Overview

Hype:

Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite–gneiss–schist rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorado Plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau. The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes. Activities include hiking, horseback riding, road bicycling, and scenic drives; a visitor center on the west side contains a natural history museum and gift shop. There are scenic views from trails, Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau, and the campground. The monument's feature attraction is Monument Canyon, which runs the width of the park and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres, much of which has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness.

Time:

Fees: Park Entrance

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm

Getting There

Navigate to 39.118631, -108.731388.

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Closest City or Region: Colorado

Coordinates: 39.118631, -108.731388

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July 24, 2020 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye, Greg Dye, Laura Dye, Arianne Dye, Miller Dye, Ondylyn Wagner, Jaren Wagner, Killian Wagner,

Story

Tara and I and the kids left the Airbnb around 8:30 and arrived at Colorado National Monument around 8:45. We stopped and took some pictures at the entrance sign on the west end. Then we stopped at Redlands View. When we got out, the driver of the car behind us asked us if our last name was Dye. We told him it was, and he was very excited because his last name was Dye too. There aren't very many Dyes out there, so it was quite the coincidence. A couple minutes later, Dad, Mom, Ondy, and Killian joined us. We read the interpretive signs at Redlands View then proceeded to Balanced Rock View. We took some more pictures then continued on to Historic Trails View. At this viewpoint, we walked out to the overlook and read the signs then continued on to Distant View and to Fruita Canyon View before stopping at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center.

At the visitor center, we met up with Ari, Jaren, and Miller, who had left a little bit after us and had come in through the east entrance. We bought a magnet, got Jr. Ranger booklets for the kids, and did a Ranger presentation and craft project about falcons out on the back balcony. 

Mom and Dad drove while the rest of us hiked the Canyon Rim Trail. We met up at the Book Cliffs View and all took the Window Rock Trail out to Window Rock. We relaxed at Winow Rock and worked on the kids' Jr. Ranger activities.

After the Window Rock hike, we had a picnic lunch at the Saddlehorn Campground, then we went back to the visitor center so the kids could receive their Jr. Ranger badges.

Our next hike was Otto's Trail. That was a lot of fun and was easy enough for everyone. We continued down Rim Rock Drive to Independence Monument View, Grand View, and Coke Ovens Overlook.

At this point, Dad and Mom were tired and Ari, Ondy, and Jaren were bored, so they all headed back to the Airbnb to swim. We sent Madi and Cooper with them and just Tara, Savannah, and I hiked the Coke Ovens Trail. We had a pretty fun time on this short hike. On the return hike, Savannah tried to race us, so we jogged most of the way back. Savannah had a laughing attack because she thought it was so funny.

After the Coke Ovens Trail, we stopped at Artists Point, Highland View and Upper Ute Canyon Overlook. The Upper Ute Canyon Overlook was our favorite stop because of the fantastic echo from the overlook.

We then proceeded to Fallen Rock Overlook and Ute Canyon View. At Ute Canyon View, we took the Ute Garden Interpretive Trail, which we really enjoyed. We then stopped at Red Canyon Overlook and Cold Shivers Point on our way out. On the switchbacks, we saw a herd of bighorn sheep. 

Our impression of Colorado National Monument was that it was mildly impressive but not nearly as scenic as many of the areas we commonly visit closer to home. It seemed like the park had way too much budget for interpretive signs and not enough stories to tell, as many of the signs all said similar things. We thought the Monument was fun and nice, but not amazing.

Pictures