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Colorado National Monument
Author: Daniel Schwen (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Colorado National Monument is a protected area of spectacular canyons in Mesa County, Colorado. Covering 20,534 acres (83 sq km) high up in the Colorado Plateau, this breathtaking site has numerous rock formations, anc includes Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world.
Many of the rock formations in the Colorado National Monument carry whimsical names such as the Kissing Couple, Coke Ovens and Independence Monument. Located nearby is a series of cliffs known as Book Cliffs. A road, called Rim Rock Drive, winds its way through the landscape, enabling visitors to get closer access to the sights. There are also a number of hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulties for all levels of hikers.
Colorado National Monument in winter
Author: Tewy (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
The Colorado National Monument was first discovered by an explorer named John Otto, in the early part of the 20th century. Until he penetrated it, local residents thought the place was inaccessible. Otto built trails for visitors to follow. The Chamber of Commerce in the nearby town of Grand Junction sent a group over to take a look. They praised the work carried out by Otto, and later hiring him as the first park ranger, with a salary of $1 per month. Living in a tent in the park, Otto spent the next 16 years building new trails and maintaining existing ones.
Coke Ovens Overlook in Colorado National Monument
Author: Bosman111 (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
Visiting Colorado National Monument
The gateway to Colorado National Monument is the city of Grand Junction, accessed by Interstate 70. See location on Google Map. From Grand Junction, follow signage to Colorado National Monument. The national monument is open every day of the year while the visitor center is closed on Christmas Day. On other days, it is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm in summer and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in winter. Entrance fee is $7 per private non-commercial vehicle with driver and passengers. Individuals on foot, bicycle or motorcycle pay $4 per person.
Breaks in Colorado National Park
Author: National Park Services Photo (public domain)
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