enduring appeal. This is high-desert terrain, though, with little shade outside the tunnel itself: summer heat is fierce, so spring and fall are the friendliest seasons, and early mornings are best in the warm months.
Come prepared for the desert even on a short outing — carry plenty of water, wear sun protection and grippy shoes or tires for the slickrock and loose-over-hard sections, and keep an eye on the sky, since afternoon storms can make the rock slick and the washes run. Whether you're spinning a quick after-work loop or exploring the Lunch Loop for the first time, ducking through Andy's Tunnel is a small, memorable bit of fun in one of Grand Junction's best backyard trail systems.
Anvil Points Claystone Cave
Rifle, Colorado
7.1 miles W of Rifle, ColoradoAnvil Points Claystone Cave is an unusual and genuinely adventurous cave on the west slope of Colorado near Rifle, tucked into the arid hills just north of Interstate 70 out toward the little community of Rulison. Unlike the limestone and lava caves that dominate most caving lists, this is a claystone cave, carved into soft sedimentary rock, and it offers about 2,500 feet of passage that ranges from tight crawls to genuinely large walking corridors. For prepared, experienced cavers it's a distinctive underground trip; for everyone else, it's a place to understand before setting out.
The cave has real character. Inside, the passage varies dramatically, from tight crawlways to big rooms measuring something like 60 feet tall and 40 feet wide, a striking range within a single system. It's also strikingly cold, holding around 55 degrees while the surface bakes near 100 in summer, and it breathes: there's a notable wind moving through the cave, which is part of what makes descending into it such a memorable contrast with the desert outside.
Reaching it is a modest effort, about a half-mile hike from the road, with the cave located roughly 2 miles north of I-70. One important practical caution: the usual parking near the oil pad on the west side of the road is likely private property, so it's worth sorting out legal parking and access before you go rather than assuming. This is working energy country as well as caving country, and respecting land status matters.
Caving here demands the standard serious-caving kit and mindset. Bring at least three independent sources of light, a helmet, and dress for a cold, windy environment; claystone can be slick and messy, and a 2,500-foot cave with tight crawls is no place to be under-equipped or alone. Never rely on a phone light, and let someone know your plan and expected return.
The cooler months and shoulder seasons are the most comfortable for the surface approach across the exposed west-slope hills, while the cave interior stays cold and windy year-round, so layers are essential no matter the season. There's no water and little shade on the approach.
Come with a helmet, multiple lights plus spare batteries, gloves, warm and cave-worthy clothing you don't mind getting muddy, sturdy boots, and a partner. Sort out access and parking ahead of time, tread carefully in the fragile claystone passages, and take nothing but photos. For experienced cavers looking for something genuinely different in western Colorado, Anvil Points Claystone Cave is a memorable and unusual underground adventure.
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