hikespeak

Devils Kitchen Trail is located near the south end of Colorado National Monument at the bottom of rugged No Thoroughfare Canyon. This 1.2-mile hike ascends 225 feet to visits an intriguing rock formation on the side of the canyon where tall boulders have enclosed a rock grotto. No Thoroughfare Canyon Two junctions are along the way and the path gets faint toward the end, so follow the... Read more.

Monument Canyon Trail is six miles long in one direction, dropping from Rim Rock Drive across Monument Canyon to a second trailhead on the eastern edge of the park. Three and a half miles (and 850 vertical feet) from the top, the trail passes Independence Monument, the largest freestanding rock formation in the park. A popular hike along Monument Canyon Trail is a 7-mile out and back from... Read more.

Coke Oven's Trail shares a trailhead with Monument Canyon Trail and the collection of rock domes can be visited as their own destination or as a side attraction on a longer trek into Monument Canyon. The hike to Coke Ovens is one-mile round trip with 180 feet of elevation loss. From the turnout along Rim Rock Drive, begin hiking east into the canyon. After descending switchbacks for... Read more.

Otto's Trail is one of the shorter hikes along Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument. Like Window Rock Trail, this 0.75-mile stroll descends gradually to a cliff overlooking Monument Canyon. The view showcases Independence Monument, the tallest freestanding formation in the canyon, and a point of fascination for visitors dating back to the first park supervisor, John Otto, for whom... Read more.

Across the road from the park visitor center (and Canyon Rim Trail) is Alcove Nature Trail. This track is set back from the canyon rim, which limits views of the great landscape. What this trail offers instead is an informative hike with numbered markers that coincide with entries in a guide booklet. The entries describe plants and animals in the park as well as the geological history.... Read more.

For a view of Praying Hands, Independence Monument, and the other statuesque monoliths in Monument Canyon, take a stroll along Canyon Rim Trail. The track crosses the canyon rim between Saddlehorn Visitor Center and Book Cliff View, and is a great way to begin your visit of Colorado National Monument. The trail is half a mile one-way or one mile round trip. Additionally, the hike can be... Read more.

Window Rock Trail begins next to Bookcliff Shelter, not far from Saddlehorn Campground. The trail looks south into Monument Canyon and north over the cities below. This 1/3-mile round trip hike ends at a distinct point at the north end of the western wall of Monument Canyon where a natural window pierces the top of the cliff. Window Rock Window Rock Trail is wide and easy to follow,... Read more.

Rim Rock Drive is a 23-mile stretch of road crossing the rugged terrain of Colorado National Monument. The drive delivers dizzying cliff's edge views and is a memorable part of any visit to the park. The winding roadway plots an improbable course along the rim of Monument Canyon. Nineteen overlooks and fourteen trails are along the drive, which is the main artery through the park. Rim... Read more.

Balanced Rock is a natural attractions in Colorado National Monument, similar to Balanced Rock in Arches National Park. The defiant sandstone statue stands at the edge of a bluff and is easy to see from a turnout along Rim Rock Drive. Those entering the park through the west entrance near the city of Fruita, should make Balanced Rock View their first stop. The formation is also visible from... Read more.

Saddlehorn Campground is the only campground in Colorado National Monument, and is well located within the park. This 80-site campground is adjacent to the park visitor center and several hiking options are nearby, including Window Rock Trail, Alcove Nature Trail, and Canyon Rim Trail. Saddlehorn Campground is situated on a high bluff overlooking the cities of Fruita and Redlands to the... Read more.