News Release
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Contact: Arlene Jackson, 970-589-9493
Fruita, CO – Several trails and a portion of the campground within Colorado National Monument will be closed starting Friday, September 18, 2020 to move 20 tons of rock by helicopter in preparation for substantial trail work on Liberty Cap trail.
Liberty Cap trail will be closed from the upper connection with Corkscrew/Ute Canyon trails to the top of the mesa until September 25. This section of Liberty Cap trail will continue to be closed Tuesdays through Fridays through December 5 to allow the trail crew to safely complete the work needed. The trail will be open Saturday through Monday each week.
Many locations within the Saddlehorn area will temporarily be closed through Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. These include:
- Saddlehorn Picnic Area, amphitheater, and parking lot
- Campground C Loop
- Saddlehorn Loop Road past the Campground’s A and B Loop entrance
Additional trails closed through Saturday, September 19 until 7:00 p.m. include:
- Canyon Rim trail
- Window Rock trail
Temporary hiking delays may occur on the section of the Monument Canyon and Wedding Canyon trails within ¼ mile of the Independence Monument Rock formation. Monument staff will be on the trails to advise hikers.
The Liberty Cap trail has incurred years of wear from thousands of hikers and natural erosional processes. This fall, the monument’s trail crew will be rebuilding portions of the trail in the steepest sections above and below the Liberty Cap rock formation. There is not enough loose rock near the trail for the crew to use for repairs and additional material must be brought in. Through an extensive review process, the staff determined that a helicopter operation would be the best choice to move the needed material quickly with minimal disruption to both the trail and the visitors using it.
“We understand hikers planning on using these trails on Saturday morning will be disappointed, but we hope they will take this opportunity to explore another area of the monument,” said Colorado National Monument Superintendent Nathan Souder. “This important work will provide for a better and safer trail experience for our visitors. We believe our hikers will be happy to see the improvements when we complete the work.”
Fall hours are now in effect at Colorado National Monument. The visitor center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. For additional information please visit www.nps.gov/colm or call 970-858-2800.
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Last updated: April 29, 2025