National Public Lands Day Event

Date: September 1, 2009

Colorado National Monument will host its first Centennial Challenge event, "A Walk Through Time" on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 26, 2009.

From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the public is invited to walk, stroll, jog, or bicycle along 14 miles of Rim Rock Drive without motorized traffic. Canine friends will be welcome, but must stay on a 6-foot (or shorter) leash at all times and remain on paved areas. Pet waste must be cleaned up by owners. No dogs are allowed on monument’s trails. Rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters are prohibited.

Participants are invited to walk, jog, or bicycle to one of three out-and-back Centennial Challenge routes along Rim Rock Drive. All three challenges start and finish at the visitor center:

• 2 miles - to Otto’s Trail (roundtrip)
• 8 miles - to Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead (roundtrip)
• 14 miles - to 16 1/2 Road (roundtrip)

The event will start and finish at the visitor center complex located 4 miles into the park from the West Entrance Station. Event parking will be located in the Saddlehorn Picnic Area parking lot. 

Access to the monument:

• Rim Rock Drive will be closed to all motorized traffic from the visitor center to the intersection of DS Road/East Glade Park Road between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 
• Park access will be closed at West Glade Park Road/16 1/2 Road throughout the event. 
• Rim Rock Drive from the park’s West Entrance Station to the visitor center will remain open to motorized traffic all day. 
• The East Hill of Rim Rock Drive to the DS Road intersection will remain open to motorized traffic throughout the day.

All entrance fees into Colorado National Monument including commercial tour entrances will be FREE in honor of National Public Lands Day. 

The Colorado National Monument Association is co-sponsoring this event to raise awareness and centennial funds for the park’s 100^th anniversary in 2011. Donations will support future centennial celebration events. Donate $10 or more and receive an official Centennial commemorative pin.

For more information about the event, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/colm/ or
call 970-858-3617, ext. 364.