From I-70, take the I-70 business loop through Grand Junction. When the business loop meets Grand Ave, go right, toward Colorado National Monument. Grand Avenue crosses the Colorado River and becomes Broadway.

Once over the Colorado River, turn left onto Monument Road. Follow Monument Road about 2 blocks to D Road on the left. After 0.3 miles, turn right onto Rosevale Rd. After 0.9 miles on Rosevale Rd, turn right onto Little Park Road.

Follow Little Park Road 5.3 miles to the Bangs Canyon trailhead on the left side of the road. The large trailhead with a pit toilet is a minute off Little Park Road and well signed.

From the trailhead, follow the trail to Rough Canyon / Mica Mine. The trail follows an old road that passes through a sandstone road cut a few minutes from the trailhead. Once through the road cut, at the canyon bottom, the trail splits. Go right (left visits Rough Canyon).

The trail meanders mostly in or near the canyon bottom and has riparian scenery. A few bends up the skyline becomes jagged with sandstone towers and spires. Magnificent!

A small area of mica is visible on the left at about 1.25 miles, with a small dead-end mine tunnel visible shortly after. Continue past a couple of more minutes to the main mine, a huge undercut on a bend. The scale is impressive.

Return the same way after visiting the mine.