I had one hour to get somewhere, one hour to get back, and a couple hours to hike and fish. I had my sunglasses on, my flyfishing gear in the truck, a map in hand, and a full tank of gas.  Lake of the Woods Trail in the Grand Mesa National Forest fit the bill.

Most people who enjoy this trail seem to be anglers in waders, heading to Bull Creek and Bull Basin reservoirs. Special fishing regulations apply to some of these lakes – if you fish, make sure you know the rules.

Lake of the Woods trail leads to Bull Creek, which flows from the outlets of Bull Creek reservoirs #1 and #2 and through reservoir #5. The upper mile of this stream is easily fished and it has several good pools. However, downstream the majority of Bull Creek is steep and brushy, and much of the stream has poor accessibility.

Bull Creek reservoirs #1 and #2 and the connecting channels require fishing by artificial flies and lures only, and and a bag, possession and size limit for trout of two fish 16 inches or longer.

Because of recent rains, there are plenty of bogs to slog through, so anglers in waders are well dressed for this trip. The trail is open to hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Good foot gear is therefore essential for the rest of us. The area is closed to motorized traffic.

Lake of the Woods Trail flows in, out and around a lush forest with meadows of thick, tall grass and wildflowers, patches of low-growing Oregon grape, dense stands of Aspen, Douglas fir and Englemann spruce. It bobs up, down, over and around small intermittent streams and across a twisting and rocky terrain that includes splendid glimpses of the Craig Crest.

To reach the Lake of the Woods Trailhead (Forest Service Trail #506), travel east from Grand Junction on Interstate 70 for 20 miles to the Grand Mesa/Powderhorn exit (#49). That’s Colorado Highway 65, a National Scenic and Historic Byway. It travels over the top of the Grand Mesa.

Go through the town of Mesa, past Powderhorn Ski Area and head into the forest. About two miles past the Mesa Lakes Resort area, on the last long curve before heading up the final stretch to the top of the Grand Mesa, you'll come to Mile Marker 38. Beyond the mile marker is a long cabled guard rail. Just past the cabled guard rail, turn left on graveled Forest Road 250. (Before your navigator has a fit, this Forest Service Road is not marked.) Travel four-tenths of a mile to a parking area large enough for horse trailers at the end of the road.

The trail is easy to find from the parking area, and because of the marker at the trailhead, it's easy to find on the map, on earth, and even on Google Earth. “SW SE Sec 30, T 11S, R95W, Mesa CO, COLO.”

Look it up. It's a good exercise, and reading a map is an outdoor survival skill we should all master.