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Colorado National Monument

4.8 (128 reviews)
Open Open 24 hours
Updated 2 weeks ago

Colorado National Monument Hiking Photos

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Entrance
Bee W.

With our parks pass we decided to stop on our way back to Colorado. But because of the government shutdown, no fees collected. We drove in and enjoyed the scenic route. Stopped to look at the different rock formations and admire Mother Nature's work. One of my favorite places to visit.

Joy S.

We had never heard of this national monument until we saw some signs for it on the highway going into Grand Junction, CO. We decided we had a little time after supper before it got dark, so we drove out to see it. What a fantastic surprise it turned out to be! The road through it wound back and forth on the edge of gorgeous canyons and rock formations. There were several areas to pull over and view the scenery. If we'd had more time, hiking in the area would've been fun. As it was, we ran out of light before we ran out of scenery! The road doesn't have guardrails everywhere, so be sure to take your time and drive carefully. Highly recommend visiting this gem.

Jeffrey S.

I was embarrassingly old years old when I realized this place was a national monument. To rectify that, it went on my list as a spot to visit and before long we carved out a weekend for that purpose. Located near the town of Grand Junction, Colorado, it's not the largest national monument, nor the most remote. You can feel the development moving in, with some parts of the hike we chose actually along a fenceline peering into backyards. But despite that, it's still quite an incredible little nugget carved out of the desert plateau. It feels like a portmanteau of several of the west's best national parks (Canyonlands, Arches) all scrunched into a tidy and accessible package. We opted for a hike, followed by a drive over the entire scenic road, which is probably the best way to see this if you only have a day. You can get a great feel for it after just a day, but I'm sure the locals would say you really ought to get out on a few more hikes. What a fun treat to have here, on what turned out to be a great weekend in Grand Junction. Don't sleep on it like I did.

Ed T.

This review is for Monument Canyon Loop Trail which was a ~4.5 miles round trip that took ~2.5 hours to complete. Started the loop by going counterclockwise. A few extremely steep inclines and snow further in. Stunning views of the canyon and rocks! Not a fan of the fence adjacent to the trail near the beginning and the end. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/-CTPNnfPIlo

Saddle horn campsite
Rus M.

Food: 0/5 Service: 0/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Parking: 4/5 Family friendly: 5/5 Stroller friendly: 5/5 Saddlehorn Campsite was amazing! Took a little time to get up the top where the camp site from Fruita, CO, but well worth it. Only downside: there isn't much shade if you're going to stay during the summer. Make sure to bring your own, but also be aware of the wind that kicks up from time to time. Cool amenities here include: clean bathrooms, water, and picnic benches. Highly recommend this place!

Book cliffs view from Rim trail
Kris L.

This is a fantastic, less known park, a bit like Bryce Canyon meets Monument Valley with uncrowned hikes.n We started at Fruita, avoiding the busier and closer to town Devils Kitchen area. The views towards the town and the river valley from the Historic Trails view were a fabulous start. Do hike the easy ( but hot) Canyon Rim Trail to Book Cliffs and Window Rock trail for a more immersive experience. The short hike to the Coke Ovens is also a must do. We turned around after Coke ovens so that we could do a 5.6 mile loop trail of Wedding Canyon and Monument Canyon from the parking lot on highway 340 - this was a suggestion from a Park Ranger and an excellent one. Take lots of water if you do this and hiking boots as this is moderately challenging with uphill sections and only shade in a few spots - more shade on the Wedding Canyon side in the late afternoon.

Israel G.

Absolutely STUNNING!! This place is must see if you're driving through Grand Junction!! It's not too far off the freeway and you can drive through the park! The views were just spectacular! We drove through the park, stopped for about 15 minutes taking pics, and spent about 20 minutes in the visitor center. All together it took about 90 minutes from entry to exit. You could make this a 45 minutes trip or 4-5 hours. All depends on your pace and what you want to see.

Linda L.

Beautiful, magical with stunning views! But know before you go! ~The Colorado National Monument has two entrances but THE BEST entrance is off the I-70 from Fruita to the west entrance. This is where most of the magic is! ~The monument is open 24 hours a day year-round. ~Rim Rock Drive offers 23 miles of stunning cliff, rock formations/monoliths (as tall as 450 feet!) and breathtaking canyon views! Be sure to stop at the scenic overlooks along the way for photo ops and informative signage. ~There are varying entrance fees, so be sure to check out their website. During the winter season the entrance station is closed. Unless you've got an annual pass there is an "honor system" payment box...please be sure to pay before you look, explore and play! ~Rim Rock Drive may be closed on occasion due to poor road conditions (snow, ice, fallen rock, etc.). For updates on storm info or temporary closures call the park hotline at 970.858.3617 ext 311 for a daily update on the road and conditions. ~There are three tunnels (the longest being 530 feet long), so headlights on and proceed with caution. ~Be sure to check out the Visitor Center for cool and unique gifts and to learn fun facts about the history of the canyon! Standard hours are 9am-4:30pm. In warmer months, there's a nice picnic table to the right of the center so you can snack and take in the views! ~Furry pals are not allowed on the trails and must stay on paved roads only...but are welcome in the campgrounds. Bottom line...this is an absolute MUST for locals, travelers, hikers, climbers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts! SO WORTH IT! Be happy outside!

Mel C.

