Colorado National Monument - Grand Junction, Colorado

Address:Off Hwy. 340
Fruita, Colorado
Tel: (970) 858-3617

Take a spin along the Rim Rock Drive for extraordinary vistas of the brightly-colored Monument Canyon and rock formations in almost every conceivable shape and size. Make sure the awe-inspiring Book Cliffs and Grand Mesa, the largest flat-top mountain in the world, are stops on your trip. If you're looking to get up-close and personal with the rugged landscape, try biking, horseback riding, or climbing your way through the breathtaking beauty of the park. You may spot a mule deer along the way and if you're lucky, a desert bighorn sheep or a bobcat.

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Sheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful formations, desert bighorn sheep, soaring eagles, and a spectacular road reflect the environment and history of the plateau-and-canyon country. Historic Rim Rock Drive offers 23 miles of breathtaking panoramic views and numerous overlooks. Trails lead across mesa tops and to spectacular overlooks or into backcountry canyons. Picnicking and camping are available. At an average elevation of 6,000 feet at the rim, the climate is relatively mild but can change rapidly to snow or summer storms. Around 275,000 people per year visit Colorado National Monument to enjoy these and other opportunities. The monument encompasses some 20,500 acres, and much of which has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness.