Grand Mesa to Palisade: Palisade Plunge Trail Officially Underway

Construction on the Palisade Plunge trail has officially begun. Soon you'll be able to ride 32 miles from the Grand Mesa to Palisade.

The Palisade Plunge trail is officially underway. The ground has been broken on the Palisade Plunge as of yesterday, July 24.

The Palisade Plunge will connect the Grand Mesa to Palisade, taking you from 10,700 feet to 4,700 feet. It's 32 miles long and connects to the Colorado Riverfront Trail.

The Palisade Plunge is an idea from eight years ago that was a part of Governor Hickenlooper's plan to upgrade 16 trails across Colorado.

Construction has officially started and here's how the Palisade Plunge will be completed:

• Phase 1 - the lower half of the route - from where it crosses Lands End Road below the rim of the Mesa, to the end of the dirt at Hwy 6 at the Palisade Rim Trailhead
• Phase 2 - the upper half of the route - connect Land's End, over the Grand Mesa to Highway 65

Phase 1 has begun and phase 2 is expected to start next summer, according to KKCO.