To some, this may be considered the best viewpoint of the colorado national monument since its in the heart of monument valley. Artists point overlook has two viewpointsone by the parking area and one at the end of a short trail. Colorado national monument locally referred to as the monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction, colorado. Book cliffs and grand junction from colorado national monument a view of grand junction, colorado from the national monument. West entrance from grand junction colorado national monument. They are so named because the cliffs of cretaceous sandstone that cap many of the southfacing buttes appear similar to a shelf of books. Book cliffs view grand view independence monument view monument canyon view coke ovens overlook artists point highland view fallen rock. Book cliffs view, independence monument view, coke ovens overlook, and cold shivers point are accessible overlooks along rim rock drive. The colorado national monument is located near the utah border next to the city of grand junction. Magnificent views from highland trails and rim rock drive include colorful sheerwalled canyons and fascinating rock sculptures, the distant colorado river valley, book cliffs. The horseshoeshaped overlook offers great views of 5,739foot independence monument, a 450foothigh sandstone tower that sits on a divide between wedding and monument canyons.
This is an area of desert land high on the colorado plateau, with pinion and juniper forests on the plateau. We will be arriving in grand junction around noon on sunday. This large city, near the utah border, is surrounded in most directions by impressive multicolored rocks. Colorado national monument, a ruggedly beautiful desert landscape more reminiscent of utahs grandeur, provides a look into the lesser known redrock landscapes of coloradomiles of trails wind through the monument, but if you can only do one long trail, the 11. How long to tour colorado national monument grand junction. Artists point trail is located in the colorado national monument. Due largely to the tireless efforts of john otto, colorado national monument was designated as a national monument in 1911. Book cliff view is right next to the visitor center and the saddlehorn campground. If i understand the maps correctly, thought wed just go up and back one way to the visitors center and not necessarily do the entire road. Feature image for map of colorado national monument.
Best trails in colorado national monument colorado alltrails. Washed out 09192002 the exposure was off, picture needs darkening. An insiders guide to colorado national monument visit grand. An insiders guide to colorado national monument visit. This easy 12 mile hike begins at the visitor center and, like the name suggests, follows the rim of wedding canyon to the book cliffs viewpoint. The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. The colorado national monument is the crown jewel of the western slope, where the setting sun alights otherworldly redrock formations. The colorado river flows through the valley between the book cliffs and the national monument. The drive gives sightseers a wonderful view of grand sandstone towers and cliffs, as well as inspiring views of the grand valley below. Fruita canyon overlook is a lofty roadside viewpoint at the head of fourmilelong fruita canyon on the west side of colorado national monument. Frame 2 is a wideangle of the cliffs standing on the horizon behind monument canyon at colorado national monument. What is the best place to stop and enjoy the view, closest to i 70. You can experience sheerwalled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of rim rock drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. This area has been protected as a national monument since 1911 and is located near the colorado town of fruita.
Colorado national monument the good, the bad and the rv. Lake pasture lake san cristobal limestone ridge lookout mountain lost park lower greasewood creek mcelmo mexican. This is an area of desert land high on the colorado plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau. The book cliffs view shelter offers a panoramic view of wedding and monument canyons, as well as views of fruita and grand junction, the book cliffs, and the grand mesa. A drive through colorado national monument youtube. Grand junction, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, is home to diverse landscapes like colorado national monument, grand mesa, book cliffs and the colorado river. The aptly named grand view overlook v9 showcases mounds of twisted red rock and elements from the original plateau still visible today. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. At the visitor center, videos are opencaptioned, and an induction loop is provided for users of hearing aids. Colorado national monument has a few short paths along the plateau rim and one backcountry route black ridge trail higher in the hills to the west, but the best trails descend into the sheerwalled canyons for which the area is famous.
