Colorado National Monument in Colorado State

Colorado National Monument

Situated high on the Colorado Plateau, Colorado National Monument is famous for its remarkable vistas of cliffs, spires, and deep, red-rock canyons which visitors can enjoy by car or bicycle on the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive.

Plan Around Colorado National Monument

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to tripView park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

Colorado National Monument Details

Situated high on the Colorado Plateau, Colorado National Monument is famous for its remarkable vistas of cliffs, spires, and deep, red-rock canyons which visitors can enjoy by car or bicycle on the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive. Among the highlights of this 20,500-acre park are Monument Canyon and its landmark formations like the 450-foot Independence Monument and the Kissing Couple. Wildlife resident here include mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and golden eagles. Popular trails include the short hike to Window Rock with its canyon views and the 6-mile Monument Canyon Trail that drops 600 feet into the canyon and passes many of its signature monoliths. The park visitor center has daily ranger talks on geology, full-moon and dark-sky walks, and is adjacent to the Saddlehorn campground.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

N/A

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Colorado National Monument

Compare nearby parks around Colorado National Monument when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

58.0 mi away

Arches

National Park · UT

64.3 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

73.0 mi away

Canyonlands

National Park · UT

119.6 mi away

Mesa Verde

National Park · CO

147.9 mi away

Capitol Reef

National Park · UT

189.9 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

Nearby Points of Interest Around Colorado National Monument

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Colorado National Monument while the map context is still fresh.

7.3 mi away

James M. Robb - Colorado River Fruita Section State Park

With the Book Cliffs and the Colorado National Monument, Fruita boasts an array of outdoor activity.

11.8 mi away

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway

This impressive 512-mile journey loops through the Western Slope before crossing state lines over to Utah.

14.3 mi away

Colorado Riverfront Trail

This well-connected trail is a great jumping off point for exploring the best sights of Mesa County.

14.4 mi away

Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway

This 130-mile trail along the western edge of Colorado has it all: rugged canyons, meandering rivers, and historic archeological sites.

15.1 mi away

James M. Robb - Colorado River Corn Lake Section State Park

Corn Lake offers a wide array of activities; the network of trails here can be accessed near the river, and fishing is permitted as well.