Colorado National Monument

A dramatic landscape of red sandstone canyons and monoliths rising 200–300 metres from the floor of the Grand Valley, just minutes from downtown Grand Junction. Rim Rock Drive, the 34-kilometre scenic road along the canyon rim, is one of the best drives in the American West — accessible by car, bike, or on foot. Below the rim, Monument Canyon and Ute Canyon offer excellent day hikes through the sandstone formations.

The monument protects around 80 square kilometres of Colorado Plateau scenery that gets a fraction of the visitors of its Utah neighbours. The rock towers have names: Independence Monument, the Coke Ovens, the Kissing Couple. At dusk, the sandstone turns deep red and the canyon walls glow. Camping is available at Saddlehorn Campground on the rim.

things to do sight park
A story
The monument was established largely through the stubborn persistence of John Otto, a hermit and self-appointed champion of the canyon who spent years building trails by hand and lobbying Washington for federal protection. He was appointed the first ranger of the monument in 1911 at a salary of one dollar a month, and continued building and improving trails for 16 years before being dismissed following an erratic personal life.