Colorado National Monument - national monument in the United States

Colorado National Monument is a United States National Monument in Northwestern Colorado.

Understand

History

Landscape

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

Flora and fauna

Climate

Get in

• Denver International Airport, (IATA: DEN). Commonly referred to as DIA. It is located about 20 miles to the east of downtown Denver. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here.
• Grand Junction Regional Airport, (IATA: GJT), otherwise known as Walker Field, is served by six airlines with nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Some service is seasonal. For private pilots, it is also possible to fly your small plane into the airport and leave it while you tour the area. Most hotels on Horizon Drive offer shuttle service from the airport. Taxi service is also available at the airport.

By car

• Interstate 70 runs east-west just north of town. Grand Junction is about 30 minutes east of the Utah border and 4 hours west of Denver.
• US 50 runs north-south beginning in downtown, running south to Delta and Montrose, then turning east towards Gunnison and Pueblo.
• US 6 runs east-west parallel to Interstate 70.
• US 139 runs north south, rejoining I-70 west of Grand Junction, in Loma. US 139 travels north over Douglas Pass to Rangely.

By train

Amtrak serves nearby Grand Junction with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. For more information, see rail travel in the US.

But once at the rail station, you will still have to rent a car.

By bus

• Grand Junction, Clifton and Palisade
  • Greyhound Bus Lines, 230 S 5th St, Grand Junction, +1-970-242-6012. But if you're without a car, you'll still need to hail a cab to your hotel.

By bike

For extreme mountain bikers, it's possible to follow the Kokopelli Trail from Moab, Utah, then join up with the trail system of the monument. This is a five or six day, strenuous excursion where you must pack in your own food, shelter and water.

There's another north-south running slick rock trail that fat tire enthusiasts can follow into town:

• Tabeguache Trail, +1-970-244-3000. Trail crosses public land for 142 miles connecting Montrose and Grand Junction. The Tabeguache Trail begins in Shavano Valley and weaves through the canyons, mesas and highlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau before ending in "No Thoroughfare Canyon," a few miles west of Grand Junction.

Fees and permits

Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:

• $15 Individual Entrance Fee (Hiker, Bicyclist)
• $20 Motorcycle Entrance Fee
• $25 Private Non-commercial Vehicle Entrance Fee
• $45 Colorado National Monument Annual Pass

Get around

See

• Saddlehorn Visitor Center, 39.1008°, -108.7346°. For first-hand information, maps, and brochures, the visitor center is a good place to start your adventure. It is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The visitor center includes educational exhibits, an information desk staffed with knowledgeable rangers and volunteers, two twelve minutes movies and a bookstore operated by Colorado National Monument Association. 2020-07-02

Do

• Rim Rock Drive
• Hiking
• Bicycling
• Climbing
• Horseback Riding

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Camping

• Saddlehorn Campground, 39.1046°, -108.7330°. 80 sites, 1 group site. 51 sites can be reserved in advance, 29 sites are first-come, first-served. Saddlehorn Campground is located in an area of pinyon pine and Utah juniper trees within walking distance of the visitor center. It is open year-round. Sites have charcoal grills, picnic tables and spaces for tents. Campsites have shared clean toilets and water outlets. Many of the campsites have great views over the valley. Campers need to self-register but there is a camp host on-site. $22 per night (2020 rates) 2020-07-02

Backcountry

Backcountry camping is also permitted.

Stay safe

Go next

• Colorado's Wine Country - Colorado is home to over 70 wineries and its own indigenous vineyards. Wine lovers can enjoy several scenic day trips from the Monument to many of the small towns that grow their own grapes. These lovely little communities include Montrose, Palisade, Paonia, Delta and Hotchkiss, as well as the city of Grand Junction.
• The Monument can also act as the hub for a series of day trips to Telluride, Aspen and Vail, as well as Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park.

Related: Colorado's Wine Country

Related: United States National Parks