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Rim Rock Drive is OPEN - Visitor Center is OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rim Rock Drive is OPEN Be on the lookout for Desert Bighorn Sheep along Rim Rock Drive. There also may be minor traffic delays near the East Entrance over the coming weeks. Watch for construction flaggers on the roadway.
Birds
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When visiting Colorado National Monument, take the opportunity to enjoy the abundant bird life that surrounds you. Listen, you might hear the laughing call of a raven or the mellow whistle of a Say’s phoebe. You might see a Gambel’s quail scurry across a trail or witness a turkey vulture wobble on an air current high above.
The pinyon-juniper woodland that dominates most of this area provides an essential habitat for a wide diversity of birds. At least 54 breeding songbird species and nine breeding species of raptors have been identified in the monument. Several other species are known to pass through during migration and winter months. Recognizing the significance of this area, Colorado National Monument was designated as an important bird area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservatory on May 10, 2000. Birds can be challenging to identify and generate much curiosity. To aid the beginning birdwatcher, the Colorado National Monument Association bookstore offers a broad selection of books and a checklist of common park birds. 
Clockwise: turkey vulture, golden eagle, great horned owl; inset: peregrine falcon chicks
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Did You Know?
With a large head and powerful jaws, the collared lizard is a carnivore. If you wonder why this lizard will hang around long enough for you to take its picture, know that the lizard is protecting its territory! More...