Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: May 2024
Colorado National Monument is located in southwestern Colorado and features stunning canyons, towering monoliths and other interesting rock formations. There’s a 37-kilometre (or 23-mile) scenic drive along the plateau rim of the canyon that provides access to numerous overlooks and hiking trails to enjoy the rugged scenery.
We spent the night in Grand Junction. After eating breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the west entrance of the park near Fruita. While the last few days have been hot and sunny, today it was overcast. We didn’t mind so much as there was a high wind warning in effect with gusts of up to 105km (or 65 miles) per hour on the weather forecast, so our hats and umbrella (for shade) would have been useless anyway.
Shortly after entering the park we came across a few desert bighorn sheep by the side of the road. They were once in danger of becoming extinct, but have made a comeback in western Colorado. A small population was reintroduced to Colorado National Monument in 1979.
On the way to the visitor centre we stopped at a few overlooks starting with the Balanced Rock. The sandstone rocks here have been shaped by erosion, creating interesting rock formations like this balanced rock.
We then pulled over at the Fruita Canyon View to catch our first glimpse of the valley below and to see the road that we just drove up.
At the visitor centre we grabbed a map of the trails, checked out the indoor exhibits and watched a short film about the history of the park. We then strapped the baby in the carrier and set off to hike the Canyon Rim Trail (1.6km round trip, rated easy).
Starting behind the visitor centre, the trail follows the edge of Wedding Canyon towards Bookcliff Overlook. It was quite blustery so we didn’t get too close to edge of the canyon. The trail provided spectacular views of many towering rock monoliths. Some of the descriptive names of the spires include the Island, Praying Hands, Kissing Couple and Independence Monument.
There wasn’t much vegetation along the rim and what was managing to grow all looked stunted and windswept. The trail ends at a viewing platform where there’s also a sheltered area. There’s an option to continue a bit further to Window Rock, but we figured we got a good enough view of this area at the Fruita Canyon Overlook already. Instead we followed the road back to the visitor centre in the hopes that it was a bit more sheltered from the wind. It wasn’t, but it was shorter.
We then hiked the Alcove Nature Trail (1.6km round trip, rated easy), which is located across the road from the visitor centre. The trail leads through the sand and follows the edge of a sandstone cliff. It’s marked with 31 numbered posts that correspond to some fun facts about the plants, animals and rock formations found in the area from a trail guide that’s available at the visitor centre. Mid-way through there’s an overlook of the surrounding area. The path then becomes a bit more rugged and leads to a small alcove in a box canyon.
Once we returned to the visitor centre we checked out the picnic area, but everything was out in the open. And it seemed like the wind was picking up. We headed for the Saddlehorn Campground. There weren’t many people camping this time of the year so we had our pick of spots. We didn’t stay long because of the wind, which made eating a bit problematic with all that sand flying around.
We hopped back on the road to continue along Rim Rock Drive. We stopped at a few more overlooks including Independence Monument, Grand View, Coke Ovens, Ute Canyon and Red Rock Overlook.
We pulled over at the Devil’s Kitchen Picnic Area. There’s a few trails that start here and lead through the canyon. We planned to hike to Devil’s Kitchen (2.4km round trip, rated moderate). The trail is pretty straightforward until you get to the base of the large monolith. Then it’s a climb up the sandstone rocks. There were a few steps carved into the rocks which made things easier, but there were a few sections where I needed a hand up (and then back down afterwards) because I was wearing M in the baby carrier and couldn’t really see my feet.
Just as we were nearing the end of the trail, the clouds started to clear. We took a peek inside the opening in the rocks before turning around.
We left the park through the eastern entrance and headed back to our hotel in Grand Junction, thankful to be out of the wind.
L
Wow, what a place! I love your beautifully captured photos, Linda, those panoramic views of towering red rock spires and how the red rock canyons seem to unfold before your eyes. Having lived in Ireland where the landscape is pretty much evergreen throughout the year, I always felt a slight fascination about such places where you can experience outstanding red rock scenery, capture intensive reddish and orange colours of fabulous rock sculptures, sheer-walled canyons, great hiking trails, and rock climbing as well. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
I know what you mean about how the terrain here is so different compared to where we live. The red rock landscape with all the towering monoliths and canyons was quite the sight. It was also interesting to see how different the vegetation is as well. I’m such a fan of all the desert shrubbery. It’s impressive that they can withstand such a harsh environment. Thanks so much for reading. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Linda
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Wind can certainly tire you out, when you are hiking in such a treeless area. Still some great views Linda. Not sure what it is with humans, but they all seem to be fascinated by looking at big trenches in the ground. Definitely shows the rugged past of this area. Thanks for sharing. Happy September. Allan
The wind was pretty rough. I distinctly remember just how dry my skin and lips were afterwards. We ended up taking turns at some of the overlooks as baby M was not a fan of the harsh conditions. I think you said it best for my last post about the Black Canyon of the Gunnison about how there’s something about a big hole in the ground that makes us want to have a look. You’re absolutely right about that! We just can’t help ourselves. Thanks for reading. It’s hard to believe it’s already September. We’ve been busy harvesting our tomatoes and making tomato sauce. I hope you enjoyed the long weekend. Linda
These photos are incredible. What an amazing site.
