Other than driving along Rim Rock Drive, hiking the Monument Canyon Trail is probably the most popular activity in Colorado National Monument. The return segment is not maintained and will require extra effort to navigate. I saw some deer on the way down as well. This trailhead is shared with Ute Canyon Trail and Liberty Cap Trail. Continue along the established Monument Canyon Trail until the base of Independence Monument. As you get closer to the end of the trail there is a large slick rock area that is great for a rest and snack. Elevation change: 850 feet. If you choose the latter, you should probably plan on a full day. You will need to pay a park fee to enter the National Monument which costs $15, or you can get an annual pass for $40. The Monument Canyon Trail is generally considered to be the premier backcountry trail in Colorado National Monument. Rangers will tell you that if you have time for only one long trail, this is it. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. There is also signs indicating Colorado National Monument. Trail ascends steeply for 2 miles from the Grand Valley floor to Liberty Cap rock sculpture.

Be sure to keep an eye out for bighorn sheep because they are known to frequent this area of the monument. Turn off your ad blocker to see a map of this trail, Liberty Cap, Ute Canyon and Corkscrew Trail Loop, James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park. Better to come down that way then up as it’s not quite as scenic and more lose rock and gravel than the monument trail. There weren't many people and the views were great. There is also signs indicating Colorado National Monument. Monument Canyon trail, also popular, follows Monument Canyon for about 5 miles. No shade and no water so bring plenty and don’t forget the sunscreen! : Three access points: (1) from the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, turn left onto Rim Rock Drive and travel 9.3 miles (15.0 km) to the trailhead on the left, (2) from the west entrance of the monument, turn right onto Highway 340 (going east); after 6.5 miles (10.5 km) turn right at the light onto South Broadway; go 1.2 miles (1.9 km) and turn left onto Wildwood Drive; watch closely for a brown trailhead sign on the right at 0.5 miles (0.8 km); turn down the road to the trailhead, and (3) from the east entrance, proceed north on Monument Road 0.6 miles (1.0 km); turn left on South Camp Road; drive 2.6 miles (4.2 km) to its junction with South Broadway; turn left and go 0.5 miles (0.8 km); turn left onto Wildwood Drive and go 0.5 miles (0.8 km); watch closely for a brown trailhead sign on the right at what appears to be driveway; turn down this road to the trailhead. I came back through Wedding Canyon which was beautiful but I would be careful when it is wet as there could definitely be some slick parts. Most hikers do not attempt the entire route. This route through Monument Canyon gains approximately 1500 feet in elevation, most of which is divided between the first mile from the upper trailhead and the last two miles.
Worth the view to head over .3 miles to Coke Ovens Overlook. There are several cliffs rising above the trail on your right as you ascend to the spire.

This is my favorite trail in the area! Went up Monument Canyon, out a ways, and then back down Wedding Canyon. We started around 10:30am, and took our time walking to the coke ovens and back. Great trail, I started around 1130 and should have gone earlier. My favorite route is to start at the upper trailhead and hike to the lower then have someone give me a ride back to the top. 5,790 to 6,730 feet (1765 to 2051 meters). Saw a large herd of sheep. Exhilarating outdoor adventures including hiking, camping or skiing on the Grand Mesa. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, rock climbing, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. Perfect weather too! Visit Grand Junction | 740 Horizon Drive, Grand Junction, CO 81506 | Call 970-256-4060All rights reserved, copyright 2020 | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us.

Ample opportunity for amazing views and wildlife watching. Follows up-and-down terrain of Black Ridge. I’m glad we came down wedding canyon but if you have bad knees I’d avoid Wedding Canyon altogether and stick to an up and back of Monument. Limited parking is on the left. To the southeast of the monument there is a huge flat top boulder that John Otto’s wife began carving the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence on. Turn left onto Wildwood Drive and go 0.5 miles (0.8 km) and watch closely for a brown trailhead sign on the right at what appears to be driveway. This trail is often hiked up-and-back, and provides close-up views of Independence Monument, the Colorado National Monument's most distinct feature, as well as a formation named Kissing Couple.

