Unit 231 is a Grand Mesa subunit covering portions of the high plateau—Mesa and Delta County country on the world's largest flat-topped mountain (over 500 square miles of mesa-top above 10,000 feet). Elevations run from about 6,500 feet on the southern flanks near Cedaredge to 11,000 feet on the mesa rim near Land's End. The Grand Mesa is geologically improbable: a massive volcanic-capped basalt plateau studded with over 300 small lakes, ringed by aspen forests, and dotted with subalpine spruce-fir parks. Vegetation steps up dramatically: PJ-and-juniper on the lower flanks, Gambel oakbrush and aspen on the mid-slopes, dense subalpine spruce-fir on the mesa top with aspen pockets and grass-and-willow meadow systems around the lakes. Mule deer and elk both produce well here; black bear is excellent in the oakbrush; the lakes hold trout and the unit gets heavy summer recreation. Grand Mesa National Forest dominates the mesa top; private ranches cover the lower flanks. CO-65 (Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway) is the paved spine running south from I-70 at Mesa over the top of the mesa to Cedaredge—a stunning drive that shuts down with the first significant snow. Forest roads branch off into the lakes and timber. Cedaredge, Collbran, and Mesa are the gateway towns—all small with limited services; Grand Junction is the regional hub an hour west. Cell service is intermittent on the mesa top and gone in the timber. Pressure is heavy along CO-65 and the lake-circuit roads becuase access is so easy; hunters who hike into the side drainages and the deeper timber pockets find quality. Snow on the mesa can come early and shut access fast.