Thank you for taking us along this journey and trip with you.
Blessings to you, today and always.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. Nature sure is beautiful. We enjoyed the scenic drive through the park and checking out some of the trails and overlooks to more fully appreciate the scenery.
Lovely photos of the monument. I have family in Grand Junction and happen to be in town now to visit. Always love hiking or simply driving the rim. The park and outdoorsy environment is a big draw here. I’m glad you guys enjoyed it. Those winds were crazy and my mom still talks about them!
Thanks for your lovely comment. How fun that you’re in Grand Junction now. The red rock landscape is so beautiful and I can see why it’s a big draw for hiking and enjoying the outdoors. And there’s quite a few national parks in this area as well. The wind was pretty insane that day. We’ve never experienced anything like that before! But hey, at least it wasn’t raining! Enjoy the rest of your time in Grand Junction with your family. Cheers. Linda
It’s quite amazing that you can see so much from the road, and some are really amazing views. I can just imagine how windy it is though with not a single tree to slow it down. Looks like a fantastic area. Maggie
The wind was pretty fierce. We definitely appreciated all those overlooks that were close to the road. We hiked a couple of the shorter trails, but the wind was a bit too much for baby M. I’m just glad we weren’t camping. I don’t think our tent would have survived.
Another beautiful place, Linda. Those views and the lovely orange texture of the canyon rocks are wonderful to view both from afar and from the ground level.
That horned sheep (goat?) is lovely. In addition to videos of bears in the wild, I’m also obsessed with watching goats climb almost vertical mountain facades. Nature is amazing!
It’s really neat how varied and colourful the landscape is in Colorado. The views of the canyon and red rock formations were beautiful. It’s always a real treat to spot some wildlife, especially when we’re in the car. Isn’t it incredible how mountain goats are able to climb such steep and rocky terrain!? You’re absolutely right about how nature is amazing.
How incredible, those views are stunning. Fruita Canyon View in particular is just breathtaking!
Oh I know! It was super crazy windy so it was kind of nice that we didn’t do much hiking and instead just hit up most of the overlooks along the scenic drive.
It’s been fascinating to see your experiences and interpretations of the state where I’ve been living for over a decade now! Someday I’d like to visit the part of the Rockies in your neck of the woods. I’ve not yet visited the Canadian Rockies.
Thanks for your lovely comment. I may be biased, but I think the Canadian Rockies are fantastic. There’s just something about those mountains that keep calling us back. There’s a few national parks that are clustered close together, which makes for an excellent road trip adventure. I highly recommend.
Yes! The Canadian Rockies always look so majestic and grand in photos and the movies, arguably more so than the Rockies in the USA. I’ve noticed that oftentimes when movies are set in Colorado or Utah, they were actually filmed in the Canadian Rockies!
Oh interesting. I never knew that about the filming. The mountains in Colorado are definitely higher compared to the Rockies in Canada, but we have more glacier fed lakes. I also think it’s a bit less developed on our side. Either way, the scenery is stunning!
Wow, such a beautiful place, Linda!! It reminds me of our Red Rock Canyon area and the Spring Mountains here. We have far more windstorms here in the cooler months which can gust to 65 MPH too. Thanks for sharing this beauty!! ❤️
The colour of the landscape is so beautiful. I’m such a fan of the red rocks in the Southwest. And it’s great that there’s so many national and state parks in this area to enjoy the scenery. But oh wow can it get windy! I had no idea windstorms were a thing, but I guess it makes sense considering the terrain. Thanks for reading! Linda
Those views are amazing and you have captured them so well, Linda. These areas are often so windy and that’s tiring after a while. We have desert sheep near here as well, a bit further to the south. They do like the dry, windy spots! Very enjoyable post, so well presented. Cheers.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. While I’m not a fan of the humidity in the summer, the dry and arid climate in the Southwest was not kind to my skin or lips. And the wind certainly didn’t help either!