The colorado national monument is just west of grand junction, colorado the monument is home to pinyon pine and juniper, ravens and jays, desert bighorns and coyotes. The heart of the world colorado national monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the american west. Apr 29, 2017 colorado national monument is a very convenient stop just off i70 just e of the utah colorado state line. Hotels near the little book cliffs wild horse area. Colorado national monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction. Official colorado national monument map pdf my colorado. The book cliffs shelter viewed from the canyon rim trail. Colorado national monument 09202002 view of monument from near the ranger station. Today the monument, one of eight in colorado, encompasses more than 20,000 acres of sandstone cliffs and monoliths, scenic canyons, and sparse vegetation. The shelter was built by the civilian conservation corps ccc and is registered as an historical building. Book cliffs viewpoint, colorado national monument amid the monument s countless orangeandbrown cliffs and rock formations, these cliffs attract the lions share of attention, calling to mind the image of a mighty giant who would deposit. This is a great place to hike, especially in the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the horses are readily seen.
Colorado national monument protects 32 square miles of wilderness near grand junction, colorado. East entrance colorado national monument topo map in mesa. Grand junction stock photos and images 1,373 matches. Frame 4 shows the cliffs in the distance north of the east entrance to colorado national monument. Take in stunning views at the colorado national monument. Directions located on the colorado plateau in northern arizona, vermilion cliffs national monument includes the paria canyonvermilion cliffs wilderness. Independence monument view looks into the heart of colorado national monument from rim rock drive, a scenic road that traverses a bench above canyons for 22 miles. Just eight miles northeast of grand junction, the little book cliffs wild horse area encompasses more than 36,000 acres of rugged canyons and plateaus. Other accessible viewpoints on rim rock drive are cold shivers point, coke ovens overlook, independence monument view, and book cliffs view. View grand junctions wild horses visit grand junction. The shelter is often used for small wedding ceremonies and also for ranger programs. The red cliffs are lit up with sunlight for a few minutes in the morning as the sun rises over the grand mesa.
Grand junction, colorado and mount garfield as seen from the colorado national monument on a sunny november day. Inset 2grid kari ganoungruiz island in the sun oil. The colorado national monument is located at the northern edge of the uncompahgre plateau. Bureau of land management at 9702443000 or visit the website. Robbcolorado river and highline lake state parks, little book cliffs wild horse range. A top attraction near grand junction includes the wildly impressive colorado national monument, set amidst within the larger region of the wellknown colorado plateau in the southwest region of the u. Vermilion cliffs national monument bureau of land management. Sitting more than 2,000 feet above the colorado river, the plateau rose once, completely eroded, and rose again over the last 2 billion years. National conservation area exit 26 corkscrew trail corkscrew connector trail l i t t l e p a r k r o a d c s r o a d 0 0 0. Colorado national monument association, fruita, colorado. Artists point trail visit grand junction, colorado. The most popular times to visit the park are during the spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate. The monument is administered by the national park service so it has the feel of a national. Rock climbing in colorado national monument, grand junction area.
Frame 3 shows the cliffs at far left over the base of the great monocline at colorado national monument. Cold monument sunrise by intrepidxj, on flickr sunrise from the base of the colorado national monument. My front yard view is the colorado national monument, what a beautiful sight. This inspirational overlook offers wideranging views into monument canyon below, of the coke ovens and squaw fingers, and of the distant book and roan cliffs, and grand mesa, the largest flattopped mountain in the world. Colorado national monument is one of those places that many of us drive by a hundred times its right between denver and moab, utah before finally entering the protected area and discovering the extent of this national treasurethat is so easily accessed from interstate70. Aptly named for the stunning view of the book cliffs, this short walk takes you right to the edge of wedding canyon. Head to this breathtaking viewpoint in the early hours of the day to watch the sunrise over the westfacing walls of the island and the valley floors of wedding and monument canyons. Mar 23, 2018 colorado national monument was created in 1911 to protect one of the american southwests most iconic landscapes. This trail overlooks the north side of the monument canyon, providing excellent views. Each of 19 signed viewpoints and 14 trailheads are noted on the map. Explore colorado national monument holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Because of the location, we would like to drive through the colorado national monument, but i am not sure we would have time to see the monument. After work i grabbed my hiking gear and started heading out to rabbit valley so i could hike to another summit in mesa county, but as i was driving west on i70 i noticed the sky was much cloudier and darker out that direction and i was concerned about the. The fenced overlook is reached by a 90foot hike on a gravel path from a small parking area on rim.
