Colorado National Monument • Colorado

sandstone spire hundreds of feet tall stands above sparsely vegetated canyon bottom and cliffs

Two female desert bighorn sheep look to the right among rusty sandstones

a wide sandstone monolith stands next to cliffs on a misty, cloudy day with green shrubs below

Rock spire with large boulder balancing on top, blue skies above, green shrubs below.

lizard with turquoise body and yellow head lounges on sandstone with canyon cliffs in distance

Silhouette of twisted juniper tree as starry clusters of Milky Way rise vertically in dark night sky

two people stand together at canyon cliff edge pointing to tree covered hills across the canyon

Looking down from canyon rim at a U shaped portion of road entering and exiting the canyon

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

Independence Monument as seen from Rim Rock Drive is an icon of the larger national monument.
NPS Photo

Desert bighorn sheep are often seen along Rim Rock Drive.
NPS Photo / VIP C DeKalb

Independence Monument, and all our monoliths and canyons, change moods with the weather, seasons, and time of day.
NPS Photo / N Scarborough

Balanced Rock is one of many monoliths in the national monument easily seen from pullouts along Rim Rock Drive.
NPS Photo

Collared lizards are one of many lizard species found in the monument.
NPS Photo / VIP C DeKalb

Many clear nights allow for excellent dark sky viewing in most areas of the monument.
Photo Courtesy of Rick Ahern

Canyon Rim Trail starts at Saddlehorn Visitor Center and provides a great introduction to this canyon landscape.
NPS Photo / N Scarborough

Historic Rim Rock Drive was begun in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
NPS Photo

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Duration:: 1 minute, 8 seconds

Explore, Create, Connect - Colorado National Monument is waiting!

two people set up a small tent on a reddish dirt pad surrounded by green juniper trees

Enjoy camping in Saddlehorn Campground or in the backcountry.

Looking on road winding through floor of a canyon

23 mile Rim Rock Drive winds up switchbacks onto the mesa tops and then along the canyon walls before descending back into the valley.

3 women wearing hiking clothing walking on a dirt trail silhouetted by blue sky.

Top 10 tips for visiting Colorado National Monument

Toddler in Junior Ranger outfit pointing with an expression of amazement.

Junior Rangers of all ages can find fun things to do at Colorado National Monument. (Photo by E Dawes)

Three documents fanned out on a desk.

From the general management plan to the superintendent's compendium, you can find information on law and policy here.

A Ute dancer in traditional clothing

Several tribes maintain cultural ties to the lands within and around Colorado National Monument.

Last updated: April 29, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1750 Rim Rock Drive
Fruita, CO 81521

Phone:

970 858-2800

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