So incredible place and amazing photography also 🌷🙏👍🏻 we studied in school geography
learning America’s Grand Canyon and now so beautifully dear you took photos and added
here I’m admiring the beauty of the pink stones such a wonderful shape stones , photos all
So clear view of eternal beauty of nature ✍️💕👌thank you for sharing, God Bless 🙏
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It’s incredible how there are so many canyons in the American Southwest. I’m such a fan of the red rock landscape in this area. Nature is pretty amazing isn’t it? Enjoy the rest of your week. Linda
The nature is full of stunning beauty and we want to capture some 🌷🙏✍️👍🏻
Thank you so much for sharing dear this amazing red rocks landscape 👏
September month special for me , this four week 4 Birthdays having
my children and one grandson 🌷🎂🎉graceful wishes my friend 🌷🙏💞
Oh absolutely! This is my favourite time of the year as well as the weather is starting to cool down and the leaves will be changing colour soon. Enjoy all the birthday celebrations this month!
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The red rock canyon looks so beautiful Linda and I think you must be really fit and strong to do these hikes with your baby in a sling. I think it was very sensible to turn back when it became windy and you couldn’t see your feet climbing up the steep steps. A great family day out nonetheless.
She definitely adds a bit of challenge to any hike! We’re going to need to upgrade to one of those backpack carriers soon! It was crazy how windy it was. While we didn’t do much hiking, there were plenty of overlooks along the scenic drive to keep us busy. We ended up taking turns to check them out so the baby could hang out in the trunk of the car where she was protected from the wind.
Those views look stunning! Too bad about the wind, but still seem like a beautiful place to explore!
It was insane just how windy it was. Thankfully there were plenty of overlooks where we could just quickly pop out of the car to see. Once we made our way further down the rim of the canyon we got a bit of a reprieve from wind.
Gorgeous photos and interesting rock formations. Fabulous that you saw desert bighorn sheep!
Thanks for your lovely comment. The red rock landscape in the Southwest is so beautiful. It was neat to see all the towering monoliths. And it’s always an added bonus to spot some wildlife.
You’re very welcome and I am fully in agreement with your appreciation of the rich earthy colors and the wildlife, wherever it is found. 🙏🏻
It’s very different compared to the terrain we have in southern Ontario. Same with the vegetation and wildlife.
It is life and mind expanding to explore different areas. Thank you.
Oh absolutely. That’s one of the reasons why we love to travel!
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What an amazing array of rock formations making for fantastic scenery.
Oh absolutely! The red rock landscape in the Southwest looks so different compared to all our forests, fields and lakes back home in southern Ontario.
Wow, 65 mph winds are incredibly strong! Well done though, for braving the weather and seeing so much of the park. It’s a spectacular place and your photos are stunning.
Thanks for your kind words. The wind was very fierce and there wasn’t much protection from it when we were way up high on the rim of the canyon. While we managed to get a bit of hiking in, I’m glad there were a lot of overlooks close to the road for us to enjoy the scenery.
Oofta that is some high winds! Good job adventuring forward and taking these beautiful photos! That is a nice close-up picture of the bighorn sheep. Those canyon views are fantastic.
The wind was not kind. My skin and lips were so dry afterwards. I’m glad we had a wind breaker for our baby carrier, but she wasn’t a fan of the wind either. Thankfully this park has a lot of overlooks so we could just hop in and out of the car. Once we made our way further down the rim of the canyon it got a bit better.
Natural rock formations are always fun to look at, especially those with quirky names. Sometimes we need to stretch our imagination a little bit to see why certain formations got their names. The hiking trails look impressive even on a cloudy day.
The rock formations are pretty incredible. I’ve always wondered about who gets to name them. While some of the names look fairly obvious, others not so much. The cloudy weather actually worked out well given the wind. And hey, at least it wasn’t raining!
This place feels like a true gift. I appreciate that they talk about what went into building the park road and the people who made it happen. I also liked Grand Junction and wished for more time there. Sigh. There’s never enough rime!
It’s a neat park with a lot of beautiful views. It’s funny how cars used to have to drive backwards up the original road due to their gravity fed fuel systems. That would have been something to see. Agreed, there never seems to be enough time!
That would have been a sight to behold!!!
Oh I know! Thank goodness it’s not like that now, especially considering how much bigger our vehicles have gotten!
Rock formations – I can look at these for hours while wondering how long it’s going to be before they break down and tumble to the ground. Wow, the views are spectacular and if you hadn’t mentioned that there was a strong wind blowing, I wouldn’t have been able to notice it in your beautiful photos. To me, it seemed like the perfect day out in nature.
It’s taken millions of years for this landscape to form. It’s a bit sad to think that one day some of these rock formations will eventually topple and tumble. I wouldn’t want to be around when that happens! And you’re right, it’s hard to get a sense of just how windy it was, largely because there aren’t many leafy trees around, or anything really to block the wind. But it was pretty fierce. I’m pretty sure we all got some windburn on our faces.