Colorado National Monument Colorado National Monument is located about 30 minutes from Grand Junction, Colorado. I recommend Colorado National Monument if you're in the area or if you just want to see what Mother Nature has to offer minus the huge crowds of people. Colorado National Monument can be visited in a few hours. We started at the visitor's center, received tips from the Ranger, drove the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, went on a few hikes, and enjoyed the landscape. All this was completed in less than 4 hours. Highlights include Liberty Cap, Devil's Kitchen, Independence Monument, and the Coke Ovens. We hiked Otto's Trail and the Upper Monument Canyon. The views are awesome at every stop. Here's a tip...the views from the visitor's center are awesome too. On the way back down, we had a not so little bonus. A big horn sheep was in the middle of the road doing what big horn sheep do. We obviously stopped and watched the big horn sheep as it took its time getting to safety. Side note...big horn sheep are the only Rams that I am a fan of. Go Niners!! I recommend Colorado National Monument. Just do it!! 2024 Yelp Review #17

Kaori M.

At first we didn't plan to come here but due to rental car problem we had to come to Grand Junction since there is rental car center at the airport. Since we were in the area, we decided to hike in Colorado NM. We hiked into Devild Kitchen, No Throughfare canyon, and Monument canyon. Very pretty. Most memorable is to see wildlife.

Independence Monument from Otto's Trail
Terri C.

Located outside of Grand Junction, Colorado, the Colorado National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service that is worth a visit. We spent a few hours driving along the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, stopping for a couple of short walks along the way. The first stop was for Otto's Trail, which was less than a mile round trip. At the overlook, you have excellent views of canyons and Independence Monument. We then drove to the Upper Monument Canyon to see the Coke Ovens; this walk was a little over a mile round trip. We even saw a big horn sheep crossing the road, so look out for wildlife! There was more to see that we'll have to go back for on another visit. Highly recommended.

Sunrise (7/24/21)
Matt C.

Live in Colorado? Plan a trip to Grand Junction so you can experience the Colorado National Monument. It's an incredibly special place and it shocks me how many people are unaware of its existence. It's one of Colorado's four national parks! Ok, why is it special? For starters, the scenery is very different from Colorado's main attractions. Here you are in Colorado's Western Slope, Grand Mesa country. Red rock, desert, plateaus, flat. It might not be your favorite characteristic of the Centennial State, though it shouldn't deter you from experiencing its unique beauty at least once in your life. Looking for a low lift experience. Perfect. Drive along Rim Rock Drive, a 23-mile road veering up and down the canyon. With so many viewpoints and look outs, you can essentially go from one to the next, taking your sweet time. Sunrise at the Colorado National Monument is humbling. We arrived around 6am, drove up the mountain, and although the sun was hiding behind the clouds for most of the morning, we were able to catch a quick glimpse of its grandeur at Artist's Point. It was just us, the silence was mesmerizing, the views nothing short of spectacular. Additionally, we made friends with about 15 bighorn sheep during our time here. Yep, 15, you heard correctly. These animals are fun to watch, especially as they survey the vast land in front of them. Independence Monument, Grand View, Artist Point, there's so many amazing spots here. We didn't hike or camp or bike, but there are so many opportunities for one to experience the park however they see fit. The monoliths, rock formations, and twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive are the ultimate trip through the American West. The landscape is planted in my brain. I truly cannot wait to return here to the hidden gem of Colorado!

Marshall G.

This was a Wonderful day. This is a auto loop with pull outs Very clean and safe @ 25 mph or less. The canyons here were used by the Ute Indians long ago. But the views and the balanced rock can't be missed. This is a National Park Service park.

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Oh this drive- truly awe-inspiring. Nice road with amazing hikes, trails, scenic overlooks. If you're in the area this is a must do!

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3 years ago

Absolutely breathtaking views! Gorgeous and a little scary! Beautiful trails and and pullover spots are awesome!

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AOTC Art On The Corner Grand Junction - AOTC - Art On The Corner - Grand Junction, Colorado -

AOTC Art On The Corner Grand Junction

5.0(2 reviews)
8.6 mi
$

While walking around Grand Junction, I noticed the overwhelming amount of outdoor art throughout…read morethe streets of the new main street development and the surrounding downtown area. I'm sure there are over 100 sculptures and different art pieces in the tight 4 x 6 city block area. I looked deeper into what this was all about, did a little bit of "Google" research and found that the Downtown Development Authority was behind all of this. 'Begun in 1984 and sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority, Art on the Corner was one of the first sidewalk sculpture exhibits in the country. It includes both temporary and permanent pieces in many different styles and media, from abstract stone pieces to realistic bronze renditions. In 2010 Knit on the Corner & Poetry in the Streets was added to the program.' referenced by www.downtowngj.org/aotc.cfm 27 years later, I think the movement has been very successful. The artwork I'm sure has brought visitors from all around the world to see these unique pieces and installations. I am going to take it upon myself to see each and every piece and learn more about this project. I hope you can to.

I am always impressed with the quality of artwork selected each year for the temporary exhibit in…read moredowntown Grand Junction. The works that are part of the permanent collection can be seen around the town. This is something that I hope Grand Junction continues in the future.

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AOTC Art On The Corner Grand Junction - AOTC - Art On The Corner - Grand Junction, Colorado -

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Colorado National Monument - hiking - Updated May 2026

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