Colorado National Monument

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

Visitor information Park website 1 Saddlehorn Visitor Center (the visitor center and campground are four miles from the west entrance). 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. (updated Jul 2020)

Getting there

Denver International Airport, (DEN IATA). 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, (GJT IATA), 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 tr

Do

Rim Rock Drive Hiking Bicycling Climbing Horseback Riding

Sleep

Lodging

Camping 1 Saddlehorn Campground (near the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, four miles from the west entrance). 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). (updated Jul 2020)

Backcountry Backcountry camping is also permitted.

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.