Having only stopped at Colorado National Monument as part of a longer road trip, I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this Colorado gem!
Although not technically one of the famous 63 National Parks, this National Monument is still serviced by the National Parks Service, and visitors will find a lot of the NPS’s typical amenities on site, such as a Visitor’s Center, Ranger-run programs, and well maintained hiking trails.
This does mean that the park has an entrance fee of $25 per car (good for 7 days), but it does also accept the America the Beautiful pass- idea for visitors traveling to multiple National Parks.
A car is necessary for this park- its main draw is the Rim Rock Road scenic drive that meanders through the plateau with many pretty viewpoints and scenic overlooks. Several of the viewpoints have short trails to hike for better views of the park and its rock formations.
I was shocked to see how high up this park was! Most of my drive from Grand Junction Airport was flat, but the second I got past the welcome sign, I felt like I was headed straight up into the clouds! The road can be a bit challenging since it’s narrow and winding with steep drop offs, but the views are worth it.
Visitors will want to keep an eye out for Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and the Coke Ovens- the park’s most famous rock formations.
Colorado National Monument offers a variety of hiking options for visitors of all levels, but I wasn’t feeling 100% while visiting here (the downsides of jetlag), so I only did very short and easy hikes.
Recommended Short Hikes and Overlooks
Otto’s Trail
A well maintained .25 mile out and back hike along Wedding Canyon that offers views of Independence Monument and the Canyon below. It’s a little steep at times with a few stairs.
Alcove Nature Trail
Just across from the Visitor Center is the short and flat .5 out and back self guided Nature Trail. An app is available for more details about the trail, but it’s still an enjoyable walk without the guide. The trail extends to a slightly more sloped (but still easy!) trail that ends in a surprise box canyon!
Ute Canyon Overlook
This is more overlook than hike, but I particularly liked it as it had a little nature garden with signs to explain all of the different native plants and animals
Coke Ovens Overlook
This overlook was also really nice and definitely worth hopping out of the car for! Again, not a hike but I loved the views!
Camping
This park is small enough that visitors can stop by every overlook within a day, and even get some hikes in, but for those looking to stay longer, I can really recommend the Saddlehorn Campground!
This campground is open to both tent and RV campers, and is the only campsite located within the park. Depending on your site, you can get a really fantastic view overlooking Fruita.
Saddlehorn Campground has 3 loops and a total of 79 campsites, but the small nature of the park means that visitors are typically only staying for a night or two so there are usually plenty of spots available. Camping fees are $22 per night.
I did notice that there was cell service available at my campsite, but service was intermittent throughout the park.
During the summertime, the nearby town of Fruita hosts a rodeo every Tuesday night, and I can highly recommend stopping by if your visit lines up!
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