Colorado National Monument
| Colorado National Monument | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Grand Junction, CO |
| Area | 20,534 acres (83 km²) |
| Established | May 24, 1911 |
| Visitors | 355,219 (in 2004) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Colorado National Monument (often simply referred to as The Monument) is a part of the U.S. National Park Service near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado, in the western part of the state. It is a semi-desert land high on the Colorado Plateau. Pinyon pines and juniper trees, ravens and jays, desert bighorns and coyotes are all quite comfortable there. There are many activities including hiking trails, horseback riding, mountain biking, or just a drive through the park. There are magnificent views from trails and the Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau. Nearby are the purple-gray Book Cliffs, and the huge flat-topped mountain called Grand Mesa (the largest flat topped mountain in the world.)
Its feature attraction is Monument Canyon, which runs the length of the park, and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, Window Rock, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres, or 32 square miles, and much of it has been recommended to Congress for designation as wilderness.
Park History
The area was first explored by John Otto, a drifter who settled in Grand Junction in the early 20th Century. Prior to Otto's arrival, many area residents believed the canyons to be inaccessible to humans. Otto began building trails on the plateau and into the canyons. As word spread about his work, the Chamber of Commerce of Grand Junction sent a delegation to see what he was doing. The delegation returned praising both Otto's work and the scenic beauty of the wilderness area. The local newspaper began lobbying to make it a National Park.
The area was established as Colorado National Monument on May 24, 1911. Otto was hired as the first park ranger, drawing a salary of $1 per month. For the next 16 years, he continued building and maintaining trails while living in a tent in the park.
Trails
The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Before hiking in the Colorado National Monument, be aware that summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere. Most trails are well-maintained, but hiking alone is not recommended.
Serpent's Trail, perhaps the most popular, follows the route of the original road to the top of the Monument. This trail is accessible by parking lots at both ends, both located off of Rim Rock Drive. Serpent's Trail is well-maintained and provides stunning views of both the Monument itself and the Grand Valley below. One of the shortest trails, also popular, is Devil's Kitchen. The trailhead is located near the eastern entrance of the park on Rim Rock Drive. This trail is about 1 mile long, and ends in a sandstone grotto. Devil's Kitchen trail is well suited for families with smaller children, as the hike is short and the "kitchen" itself provides plenty of opportunity for child-sized exploration.
Liberty Cap trail starts from the valley floor and climbs to the rim of the Monument. Liberty Cap itself is an ancient sand dune, and provides a beautiful view of the Grand Valley. Corkscrew Trail, closed for many years but re-opened in mid-2006, branches off of the Liberty Cap and skirts a small canyon and cliffs that cannot be seen from the valley floor. This trail, the only loop trail on the Monument, is about 3 miles long and features a less rigorous climb than Liberty Cap.
Monument Canyon trail, also popular, follows Monument Canyon for about 5 miles. This trail is often hiked up-and-back, and provides close-up views of Independence Monument, the Colorado National Monument's most distinct feature. No Thoroughfare Trail starts at the bottom of No Thoroughfare Canyon. As the name implies, there is no official trail to the top of this canyon. The dead-end trail goes a few miles into the canyon, and up-and-back hiking is required. Some hikers have found a way to get through the entire canyon, but after a certain point the trail becomes difficult and unmarked. No Thoroughfare Canyon does have small waterfalls during the spring run-off, but is dry for most of the year.