Ahhhh the famous Colorado wind haha! You guys really got all the weather when you were here, didn’t you? I’m glad you made it to the Monument, though, it’s such a neat little place. You managed quite a bit of hiking too. I don’t think I’ve done some of these trails, so thanks for the tour!
No kidding!! We certainly got the full experience when it came to the weather!! I can’t get over how fierce the wind was. I’m pretty sure we all ended up with a bit of windburn and super dry lips. Despite the wind, I’m glad we were able to do a bit of hiking to enjoy the scenery. And hey, at least it wasn’t raining (or snowing)!
What amazing rock formations. Too bad about the wind but you got some fabulous photos.
Thanks! The wind was pretty fierce and there wasn’t much protection from it along the rim of the canyon. Thankfully we could spend most of the day taking the scenic drive through the park and hitting up the overlooks.
Very nice! Amazing scenery. My brother-in-law is from Grand Junction and still has family there. I’ve forwarded this post to my sister to see if they have been to this area when they go back to Colorado and visit.
Grand Junction is such a neat little area. Despite the crazy wind, we had a wonderful time exploring the park. I’d highly recommend visiting if you’re ever in the area.
You perfectly captured the beauty of this area. I love the rock formations and how you can see the layers and layers of history in the rocks. Glad you survived the crazy winds! 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. It was neat to learn more about the geology of the park and see all the various rock layers in the canyon and towering monoliths. It certainly puts a lot in perspective. But oh wow was it windy! It added an extra element of challenge while wandering around!
Lovely! For as many times as I have been to Colorado I have not made it here. Looks nice!!
It’s such a neat park and it’s not the typical landscape I would have expected in Colorado. The rock formations are beautiful. I highly recommend checking it out the next time you’re in Colorado. It’s actually not too far from Moab, Utah.
It’s a beautiful place and at the same time so hostile. We’re lucky enough to have all the modern comforts to enjoy it without suffering.
Oh yah. The views are quite beautiful from high up along the rim of the canyon. But it also means there isn’t much protection from the wind. While we managed to do a bit of hiking, I’m glad we spent most of the day taking the scenic drive through the park and stopping at the overlooks. It was nice to have some reprieve from the wind.
Absolutely incredible what a great experience.
It’s fascinating how diverse the landscape is in Colorado. It was neat to see all the towering monoliths and the layers in the rock.
Nice post 🌹🌹
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We had a wonderful time enjoying the red rock landscape at Colorado National Monument.
Great photos. I was through there a couple of years ago and did all the little trails along the edge. So scenic.
Thanks for your kind words. The scenery along the Rim Rock Drive is beautiful. We managed to do some of the short trails along the rim, but the wind was a bit too fierce for our little one. No complaints as the various overlooks kept us busy.
Beautiful scenery and rock formations. The vast and barren landscape is striking.
Oh I know! There isn’t much vegetation along the rim of the canyon, but what manages to grow must be pretty resilient. The wind up there can be pretty fierce!
We lost our breaks on the rim road. Had to gingerly drive to the visitor center.
Oh my gosh! How terrifying! Obviously you lived to tell the tale, but I can only imagine how stressful it must have been. At least Rim Rock Drive is well travelled, which is both a good thing and bad thing in that situation!
We were in town two days while they were being fixed. Missed our opportunity to go to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bummer. Rocky Mountain was our next stop after Grand Junction. It was an incredibly long drive as some of the roads through the mountains were closed due to a snowstorm. But it was so worth it to get to the park. The mountain scenery was beautiful.
Mother nature is beautiful!
She sure is! And the views are always better from up above!
Happy to see geographical wonders of other part of the planet. I think these structures are created by strong winds. Is that correct?
The landscape in this area is super scenic with all the towering rock formations, canyons, pinnacles and arches. You’re right that the wind has helped shape the rock structures, along with water and ice and the types of rock layers. There was actually a wind warning the day we visited and oh wow was it feisty.
I love monoliths! They are so fascinating to me. I’m glad the bighorn sheep did not go extinct. I’m always grateful when people help the environment and the animals in it. The views you captured are breathtaking.
Thanks so much for your kind words. The monoliths are so beautiful. I often wonder how some of them, along with many of the other rock formations, are named. Agreed about the desert bighorn sheep. It’s great to hear that their conservation efforts paid off and that they are now thriving in the park. And I’m glad we got to see some!
There are really majestic landscapes, great photos!!
Thanks so much! The views of the mountains never get old. We were a bit too early in the season and most of the overlooks and trails were closed, but it was beautiful to see the mountain landscape covered in snow.
Certainly you have enjoyed a lot. Great landscapes and you have captured those the great way! Have a good weekend 🙂
Aww thanks! There’s just something special about the mountains that keep calling us back. Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.