Colorado National Monument, colorado
Attractions Guide

Colorado National Monument is a stunning landscape of canyons and complex rock formations, located next to the Colorado River and the city of Grand Junction in Western Colorado, adjacent to the Utah border. Colorado National Monument is postioned about halfway between Moab and Glenwood Springs, about 1.5 hours by car from either city.

Next to this national monument are the McInnis Canyons, which are home to the second largest concentration of natural arches in the world, second only to the nearby Arches National Park of Utah.

To reach Colorado National Monument, you’ll cross a bridge over the Colorado River, before reaching Rimrock Drive and ascending up to the top of the canyon cliffs. Along this windy road to the top are several viewpoints, including the Balanced Rock View which provides a picturesque view of a balancing rock formation. After this viewpoint are several road tunnels, before reaching the Fruita Canyon View near the top, which overlooks the canyon you just summited.

Book Cliffs View & Window Rock

A bit further along the road is the national monument’s visitor center. Near here you can take a short detour along a one-way road to the marvelous Book Cliffs View, from which you can also admire Window Rock, a small natural window formed between the clifftops.

After the Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Rimrock Drive continues for miles along the edge of the cliffs, hosting countless viewpoints. All of the major viewpoints will be listed here. First be sure to stop at the Independence Monument View, which overlooks a highly photogenic towering stone pillar called Independence Monument.

Grand View

The next viewpoint is probably the best in the entire national monument, Grand View. This viewpoint offers incredibly majestic views in almost every direction, overlooking many complex formations, buttes, and cliffs. Just a bit further down the roads is Monument Canyon View, which overlooks some of the same formations from a different perspective.

Now continue to the Coke Ovens Overlook, from which you can admire some highly unusual rounded stone oven-shaped rock formations set amongst the beautiful canyon. The views of Monument Canyon between Independence Monument View and the Coke Ovens View overlook some of the most incredible scenery this area has to offer. A bit further along the road from the Coke Ovens are two more notable viewpoints, Artist Point View and Highland View.

Upper Monument Canyon Trail

Nearby the Coke Ovens is the trailhead for the Upper Monument Canyon Trail, which descends down into the canyon, venturing alongside the monument-like rock formations. The full trail length out and back is about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) round-trip with significant elevation gain coming back up the canyon, however you can also turn around at any point along the trail to make this hike shorter.

Monument Canyon Loop Trail

A shorter hiking option for exploring Monument Canyon is the Monument Canyon Loop Trail, which circles around a large mesa formation, passing right by the Independence Monument and passing near the cliffs below Grand View. This trail is about 4.6 miles (7.4 km) round-trip and actually begins outside of the national monument at the Monument Canyon Trailhead. This trailhead is located at the edge of town along Highway 340, several miles to the east of Colorado National Monument’s western entrance.

Much further along Rimrock Drive is the stunning Ute Canyon, which is several miles long and very scenic. You can stop at the Upper Ute Canyon View to admire the beginning of the canyon, and then continue along to the Ute Canyon View to enjoy the most picturesque views over this canyon. The Ute Canyon View offers wide 180 degree views looking down two long corridors of the canyon from the point where it bends.

Eastern Viewpoints

Just beyond Ute Canyon, be sure to stop at the Red Canyon Overlook, which is located at the beginning of another long scenic canyon. Further down the road is another highly recommended stop, the Cold Shivers Point Overlook. Near this viewpoint, Rimrock Drive becomes Monument Road and descends back down the canyon.

Near the eastern exit/entrance to Colorado National Monument is the most popular short trail, the Devil’s Kitchen. This 1.5 mile (2.4 km) round-trip trail ventures to the Devil’s Kitchen, an area hosting many striking and unusual rock formations, however the trail is a bit difficult to follow so make sure to pay attention.

In the more remote western section of the national monument (west of Rimrock Drive) is the 6.7 mile (10.8 km) round-trip Devils Canyon Loop Trail (not to be confused with the Devil's Kitchen). The Devils Canyon is stunning, surrounded by incredible rock formations. Despite the long length, this trail isn't very challenging and is relatively flat. You'll find the trailhead for the Devils Canyon Trail off of Kingsview Road.

McInnis Canyon hosts the second largest concentration of natural rock arches in the world, with nine natural arches. Nearby Arches National Park in Utah is the record holder, however this arch-filled area is largely unknown and rarely seen by humans. The trail connecting these arches is known as the Rattlesnake Arches Trail, along which you can see arches including the East Rim Arch, Cedar Tree Arch, Bridge Arch, and more.

Unfortunately the Rattlesnake Arches area is extremely under-developed and thus if you have a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle, you can easily access the trail, making it roughly a 7 mile (11.3 km) round-trip hike from the Upper Trailhead.

Accessing the hike with a regular vehicle the hike is about 14 miles (22.5 km), with the added length being what you would cover with a 4x4 vehicle. If you manage to get to the trail, you likely won't see many other people around. The longer version of this trail begins from the Pollock Bench Trailhead.