The best season for riding or hiking in the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Range is May to September. The palisades and Mt. Garfield, rising approximately 6,800 feet above sea level, are part of the Colorado plateau. The sculptured appearance was formed by an uplifted ancient sea bed combined with localized erosion. The Ute Indians and fur trappers roamed the trails of the Bookcliffs during the past century. These trails are extremely steep, rough, and challenging.
Footing is unstable and slippery, especially when wet.
There is no drinking water available along the trails. Carry plenty of water with you and stay on the trail. The dominant feature of Palisade's Riverbend Park is the Colorado River. In late summer and winter, the river is clear and sparkling, but in the spring, floods sweep cottonwood snags down the deep red current, and the river rushes noisily toward the sea. Migratory waterfowl is commonly seen in the fall and spring.