Colorado national monument was created in 1911 to protect one of the american southwests most iconic landscapes. The popular viewpoint, on the north side of the twisting road, has parking for cars. You can experience sheerwalled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of rim rock drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. Incredible whitewater rafting on the colorado river. The colorado river used to be called the grand river, hence the name of the town. Hundreds of miles of worldclass mountain biking trails such as the kokopelli trail. Colorado national monument, a ruggedly beautiful desert landscape more reminiscent of utahs grandeur, provides a look into the lesser known redrock landscapes of coloradomiles of trails wind through the monument, but if you can only do one long trail, the 11. The saddlehorn campground is open yearround and features both firstcome, firstserve sites, as well as reservable sites. If youd like to extend your visit to colorado national monument overnight, there is one campground that operates within the monument. Grand junction, colorado and mount garfield as seen from the colorado national monument on a sunny november day. The book cliffs view shelter offers a panoramic view of wedding and monument canyons, as well as views of fruita and grand junction, the book cliffs, and the grand mesa. The national park service celebrates its centennial this year. The hike sits on the 36,1acre little book cliffs wild horse range that provides free roaming and protection over herds of wild horses.
Vermilion cliffs national monument bureau of land management. A top attraction near grand junction includes the wildly impressive colorado national monument, set amidst within the larger region of the wellknown colorado plateau in the southwest region of the u. Mar 07, 2018 youll find the best scenery in grand junction at colorado national monument, overlooking the valley and the western front of the colorado rockies. In the particularly impressive fruita, wedding, and monument canyons near the west end of the park the cliffs are made up mostly of triassic and jurassic sediments. Event participants must park in the saddlehorn picnic parking lot. The independence monument trail is located in the colorado national monument. Drive or bike the 23mile rim rock drive for scenic views from the top of the canyons or hike among the 40 miles of trails to get a closer look at some of the parks sculpted rocks, wildlife, and desert plants. The monument canyon trail is a relatively long route, 6 miles, through the most spectacular scenery in colorado national monument, from the narrow ravine below the coke ovens, down the central drainage, past the isolated butte of independence monument and out beyond the lower edge of the cliffs to the flat lands of the colorado river valley. Fruita canyon overlook is a lofty roadside viewpoint at the head of fourmilelong fruita canyon on the west side of colorado national monument. Colorado national monument is drained entirely by the colorado river, which flows to the northwest in the wide grand valley just a few miles from the northeastern border fig. The scenery includes iconic independence monument, a sandstone tower soaring 450 feet above the canyon floor, and the coke ovens, a ridge eroded into a series of rounded cones.
Sites are suitable for recreational vehicles as well as tents. After the rocks at the overlook, the grand valley with the book cliffs. Aug 25, 2016 guide to colorados national parks, monuments and historic sites. Every lookout has a spot to park and you can just jump out and photograph the book cliffs and canyons. Rock climbing in colorado national monument, grand junction area.
Books cliff view overlook, colorado national monument. Colorado national monument is one of the great preserved landscapes of the american west, packed with red rock formations, deep canyons, panoramic views, and bighorn sheep. The western entrance and the beginning of rim rock drive for the monument starts the video as it pans clockwise. National conservation area exit 26 corkscrew trail corkscrew connector. Colorado national monument sheerwalled canyons, monoliths, colorful formations, bighorn sheep, soaring eagles and a spectacular road. Robbcolorado river and highline lake state parks, little book cliffs wild horse range. Mesa verde far view lodge far view lodge is the only lodging inside mesa verde. Find these viewpoints on the park map download the sunrise and sunset times check out the photo gallery for inspiration. This weekend diane and i stayed home and took it easy, but we did take some time on sunday afternoon to visit the west side of the colorado national monument for a couple of hours during a snowstorm. Start your trip with a stop at the colorado national monument visitor center, located near the west entrance, for uptodate information. The milelong drive on black ridge access road west of colorado national monument takes you to the upper trailhead, which makes for a much shorter hike. Fruita and grand junctions pride and joy if youre visiting fruita or grand junction, colorado national monument is probably on your list of things to do. This easy 12 mile hike begins at the visitor center and, like the name suggests, follows the rim of wedding canyon to the book cliffs viewpoint.