Hundreds of miles of world-class mountain biking trails such as the Kokopelli Trail. 4,800 to 6,550 feet (1463 to 1996 meters) from lower trailhead to upper trailhead. Nice walk through sandstone cliffs. I had understood that there was a slot canyon trail. Turn left and hike 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Corkscrew Trail sign; descend steep "corkscrew" switchbacks. The first two access points are shared with Ute Canyon Trail and Corkscrew Trail. Route then follows the streambed with seasonal stream and pools bordered by cottonwoods and willows. Please be considerate when driving down to the parking area, driving slowly will allow you to watch for children and also keep the dust to a minimum. Enjoy the great variety of cacti blooming in the spring. The trail is unmaintained beyond the second waterfall. For additional parking, turn right into the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area. I had two devices, neither of which recorded properly. Click here to see a photo gallery of this hike. : Steadily ascending trail that follows the path of a historic lumber and cattle drive road. One of the things that are so interesting about the monument is how these little streams can have running water for a few yards then the water just completely disappears only to show up farther down the trail from out of … If you decide to hike the entire canyon, take a compass and topographic map. The trail head is on the left hand side with a very small parking area. Wedding Canyon is unimproved and has some pretty steep sections. Click Here to Go Back to Colorado National Monument. We liked that is was a moderate trail with rolling incline/decline. Turn left and go 0.5 miles (0.8). Hikers have a couple of options with regards to this iconic hike. There are two trailheads to this trail, the upper trailhead and the lower trailhead.
It’s so quiet here this time of year so you really have the trail to yourself for the most part.

Although marked ‘unimproved,’ the trail down wedding was still easy to follow. I did this as a trail run and only went up 4 miles. Also saw a couple colorful collared lizards! Monument Canyon Trail - 11.6 Miles Round-Trip The Monument Canyon Trail is the quintessence of Colorado National Monument. : Originally built by John Otto in 1909. Hiking. The hike from Lower TH to Upper TH is much more strenuous, it’s almost 85% downhill on the way back. The park's geologic story is told almost in its entirety through the layers of rock exposed along this mostly undeveloped route. It immediately begins to twist and turn going down the red walls of the canyon. The panel to the south of the trail register has a panel within a rock shelter. This was the Slot Canyon Trail. A bit populated but a good option for a relatively easy hike, Go early and bring water, beautiful rock formations and nature’s bonsai. There is a sign that was buried in the bushes indicating this is the Monument Canyon Trail. Trail winds across gently sloping Monument Mesa through pinyon-juniper forest and sagebrush flats for the final 5.0 miles (8.0 km). Isolated. It will have some rough portions, so be prepared for route-finding and lose footing.

As you head down the rest of the trail there are numerous sights to see, one which is called Frog Rock that looks like a huge frog with its mouth open.

This and additional trailhead information can found on the Backcountry Hiking Trails page of the National Park Service’s Colorado National Monument website.

John Otto was the principle founder of the Colorado National Monument and was designated the parks first superintendent in 1911.

Once inside the park, travel approximately eight more miles to the trail head.

The trail can be hiked one-way if a shuttle vehicle is available, but this adventure starts at the upper trailhead on the Rim Monument Canyon Trail and Coke Ovens Overlook Trail Colorado National Monument, Colorado. one of my favorite hikes!! Length: 12 mile or 5 mile loop options.

Unmaintained. Also saw big horned sheep every time I’ve been out there! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This jQuery slider was created with the free. Ute Canyon (moderate) The Ute Canyon Trail makes its way through the entire gorge and can be … Continue on to the left and there are … Plan on giving yourself at least four hours to enjoy this trail, although it would be very easy to spend the entire day. Turn left and travel about 2.5 miles to Rimrock Drive and turn right. Pretty level until climb last mile to top. The road actually looks like it is some ones driveway. The trail is very much in the sun for the entire hike.


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