Colorado national monument association home facebook. The monument borders kaibab national forest to the west and glen canyon national recreation area to the east. In the morning, we will be leaving cortez, co mesa verde national park immediately after breakfast and driving the san jaun skyway going north and heading the grand junction, co for the evening est. The best place to stop first at the park is the saddlehorn visitor center, where you can get all the information you need for your visit. Hike its starkly beautiful landscape or watch from camp as lightning storms roll across the distant plains. Wild horses captivate at little book cliffs visit grand. From grand junction to west entrence colorado national monument colorado national monument. Another easy hike is the window rock trail in colorado national monument. Monument canyon trail and coke ovens overlook trail colorado national monument, colorado. Sheerwalled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granitegneissschist rock formations. Youll find the best scenery in grand junction at colorado national monument, overlooking the valley and the western front of the colorado rockies.
Canyon rim trail to window rock colorado alltrails. From hiking to fossil finding and wildlife watching, all the states monuments offer unique experiences for visitors. Over millions of years tributaries of the colorado river carved through the edges of the high plateau bordering the river, creating a stunning area of colorful mazelike canyons, sculpted spires, pinnacles, and other jaw dropping sandstone creations. Start your trip with a stop at the colorado national monument visitor center, located near the west entrance, for uptodate information.
A day at the colorado national monument visit grand. The iconic overlook, perhaps the best in the monument, sits above abrupt cliffs. Guide to colorados national parks, monuments and historic sites. Now for a closer look taken along i70 just east of grand junction. Located in fruita, colorado, the colorado national monument was established by president taft in 1911 and has been a protected site ever since. On the way up mount garfield, be on the lookout for wild horses. I would suggest driving from the fruita side if you have a fear of sheer drop offs since you will spend more of your time against the mountainside. For more information about visiting the little book cliffs wild horse area, call the u. Colorado national monument balanced rock pipe organ independence monument coke ovens white rocks squaw fingers ottos bathtub liberty cap mushroom rock window rock sentinel spire saddlehorn. Colorado national monument is open year round, 24 hours a day closed december 25. Cliffs of colorado national monument from robb state park fruita check out tripadvisor members 1,990 candid photos and videos of james m. Robb colorado river state park, grand junction picture. This section of colorado and utah is filled with dramatic scenery and offers a treasure trove of natural wonders illustrated by this remarkable view of mount garfield.
Independence monument view overlook outthere colorado. Books cliff view overlook, colorado national monument. The hike sits on the 36,1acre little book cliffs wild horse range that provides free roaming and protection over herds of wild horses. The book cliffs view shelter offers one of the most breathtaking views the colorado national monument has to offer. Monument canyon is by far the most popular of such routes.
Rock wholly from other viewpoints like book cliffs view which ill go over later. Monument calendar colorado national monument association. Mar 07, 2018 youll find the best scenery in grand junction at colorado national monument, overlooking the valley and the western front of the colorado rockies. For more information about colorado s wild horses, go to. These colorado cliffs look like books on a shelf outthere colorado. The cliffs and canyons of the colorado national monument, beside grand. The book cliffs are a small remnant of an ancient seabed, thrust upward with the uncompahgre uplift that also created colorado national monument.
Event participants must park in the saddlehorn picnic parking lot. Book cliffs view, independence monument view see below, coke ovens overlook, and cold shivers point see below are accessible overlooks along rim rock drive. If you look one way, you see the city of grand junction, the book cliffs and the grand mesa off in the distance. Colorado s eight national monuments include browns canyon, colorado national monument, chimney rock, canyons of the ancients, dinosaur, florissant fossil beds, hovenweep and yucca house. The national park service celebrates its centennial this year.
Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. And obviously because it showcases the most iconic rock formation. Book cliffs view 09192002 the compression algorithm blurred the details of this picture of the book cliffs and grand junction from the book cliffs view in colorado national monument. Independence monument, the city of grand junction, and the book cliffs from the colorado national monument. Part of the colorado national monument with the book cliffs in similar images. Accessible restrooms are at saddlehorn visitor center and devil kitchen picnic area. The colorado river used to be called the grand river, hence the name of the town.