Colorado national monument the good, the bad and the rv. Colorful canyons, cliffs, and other rock formations tower 2,000 feet over the colorado river on this part of the spectacular colorado plateau. We stopped at the colorado national monument on our travels through the area. Garfield and the book cliffs in the distance colorado fruita to the left, grand junction in the middle and palisades to the right, under mt. Jan 22, 2012 cold monument sunrise by intrepidxj, on flickr sunrise from the base of the colorado national monument. The book cliffs view offers an intimate setting to have a wedding ceremony. The horseshoeshaped overlook offers great views of 5,739foot independence monument, a 450foothigh sandstone tower that sits on a divide between wedding and monument canyons. Head to this breathtaking viewpoint in the early hours of the day to watch the sunrise over the westfacing walls of the island and the valley floors of wedding and monument canyons. Best trails in colorado national monument colorado alltrails. Zillow has 74 homes for sale in grand junction co matching colorado national monument.
Cliffs of colorado national monument from robb state park. The trail gets heavy use from hikers, trail runners and rock climbers who mostly come to climb the monolith of independence monument. Directions located on the colorado plateau in northern arizona, vermilion cliffs national monument includes the paria canyonvermilion cliffs wilderness. The landscape is dominated by the vermillion cliffs, a formidable solid wall of rock that stretches for over 30 miles. Today the monument, one of eight in colorado, encompasses more than 20,000 acres of sandstone cliffs and monoliths, scenic canyons, and sparse vegetation. Washed out 09192002 the exposure was off, picture needs darkening.
The book cliffs view shelter offers one of the most breathtaking views the colorado national monument has to offer. Colorado national monument, grand junction, colorado. For a view of praying hands, independence monument, and the other statuesque monoliths in monument canyon, take a stroll along canyon rim trail. It is located about 20 miles to the east of downtown denver. A day at the colorado national monument visit grand junction. Discover the geological history that made colorado national monument one of the states most iconic landscapes. Official colorado national monument map pdf my colorado. Segment 14 of the colorado trail starts at the chalk creek th and climbs up to the trailhead on county road 290, which is a great place to start a short but strenuous hike up to a tree covered ridge with great views of chalk creek canyon, mt. Book cliffs and grand junction from colorado national monument. This is an area of desert land high on the colorado plateau, with pinion and juniper forests on the plateau. The colorado national monument is located at the northern edge of the uncompahgre plateau. We drove a snowpacked rim rock drive to its closure gate at the independence monument viewpoint and stopped to take a few.
Take in stunning views at the colorado national monument. Feature image for map of colorado national monument. When entering colorado national monuments western side, one of the first hikes you drive to is the canyon rim trail. The iconic overlook, perhaps the best in the monument, sits above abrupt cliffs. Located in fruita, colorado, the colorado national monument was established by president taft in 1911 and has been a protected site ever since. Book cliffs view grand view independence monument view monument canyon view coke ovens overlook artists point highland view.
Colorado national monument is named after the river rather than the state, and covers a relatively small area of eroded red rock formations and canyons just south of the colorado near grand junction. The shelter was built by the civilian conservation corps ccc and is registered as an historical building. Apr 29, 2017 colorado national monument is a very convenient stop just off i70 just e of the utah colorado state line. Grand junction, co we toured the colorado national monument in july of 2017 with mikes parents. On may 24, 1911, president william howard taft established colorado national monument in mesa county, near grand junction. Independence monument, the city of grand junction, and the book cliffs from the colorado national monument. Due largely to the tireless efforts of john otto, colorado national monument was designated as a national monument in 1911. Over millions of years tributaries of the colorado river carved through the edges of the high plateau bordering the river, creating a stunning area of colorful mazelike canyons, sculpted spires, pinnacles, and other jaw dropping sandstone creations. There is one paved road through colorado national monument, beginning south of grand junction just 4 miles from the town center, this flat city street broadway, later monument road crosses the colorado river, passes the entrance gate and becomes steep and twisting, round many 15 mph corners and through one tunnel, as it ascends the towering red cliffs.
This large city, near the utah border, is surrounded in most directions by impressive multicolored rocks. Colorado grand junction from colorado national monument with mt. Robb colorado river state park, grand junction picture. Driving through colorado national monument was very easy and gorgeous. Colorado national monument locally referred to as the monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction, colorado. Book cliffs viewpoint, colorado national monument amid the monument s countless orangeandbrown cliffs and rock formations, these cliffs attract the lions share of attention, calling to mind the image of a mighty giant who would deposit his treasured volumes on the worlds largest bookshelf. How to find the amazing arches of rattlesnake canyon. This is an area of desert land high on the colorado plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau. This inspirational overlook offers wideranging views into monument canyon below, of the coke ovens and squaw fingers, and of the distant book and roan cliffs, and grand mesa, the largest flattopped mountain in the world. Book cliffs view 09192002 the compression algorithm blurred the details of this picture of the book cliffs and grand junction from the book cliffs view in colorado national monument.
