The Colorado National Monument was designated as such in 1911 by President Taft. This large park has a variety of beautiful desert areas, mesas, forests, canyons, and cliffs. It is near the Rocky Mountains and several national forests, and you can see much of the state of Colorado from this beautiful region of western Colorado.
When planning a trip to a large nature preserve, you will be deciding on the best ways to include all the sites you most want to visit in the general area. Driving an RV is a great way to accomplish this as you can easily drive to your destinations and stay the night nearby without having to pack and unpack. Renting an RV from RVshare is convenient and fast, and you can soon be on your way to adventure.
The Colorado National Monument is located near Grand Junction, Colorado. It includes 20,500 acres of wilderness areas that are comprised of sandstone canyons, granite/gneiss/schist rock formations, deserts, and plateaus. There are forests of pinyon and juniper on the plateaus. While in the preserve, you may see bighorn sheep, coyotes, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and other species of birds. Visitors can hike, ride horses, bike and drive on scenic routes. One of the major attractions of the monument is Monument Canyon, which runs the width of the park.
Hiking TrailsDevils Kitchen Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Grand Junction that has a river section. Good hiking boots and walking sticks are recommended. The trail has lots of switchbacks, and there are various rock formations to see.
South end of Colorado National Monument at the bottom of rugged No Thoroughfare Canyon
1.6 Miles
Moderate
Serpents Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Grand Junction. The trail features switchbacks and is an uphill climb on an old road. The trail is short but moderately strenuous due to the steep ascent in parts. There are great views during the hike.
Northwest of the Pale Pass and south of Snowstone Rest
3.4 Miles
Moderate
Monument Canyon Trail is an in-and-out trail located near Grand Junction. The trail has challenging ascent and descent sections at the beginning and end of the trail, but the mid-section is mostly flat and moderate. The views are nice on this long trail, which can be hiked in entirety or in sections. The trail begins at Rim Rock Drive and continues to Independence Monument.
Lower Monument Canyon TH (Hwy 340)
7 Miles
Moderate
SightseeingRocky Mountain National Park is the ultimate destination when visiting Colorado and is the home of the spectacular Rocky Mountains. One of Colorado's "fourteeners," mountains that rise over 14,000 feet, is also inside the park. The park possesses habitats of tundra, subalpine and alpine woods, rivers, and cascading falls, and you can see bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goats, marmots, and elk.
1000 US Hwy 36 Estes Park, CO 80517
The resort city of Aspen, CO, is the epitome of what a ski resort in the Rockies should be. There are ample opportunities for outdoor recreation in all seasons, and you will enjoy shopping and eating at the unique boutiques and eateries in the town. You can also visit various museums, historical sites, and other cultural venues.
590 N. Mill Street Aspen, CO 81611
Glenwood Springs is a resort city in Colorado that is well-known for its popular hot springs. It is located in the Rocky Mountains and is surrounded by the White River National Forest. Visitors will not only enjoy visiting the hot springs but also hiking in Glenwood Canyon and around Hanging Lake. Glenwood Caverns are a system of caves you can tour, and Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a fun theme park with canyon swings that overlook the Colorado River.
802 Grand Ave. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
MuseumsFrontier Historical Society and Museum is a museum that features a replica of a pioneer home. Visitors can learn about mining, Ute Native Americans, and famous characters of the wild west. The exhibits focus on the general western history of the U.S. and the history of the local areas.
1001 Colorado Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
The Wheeler/Stallard house is a Queen Anne-style Victorian built in the late 1880s. The first floor is dedicated to featuring the home, and the second floor is a gallery that houses rotating exhibits on the area's history.
620 W. Bleeker St., Aspen, CO 81611
Nearby Shops and RestaurantsThe Hot Tomato is a pizza restaurant that specializes in fresh dough that is hand-tossed. Their ingredients are made fresh each day on-site. Besides pizza, they have sausage rolls, calzones, and salads. One of their popular menu items is the Meaty Pizza, which comes with Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian sausage, and meatballs. They also have a tasty beet salad with beets, spinach, candied walnuts, dried cherries, goat cheese, and peperoncino.
124 N. Mulberry St., Fruita, CO 81521
Happy Trails is a clothing store that also carries souvenirs. You will find clothes, candles, lotions, soaps, and other locally crafted items. Their clothing includes women's, men's, and children's items.
217 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita, CO 81521
Fruit Basket Orchards is the only full-service U-Pick orchard in the Grand Valley. This orchard is mostly about the cherries, but they also grow peaches, nectarines, apricots, strawberries, blackberries, plums, raspberries, and 20 varieties of apples.
253 32 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503
When driving west, you will take Interstate 70 toward Grand Junction and take Exit 31, Horizon Drive. Follow the signs through Grand Junction to the east entrance. The visitor center and Indian Acres Campground are 19 miles from the east entrance.
When driving east, take Interstate 70 and eExit 19 for Fruita. Turn south on Hwy 340 to the west entrance, which is three miles from Fruita. The visitor center and Fruita Campground are four miles from the west entrance.
1750 Rim Rock Drive, Fruita, CO 81521
Fee: Entry Fee (Per Vehicle) $25.0
Fee: Entry Fee (Per Motorcycle) $20.0
Fee: Entry Fee (Per Person) $15.0
The Colorado National Monument was created in 1911 and serves to preserve a large portion of the region in west-central Colorado. There have been several campaigns to have the monument named as a national park, but it currently is a national monument. The park is large and has a varied ecological terrain, and there are many choices for outdoor recreation and activities. When you tour this pristine wilderness in an RV, you are sure to fully experience everything on your itinerary.
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