Pot Holes Swimming Area
Just like the lemon squeezers, there are a few different natural swimming areas around Grand Junction known as the potholes. We know of at least three different places within 30 miles of Grand Junction that are all known by this name. They are all great swimming areas that are all naturally made of sandstone carved out over thousands of years.
For this blog post, we will start off with probably the most famous (and dangerous) potholes jumping area on top of the Colorado National Monument approx. 10 miles west of Glade Park Grocery Store.
Almost like clockwork, the potholes outside Glade Park make the Daily Newspaper every year, but not for the reasons you might imagine. On average, at least one person gets killed up here every year. Last year two people lost their lives.
Please use Extreme Caution if you decide to go cliff jumping at the Pot Holes. PLEASE do not bring any glass bottles and "DO NOT JUMP" in the springtime run-off when water levels are high. It not only looks like a giant spinning washing machine that time of year, "It Is".
Directions to the Potholes:
From Grand Junction at the corner of 1st and Grand Ave. head East towards the Redlands. Grand Ave. turns into Broadway once you cross over the Colorado River. Take your first left at the light after crossing the river onto Monument Road. Approx. 100 yards right after you go over the canal bridge is D road.At this point, you can either take a left on D road and follow it all the way up Little Park road and past Bangs Canyon or keep going up Monument Road (AKA Glade Park Road) towards the National Monument. If you choose to go up to Glade Park through the Colorado National Monument you'll run into the Park Service pay station.
It now costs $10 per vehicle to enter the National Monument unless you tell them you're going to Glade Park and they'll let you in for free. Both ways have extraordinary views and several other outdoor activities along the way. Going up the Monument is the shortest and fastest route getting to the Pot Holes.
Once you enter the Colorado National Monument keep going a few miles up to the top until you see the turn off for Cold Shiver's Cliff that'll be on your right-hand side. Go past Cold Shivers approx. 1 more mile to DS Road and turn left. There's a small sign showing Glade Park is 5 miles from there.
Glade Park is, for the most part, a small grocery store with not much except for snacks, pop, beer, and fishing worms. They ran out of gas about 6 months ago so make sure you're prepared before driving up the Monument.
Small Tip: At the Colorado National Monument entrance where you pay to enter, simply tell the Ranger you're headed up to Glade Park and they'll let you in for Free.
From the Glade Park Store keep heading forward on the same road. You'll see mile marker #20 right outside of town. Keep going until you see mile marker #13. Take the next left on the "gravel road" marked 9.8 road). Use the interactive map below to help guide you if needed.
Go down the gravel road approx. 2 miles until you see a house in the distance on your right side. Just before the house property, there's a small gravel road that's not marked but well traveled. Take a right on that road. Keep following approx. 1/4 mile until it dead ends. Park There.
Follow the main hiking trail heading towards the Little Dolores River. Hike about 1/4 mile and you'll start hearing the waterfalls from a long distance away. Keep following the sound and you'll soon be standing directly over the Pot Holes.
Stay Safe and Have Fun and PLEASE do not even consider jumping into the potholes when the water levels are high. Or, for that matter, if you are too.