How long to tour colorado national monument grand junction. I stopped at almost all of the lookouts and they are all breathtaking. Book cliffs viewpoint, colorado national monument amid the monuments countless orangeandbrown cliffs and rock formations, these cliffs attract the lions share of attention, calling to mind the image of a mighty giant who would deposit his treasured volumes on the worlds largest bookshelf. Spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone, and even granitegneissschist, rock formations. The drive delivers dizzying cliffs edge views and is a memorable part. Independence monument view looks into the heart of colorado national monument from rim rock drive, a scenic road that traverses a bench above canyons for 22 miles. Cliffs near window rock view from the end of ottos trail. Colorado national monument sits just to the south of grand junction, colorado on the northern tip of the uncompahgre plateau.
Sheerwalled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granitegneissschist rock formations. Lake pasture lake san cristobal limestone ridge lookout mountain lost park lower greasewood creek mcelmo mexican. The track crosses the canyon rim between saddlehorn visitor center and book cliff view, and is a great way to begin your visit of colorado national monument. Book cliffs view grand view independence monument view monument canyon view coke ovens overlook artists point highland view fallen rock overlook upper ute canyon overlook red canyon. Colorado national monument is known for its cliffs, monoliths and rock formations mostly made of 200 million year old sandstones. This is a place where the land is old, a place where the colors of immense ancient red rock cliffs and monoliths meets the eye in every direction. Because of the location, we would like to drive through the colorado national monument, but i am not sure we would have time to see the monument. It takes effort to reach the rattlesnake canyon arches, but the reward of breathtaking scenery and solitude through canyons and across scrubby mesas is well worth the challenge. A drive through colorado national monument youtube. The small streams that drain the monument contain water only after summer thundershowers or after rapid snowmelt. If you want to do a trail at serpents trail or no thoroughfare trail or devils kitchen make sure to get there really early to get a parking spot or the upper parking lot will be full and youll have to park down in the lower lot,sometimes thats even full so make sure you get there early to beat the heat and get a parking spot its always beautiful i never get tired of any of the trails ive.
Colorado national monument balanced rock pipe organ independence monument coke ovens white rocks squaw fingers ottos bathtub liberty cap mushroom rock window rock. Colorado tourism colorado hotels colorado bed and breakfast colorado vacation rentals. The colorado national monument is located near the utah border next to the city of grand junction. Colorado national monument, colorado, red rocks, sandstone cliffs, roads, scenic drives, canyons, clouds image. The most famous of these formations is independence monument, the largest freestanding monument in the park at 450 feet high. The red cliffs are lit up with sunlight for a few minutes in the morning as the sun rises over the grand mesa. The overlook, fenced by a stone wall, is right next to a small parking area on the north side of rim rock drive. The vermillion cliffs rise nearly straight up 3,000 feet above the desert floor. Colorado national monument is a national monument in northwestern colorado.
Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. Exhilarating outdoor adventures including hiking, camping or skiing on the grand mesa. Guide to colorados national parks, monuments and historic sites. Colorado national monument s rim rock drive offers 19 overlooks and more than a dozen hiking trails from which to savor the ruggedly beautiful terrain. Nearby are the book cliffs and the largest flattopped mountain in the world, the grand mesa. National conservation area exit 26 corkscrew trail corkscrew connector trail l i t t l e p a r k r o a d c s r o a d 0 0 0. Colorado national monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the american west. Colorado national monument 09202002 view of monument from near the ranger station. Colorado national monument vandalized in promposal ask. The entire length of this trail, other than the loop around independence monument itself, is shared with the monument canyon trail and the wedding canyon loop. Artists point overlook has two viewpointsone by the parking area and one at the end of a short trail. This area has been protected as a national monument since 1911 and is located near the colorado town of fruita. The book cliffs view shelter offers a panoramic view of wedding and monument canyons, as well as views of fruita and grand junction, the. This lookout is one of the best in the national monument and the perfect spot to take in the surrounding area and all it has to offer.
