When you experience its folding red-rock canyons and brilliantly colored sandstone monoliths you’ll ask yourself: Why have I never heard of this place before?
Well, perhaps it’s in the name. The Colorado National Monument (CNM) preserves some of the most beautiful canyon landscapes in the West. But because it doesn’t boast National Park status, Colorado National Monument has been able to fly under the radar.
Don’t let that fool you. While this “pocket-sized” Grand Canyon might not get the attention of its better-known neighbors in Utah’s canyon country, it provides a lot of what’s missing from most National Parks today: Roads that are free of traffic and hikes that afford you solitude.
This travel guide will highlight important things you need to know about the Colorado National Monument and we’ll recommend some of our favorite hikes in the park.
Table of Contents
What you need to know
- Entrance Fee: $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle; $15 per individual
- Visitor Center: Saddlehorn Visitor Center (Open year-round)
- Best overlooks: Coke Ovens, Independence Monument View, red canyon overlook.
- Rim Rock Drive is the central access running through the park. This picturesque stretch of road winds through the monument and has a number of vehicle pull-offs at scenic locations. You’ll twist through a colorful array of striking canyon walls, massive rock monoliths, folding gorges and tunnels.
- The Colorado National Monument (CNM) is located just a few minutes off Interstate 70 in western Colorado near Grand Junction.
- A lot of the Front Range masses continue on Interstate 70 west toward Utah’s better known National Parks: Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion. Among these, Colorado National Monument is by far the least-visited. The Monument counted 480,442 visitors last year, while the parks to its west each counted millions.
- Great for cycling, rock climbing, hiking and sight-seeing.
Things you can’t miss on your visit to the Colorado National Monument
1. Rim Rock Drive
This breathtaking — at times worryingly windy — drive allows visitors to marvel at the canyons from an aerial, at times almost birds-eye perspective from the canyon’s rim. The drive was constructed in the early 20th century by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is considered an engineering marvel, featuring several impressive rock tunnels and retaining walls.
Thankfully, it does not fall victim to the traffic jams that have sadly become a reality of the National Park experience. There are 18 scenic overlook areas that offer ample parking and the road rarely gets congested. I worked in the park for nearly two months in 2022 and I was always able to find parking for my truck and trailer at any one of the overlooks (Coke Ovens Overlook is my favorite).
This 23 mile road connects Grand Junction and Fruita and acts as a central axis running through the park. Wildlife like desert bighorn sheep and mule deer can frequently be spotted in and along the road.
2. Monument Canyon Loop Trail
Many of the hikes within the park will lead you along the canyon rim, but this trial will get you into the heart of this breathtaking canyon and offer you a completely different perspective on the monoliths and canyon walls. You’ll get to walk below many of the park’s major rock sculptures — including Independence Monument and monolith spire.
This is also a great hike for wildlife viewing, as desert bighorn sheep and collared lizards like to hang out along this trail.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Route Type: Loop
- Duration: 2 hours
- Distance: 4.5 miles
3. Saddlehorn Visitor Center & Canyon Rim Trail
It may be small, but CNM’s visitor center packs a punch. The Saddlehorn Visitor Center has a really engaging exhibit with models of the Colorado Plateau and interesting information on the anthropological and geological history of the region. There is also a small movie theater.
Combine your visit to Saddlehorn with a short — but very scenic — hike along the canyon rim. This 1 mile out-and-back trail provides some of the best views of the towering monoliths and red rock canyons in the park. The trail is flat and easy-going and can be easily reached from the visitor center. It is, however, very exposed, so I’d avoid doing this in the heat of the summer.
Canyon Rim Trail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Distance: 1 miles
4. Devils Kitchen Trail
The highlight of this trail is the Devil’s Kitchen itself, a collection of large, towering boulders that form a sort of natural amphitheater.
Although the trail is short, it is very exposed and poorly marked in areas. If you can’t handle the heat, get into the kitchen! The inside of Devil’s Kitchen offers some much needed shade and relief from the sweltering heat.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Route Type: Out-and-back
- Duration: 1 hour
- Distance: 1.5 miles
