I was sorting through some old posts on here recently and stumbled across this one from a few years ago about my previous trip to Colorado National Monument.
I imagine many of you can relate to the cringey feeling you get when you read something you wrote so many years ago.
And, of course, the 2-year-old iphone I had when I revisited Colorado National Monument more recently took much better photos than my old camera did. So I figured… why not give this post an update?
My first visit to Colorado National Monument was completely unplanned. My family stopped in Grand Junction en route to somewhere else I can’t recall, and in between our attempts to navigate the weirdest street names I’ve ever seen, we found ourselves with a couple hours to spare and a sign pointing toward Colorado National Monument. So off we went.
More recently, my fiance and I returned to Grand Junction so he could visit the monument for the first time. We’d initially planned to camp in the monument but we got rained out and had to reschedule to a later date. By this point, the campground was closed for the season so we ended up staying in a hotel.
Colorado National Monument sits on a red rock plateau overlooking Grand Junction, the small town of Fruita, and the Colorado River. It’s not far from the border with Utah and indeed it looks the part. Because of that, I think it often gets overlooked in favor of visiting Utah’s Mighty Five. And I would agree that the Mighty Five are more impressive. But I still think the monument is worth a visit if you’re in the area.
The 23 mile (37 km) Rim Rock Drive traverses the monument. It’s a paved road but it’s steep and winding, with three tunnels through which larger vehicles may not be able to pass. Despite the challenges of driving it, though, Rim Rock Drive is considered one of the most scenic roads in the US, and it’s pretty easy to see why.
All along the drive are overlooks and numerous trailheads; if you have a full day in the monument, that should be more than enough time to stop at the visitor center, all the overlooks, and squeeze in a couple short hikes. I recommend beginning at the west (Fruita) entrance so you can stop at the visitor center first. Note that although it’s called the west entrance, it’s actually located at the north end of the monument. Here is a monument map.
If you have the luxury of planning around the weather, I also recommend going on a cloudy day. You’ll notice the difference in my photos; while the colors were slightly more vibrant in the sun, the clouds eliminated all the shadows. The temperature was also more bearable when the sun wasn’t beating down on us.
And I guess that’s about it. If you’re ever in western Colorado or eastern Utah and you have a few hours to spare, I would recommend a visit to the red rock plateau that is Colorado National Monument.
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: The east entrance is located 6 miles (9.5 km) west of Grand Junction on Monument Road. The west entrance is located 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the town of Fruita on CO Highway 340.
- Fees & passes: $10/car for a 7-day pass; America the Beautiful Passes are accepted.
- Where to stay: Saddlehorn Campground – 50 sites, $20 per night, reservations accepted for B loop, A loop is first-come-first-serve; we didn’t stay here so I can’t offer any specifics. You could also find hotels, rentals, etc. in Grand Junction or Fruita.
- Hiking: there are many trails that range from 0.25 – 14 miles (0.4 – 22.5 km) in length. Here is more information.
- Other: Things to be prepared for; (1) the road is steep and winding, (2) the top of the plateau is very exposed to the elements, and (3) tiny biting gnats are present in the summer.
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