Reading the layered plateau country above the Grand Valley in Mesa County

The high country of eastern Mesa County is some of the most striking geology in Colorado. The plateaus and cliffs above the Grand Valley are stacked from layer upon layer of rock, and learning how they are built is part of the pleasure of living and exploring here.

Part of that story is that some of those layers are weak and can move, sometimes slowly over years and sometimes fast. In 2014, a large landslide came down the West Salt Creek valley near Collbran, and three local men lost their lives. The Colorado Geological Survey studies that event closely and maps landslide hazards across the county, especially below cliff rims and in old slide areas.

Good to know if you are buying land or building in the higher, steeper parts of the county or near a canyon rim: it is worth understanding the ground first. Past failures can mark places more likely to move again, so a look before you commit is simply smart planning, not a cause for worry.

For the documented account and for landslide-hazard information, rely on the Colorado Geological Survey rather than secondhand stories.