Entry No. 91 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: ruins
Old Kiln Historical Site
Tucked away in the BLM-managed Bangs Canyon area, this site features a primitive, abandoned lime kiln built by early settlers. The structure was hand-built using local sandstone blocks and sealed with bentonite clay to process limestone into quicklime for mortar and whitewash. Today, the small, stone-stacked kiln remains hidden among the trees, easily reached via a short hike from Little Park Road.
The story
Before train lines and trucks made cement trivial to obtain, Grand Valley settlers had to manufacture mortar directly out of the wash. In the drainage south of town, early pioneers dragged native sandstone blocks together to dry-stack a primitive kiln, smearing bentonite clay into the joints to seal in the heat. They crammed the hollow with local limestone and built fires hot enough to reduce the rock to quicklime—the indispensable ingredient for early masonry mortar and whitewash.
Today, the stone stack sits quiet on Bureau of Land Management land in the Bangs Canyon area, gradually fading into the pinyon and juniper trees. There are no brass plaques or interpretive displays guarding it. What you get is a raw, hand-stacked pocket oven that survived desert flash floods and winter freezes, holding together on little more than local stone and clay grit.
What it's like
Take Little Park Road south out of town and pull off at the Old Kiln Trailhead. The route follows an easy dirt double-track into Bangs Canyon, but keep your eyes scanning the brush: the kiln isn't set up as a dramatic destination at the trail's end, but rather sits tucked away off to the side in the trees along the way. Expect no facilities, fees, or staff—just a brief desert walk through scrub country to hunt for pioneer stonework.
The move: Enjoy a scenic drive up Little Park Road followed by an easy, quiet hike along the Old Kiln Trail to search for and photograph the historic stone structure tucked away in the trees.
📍 Before you go The historic lime kiln is located on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area, accessible via the public Old Kiln Trail.
- 📍 Grand Junction
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Little Park Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Bangs Canyon Trailhead (Mica Mine) — Located less than a mile away in the same recreation area, pair these two hikes for a back-to-back tour of forgotten Grand Canyon mining and masonry ruins.
- Atomic Legacy Cabin — Extend your offbeat industrial history run with a drive down to Orchard Mesa to check out Grand Junction's secretive 1940s Cold War uranium center.
- Manhattan Project — Once you finish dusting off your boots in Bangs Canyon, head downtown to slip upstairs into this hidden speakeasy.
Good to know
Is there an admission fee or set operating hours?
No, the site is located on open BLM public land within the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area. Access is free, though you should confirm road and land status before heading out.
How difficult is the hike to the Old Kiln?
It is a short, easy hike following a former dirt road, suitable for casual walkers.
Where along the trail is the kiln structure located?
It is tucked among the trees along the path rather than sitting directly at the end of the Old Kiln Trail, so keep an eye on the surrounding brush as you hike.
What was bentonite clay used for in the kiln's construction?
Early builders slathered native bentonite clay between the hand-built sandstone blocks to act as a heat-resistant sealant while burning limestone into quicklime.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: gjhikes.com · kekbfm.com · alltrails.com
last checked: 2026-07-20