STARTING POINT
1
We will begin our trip in the southwestern part of Grand Junction at the intersection of First Street and Grand Avenue, (this is also the intersection of U.S. Highways 6 and 50 and Colorado Highway 340), by following a sign on Highway 340 pointing westward toward the Monument. After crossing a viaduct over the railroad yards and a bridge across the Colorado River, we come to a traffic light and a sign pointing left toward the Monument. The road to the left connects with Monument Road which leads up No Thoroughfare Canyon to the East Entrance. However, we will continue westward toward The Redlands.
REDLANDS CANAL
2
Just beyond the stoplight we cross a bridge over the Redlands Power Canal which carries 675 cubic feet per second (cfs, or ft³s⁻¹)[35] from the Redlands Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River about 2½ miles south of Grand Junction. A quarter of a mile northwest of the bridge, most of the water falls to a lower powerplant that generates electricity for pumping the remaining 50 cfs to three lift canals, which are used mainly for irrigating peach orchards in the eastern part of The Redlands.
SOUTH BROADWAY
3
After Colorado Highway 340 curves right it is known as Broadway—a paved road serving much of The Redlands and connecting with the West Entrance of the Monument. We will follow Broadway about 3 miles, passing low outcrops and roadcuts of the Dakota Sandstone, some of which contain coal beds and some of which are covered by a veneer of gravel laid down by the river when the channel was higher. Then, at the first store and filling station we turn southwest on another paved road known as South Broadway.