Monument canyon colorado national monument locally referred to as the monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction, colorado. This must be a quickstop, driving through from ohio to moab, and then down to sedona. When entering colorado national monuments western side, one of the first hikes you drive to is the canyon rim trail. Book cliffs view grand junction, colorado landmark. On may 24, 1911, president william howard taft established colorado national monument in mesa county, near grand junction. From the book cliffs view area near the visitor center, a trail leads to window rock is less than 0. Colorado national monument is named after the river rather than the state, and covers a relatively small area of eroded red rock formations and canyons just south of the colorado near grand junction. The hike is fairly level as it winds among pinion and juniper. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance with. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is colorado natl monum which is approximately 7 miles away and has an elevation of 5,780 feet 849 feet higher than east entrance colorado national monument. Book cliffs viewpoint, colorado national monument amid the monument s countless orangeandbrown cliffs and rock formations, these cliffs attract the lions share of attention, calling to mind the image of a mighty giant who would deposit his treasured volumes on the worlds largest bookshelf. Groups for inspiration and financial assistance options for photographers. This lookout is one of the best in the national monument and the perfect spot to take in the surrounding area and all it has to offer. The book cliffs view offers an intimate setting to have a wedding ceremony.
Mesa verde far view lodge far view lodge is the only lodging inside mesa verde np. Colorado national monument articles colorado encyclopedia. Red canyon overlook alongside a parking area is an accessible overlook for wheelchairs. Cliffs of colorado national monument from robb state park. Mountains, rivers, lakes, desert, vineyards, canyons there is no place else in colorado where you can experience the intersection of so many prized ecosystems. Book cliffs viewpoint, colorado national monument amid the monuments countless orangeandbrown cliffs and rock formations, these cliffs attract the lions share of attention, calling to mind the image of a mighty giant who would deposit his treasured volumes on the worlds largest bookshelf. Spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone, and even granitegneissschist, rock formations. The monument is a fine area of desert climbing in colorado. Monument canyon is the reason for this areas preservation, running north to south through the park and housing sandstone formations that have inspired names like window rock, praying hands, and kissing couple. The popular viewpoint, on the north side of the twisting road, has parking for cars.
Highsmith with camera at colorado national monument, a preserve of vast plateaus, canyons, and towering monoliths in mesa county, colorado, near grand junction lccn2015633037. Book cliffs and grand junction from colorado national monu. The overlook provides an awesome view of the 5,739foot independence monument right in front of you. See more ideas about colorado, grand junction colorado and colorado national monument. Frame 1 in this series is a telephoto of the book cliff seen to the east across the top of the uncompahgre plateau from independence monument view. After several lesser viewpoints, the rim rock drive passes through half. Nearby are the book cliffs and the largest flattopped mountain in the world, the grand mesa. These red rock sandstone pinnacles capped with kayenta sandstone were formed after ice and water eroded and separated them from the cliffs, forming the.
Colorado national monument is one of the great preserved landscapes of the american west, packed with red rock formations, deep canyons, panoramic views, and bighorn sheep. Information about temporary or storm closures can be found by calling the park hotline at 970 8583617. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. Colorado national monument, grand junction, colorado. Colorado national monument and some thoughts on habitat. Colorado national monument travel usa lonely planet. Balance rock in fruita canyon along rim rock drive in the colorado national monument. The best overlook within the colorado national monument lies just ahead. Colorado national monument sheerwalled canyons, monoliths, colorful formations, bighorn sheep, soaring eagles and a spectacular road. Book cliffs view grand view independence monument view monument canyon view coke ovens overlook artists point highland view fallen rock overlook upper ute canyon. Located just west of grand junction, the 32squaremile monument features slender spires, towering rock monuments, and sheerwalled canyonsall slickrock scenery most commonly associated with moab and other southern utah. See these 8 amazing spots at colorado national monument. February rachel pettit early snow on the monument oil.
Independence monument, the city of grand junction, and the. Step 12 from arches national park to colorado national monument. This view does not include use of the book cliffs shelter. If you look one way, you see the city of grand junction, the book cliffs and the grand mesa. The 23 mile rim rock road was build through the park in the 1930s. Monument canyon trail and coke ovens overlook trail. Colorado national monument colorado scenic drives on. 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.