After several lesser viewpoints, the rim rock drive passes through half. Highland view colorado nm check out tripadvisor members 3,939 candid photos and videos of colorado national monument. Colorado national monument and some thoughts on habitat. The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. With its deep canyons, layered orange rock walls and unique rock structures, colorado national monument gives you a small taste of what youll see if you explore southern utah, especially moab. Monument canyon trail and coke ovens overlook trail. Frontier airlines, united airlines, and southwest airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in concourses a, b, and c. It showcases fabulous rock formations carved by the colorado river which flows through the grand valley 2000 feet below. Book cliffs view, fruita, colorado trail run project. Things to do in colorado national monumentdriving along the drives 23 miles and stopping at 19 scenic overlooks, visitors can check off a list of wind and watersculpted rock formations with shapeinspired names like. Youll find the best scenery in grand junction at colorado national monument, overlooking the valley and the western front of the colorado rockies.
A day at the colorado national monument visit grand. An insiders guide to colorado national monument visit grand. Independence monument, the city of grand junction, and the. Vermillion cliffs national monument protects 294,000 acres in northern arizona. Colorado national monument 2020 all you need to know. Majestic wildlife, glorious nature scenes and more can be found at the colorado national monument, where travelers flock each year to take in the sights and participate in outdoor activities. Colorado national monument protects 20,500 acres of canyons and giant rock formations in western colorado. A view of grand junction, colorado from the national monument. Monument canyon trail and coke ovens overlook trail colorado national monument, colorado. The monument borders kaibab national forest to the west and glen canyon national recreation area to the east. Colorado national monument articles colorado encyclopedia.
The monuments 32 square miles of quiet, wild country have an otherworldly feel so much so, in fact, roadbikers nicknamed its rim rock drive tour of the moon. The colorado national monument is located just west of grand junction off interstate i70. Colorado national monuments natural spectacles the. Nick klinstiver is with rachael klinstiver at book cliffs view. On the way up mount garfield, be on the lookout for wild horses. Red canyon overlook is a viewpoint at colorado national monument that looks directly down red canyon from its head to grand junction in the grand valley to the northeast. This highland highway rises up 2000 feet above grand valley and follows the edge of uncompahgre plateau. Redlands view overlook in colorado national monument. The fenced overlook is reached by a 90foot hike on a gravel path from a small parking area on rim rock drive thats 0. Colorado national monument colorado scenic drives on. Colorado national monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction. Cliffs of colorado national monument from robb state park fruita check out tripadvisor members 1,990 candid photos and videos of james m.
Colorado national monument is one of those places that many of us drive by a hundred times its right between denver and moab, utah before finally entering the protected area and discovering the extent of this national treasurethat is so easily accessed from interstate70. Wedding and monument canyons, colorado national monument. Explore colorado national monument near grand junction for amazing views of red rock landscapes, deep canyons and sandstone towers. Colorado national monument balanced rock pipe organ independence monument coke ovens white rocks squaw fingers.
Sheer cliffs and deep canyons, red rocks and eerie. This winding, scenic drive shows off colorado s splendid beauty, including sheer redrock cliffs, breathtaking canyon views, isolated columns and gargantuan free standing slabs of rock. Aweinspiring natural beauty and the dramatic red rock landscape of the colorado national monument. Fruita canyon view, looking down across rim rock drive towards the colorado river. Huge gorgeous views of valleys, crumbling cliffs and breathtaking canyons. The colorado river flows through the valley between the book cliffs and the national monument. Each of 19 signed viewpoints and 14 trailheads are noted on the map. Looking for a great trail in colorado national monument, colorado. The scenic 23mile drive crosses colorado national monument. If you look one way, you see the city of grand junction, the book cliffs and the grand mesa.
Just off the saddlehorn loop, this pulloff is truly a mustsee. The book cliffs shelter viewed from the canyon rim trail. We will be doing a road trip and out of convenience, planned to stay overnight in grand junction on the way between mesa verde national park and rocky mountain national park. To be honest, we didnt realize it was a national park, and thought it really was just a monument. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround.
Sitting more than 2,000 feet above the colorado river, the plateau rose once, completely eroded, and rose again over the last 2 billion years. The monument is administered by the national park service so it has the feel of a national. Just as you would image, colorado national monument s rim rock drive lives up to its name. Highland viewcolorado nm picture of colorado national. The shelter is often used for small wedding ceremonies and also for ranger programs. Book cliffs view grand junction, colorado landmark. Colorado national monument grand junction real estate. Colorado national monument national park explorers. The monument is a fine area of desert climbing in colorado. Colorado national monument western colorado the forgotton monument colorado s hidden byways vi in the vastness of rugged western colorado, there is a place that was lost, rediscovered, and saved for posterity. Canyon rim trail to window rock colorado alltrails. This view does not include use of the book cliffs shelter. The cliffs and canyons of the colorado national monument, beside grand junction.
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