Places To Go

A view of Fruita Canyon and Rim Rock Drive

Take a drive along Rim Rock Drive and travel through 23 miles of red rock, monoliths, canyons, sweeping views, and beautiful rock formations. Step out onto a trail and explore this landscape up close. Look for bighorn sheep and mule deer, songbirds and ravens, or maybe even a collared lizard.

Start your visit at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, where you can watch the park movie, see the exhibits, and stamp your park passport. You can also pick up maps and Junior Ranger books. Fill up your water containers at the visitor center, because there are no water sources out in the park. If you need help planning your visit or choosing hikes, just ask one of our friendly volunteers or park rangers for advice.

Once you get out into the Monument, hiking, sightseeing, birdwatching, bicycling, night sky viewing, rock climbing, and photography opportunities are plentiful. Rim Rock Drive offers overlooks and shorter trails that offer great views.

Interested in hiking? Learn more about the trails on our hiking page, and don't forget to bring water.

If you're looking for a beautiful place to enjoy lunch or a snack, stop by the Saddlehorn and Devil's Kitchen picnic areas.

 

Recreation Areas Outside of the Monument

---

There are over 1.5 million acres of public land to explore in the Grand Valley. Hiking, camping, and horseback riding trails are plentiful. Photographers and night sky viewers will discover beautiful vistas to enjoy. World class mountain biking can be found just a short distance away from the Monument. Where will your adventures take you next?

Kokopelli's Trail- a 140+ mile long multi-use biking and hiking trail.

Lunch Loops Trail- a multi-use trail, although some sections are restricted to mountain biking only. Skill level for bike trails is moderate to difficult.

Bureau of Land Management areas near Colorado National Monument- tens of thousands of acres, offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, rafting, fishing, camping, ATV and Jeep trails, mountain biking, and photography. Most trails are pet friendly.

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests- explore over 3,000 miles of trails, including multi-use trails for horses, bikes, snowmobiles, skiers, and hikers. Visit their website for trip information, especially for camping. Some campgrounds are only open seasonally, and many are primitive, with no water or services.