Colorado national monument articles colorado encyclopedia. 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. 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. Colorado national monument stock photos download 7,522. Now for a closer look taken along i70 just east of grand junction. Majestic wildlife, glorious nature scenes and more can be found at the colorado national monument, where travelers flock each year to take in the sights and participate in outdoor activities. Today the monument, one of eight in colorado, encompasses more than 20,000 acres of sandstone cliffs and monoliths, scenic canyons, and sparse vegetation. 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. Download 7,522 colorado national monument stock photos for free or amazingly low rates. Book cliff view is right next to the visitor center and the saddlehorn campground. Located in fruita, colorado, the colorado national monument was established by president taft in 1911 and has been a protected site ever since. Rock climbing in colorado national monument, grand junction area. The sites landscape is dominated by alternating steepwalled canyons and cliffs, and gently sloping mesa tops.
Hike its starkly beautiful landscape or watch from camp as lightning storms roll across the distant plains. 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. The hike sits on the 36,1acre little book cliffs wild horse range that provides free roaming and protection over herds of wild horses. It would be an excellent hiking choice for those in grand junction who want a quick hike or desire to exercise. Frame 3 shows the cliffs at far left over the base of the great monocline at colorado national monument. Frame 2 is a wideangle of the cliffs standing on the horizon behind monument canyon at colorado national monument. 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. On the way up mount garfield, be on the lookout for wild horses. Book cliffs view grand view independence monument view monument canyon view coke ovens overlook artists point highland view fallen rock overlook upper. Redlands view overlook in colorado national monument panoramic view. Colorado national monument grand junction real estate. Great inspiration for planning a colorado national park loo. 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.
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. If youd like to extend your visit to colorado national monument overnight, there is one campground that operates within the monument. Frame 4 shows the cliffs in the distance north of the east entrance to colorado national monument. Due largely to the tireless efforts of john otto, colorado national monument was designated as a national monument in 1911. This lesserknown park covers over 20,500 acres of deep canyons, sweeping valleys, and towering stone monoliths. Colorado national monument, grand junction, colorado. See these 8 amazing spots at colorado national monument. Start your trip with a stop at the colorado national monument visitor center, located near the west entrance, for uptodate information. Colorado national monument audubon important bird areas. My front yard view is the colorado national monument, what a beautiful sight. The drive gives sightseers a wonderful view of grand sandstone towers and cliffs, as well as inspiring views of the grand valley below. At the visitor center, videos are opencaptioned, and an induction loop is provided for users of hearing aids.
Washed out 09192002 the exposure was off, picture needs darkening. Guide to colorados national parks, monuments and historic sites. Colorado national monument 09202002 view of monument from near the ranger station. An insiders guide to colorado national monument visit grand. Serpents trail in colorado national monument grand junction. Aptly named for the stunning view of the book cliffs, this short walk takes you. The book cliffs view shelter offers one of the most breathtaking views the colorado national monument has to offer. Most visitors to colorado national monument drive the roads and view the scenery from the overlooks. However, if you plan to do some major hiking or exploring wilderness areas nearby, youll want to buy a detailed trail map like the colorado national monument national geographic trails illustrated map. 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. The cliffs and canyons of the colorado national monument, beside grand. 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.
Colorado national monument colorado scenic drives on. Sheerwalled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granitegneissschist rock formations. The national park service celebrates its centennial this year. Monument canyon trail and coke ovens overlook trail colorado national monument, colorado. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance with.
Books cliff view overlook, colorado national monument. May 01, 2018 browns canyon national monument is a protected stretch of canyon encompassing national forest land and bureau of land management land. Saddlehorn campground is the only campground in colorado national monument, and is well located within the park. A day at the colorado national monument visit grand. 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. 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. Colorado national monument grand junction real estate 74. Colorado national monument national park explorers.
The saddlehorn campground is open yearround and features both firstcome, firstserve sites, as well as reservable sites. Redlands view overlook in colorado national monument. The colorado national monument is located at the northern edge of the uncompahgre 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. Colorado national monument protects 20,500 acres of canyons and giant rock formations in western colorado. 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. The book cliffs view offers an intimate setting to have a wedding ceremony. From hiking to fossil finding and wildlife watching, all the states monuments offer unique experiences for visitors. The kids loved the hike from the visitor center to the book cliffs view. Discover the geological history that made colorado national monument one of the states most iconic landscapes.
Colorado national monument is a true gem, just about 7 miles south of i70 in fruita, colorado. Saddlehorn campground offers the only rv and trailer camping opportunity in the park. The shelter is often used for small wedding ceremonies and also for ranger programs. This 80site campground is adjacent to the park visitor center and several hiking options are nearby, including window rock trail, alcove nature trail, and canyon rim trail. Colorado national monument protects 32 square miles of wilderness near grand junction, colorado.
Exploring colorado national monument visit grand junction. 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. Event participants must park in the saddlehorn picnic parking lot. You can find book cliffs view next door to window rock trail mentioned earlier. Colorado national monument, perhaps one of colorados bestkept secrets, is truly a desert wonderland.
Zillow has 74 homes for sale in grand junction co matching colorado national monument. Colorado national monument was created in 1911 to protect one of the american southwests most iconic landscapes. Toutes les infos utiles pour visiter colorado national monument. Diesmal hatten wir in unserer reiseplanung einen abstecher zum colorado national monument geplant. The most famous of these formations is independence monument, the largest freestanding monument in the park at 450 feet high. Colorado national monument is located at the far north edge of the uncompahgre plateau, west of the city of grand junction. 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. These colorado cliffs look like books on a shelf outthere colorado. With yearround recreational activities, browns canyon is an ideal place to explore colorados natural beauty. We will be arriving in grand junction around noon on sunday. The monument is a fine area of desert climbing in colorado. Find these viewpoints on the park map download the sunrise and sunset times check out the photo gallery for inspiration. Sites are suitable for recreational vehicles as well as tents. The book cliffs are a range of eroding, steepsloping cliffs, also called.
Made of sandstone, the plateau spans from here all the way to telluride. Book cliffs view, independence monument view see below, coke ovens overlook, and cold shivers point see below are accessible overlooks along rim rock drive. A colorado woman has been charged with attempting to drive off a cliff at a national monument with four children and two dogs. Colorado national monument grand junction forum tripadvisor. With its deep canyons, layered orange rock walls and unique rock structures, colorado national monument gives you a small taste of what youll see if you explore southern utah, especially moab. This view does not include use of the book cliffs shelter. Fruita and grand junctions pride and joy if youre visiting fruita or grand junction, colorado national monument is probably on your list of things to do.
The colorado national monument between grand junction and fruita. On may 24, 1911, president william howard taft established colorado national monument in mesa county, near grand junction. Explore colorado national monument holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. 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. Aug 25, 2016 guide to colorados national parks, monuments and historic sites. Colorado national monument travel usa lonely planet.
The viewing platform is right in front of a small pulloff parking area for the book cliffs view. The monument offers breathtaking views, fascinating geological formations, and awesome hiking and biking opportunities. The book cliffs shelter viewed from the canyon rim trail. Colorado national monument locally referred to as the monument is a national park service unit near the city of grand junction, colorado. President barack obama designated browns canyon as a national monument. The 23 mile rim rock road was build through the park in the 1930s. Vegetation consists primarily of woodlands of pinyon pine and utah juniper. The colorado national monument is located near the utah border next to the city of grand junction. This is an area of desert land high on the colorado plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau. Have to pick up a rental, then had planned to drive to some view points along the colorado national monument.