Colorado National Monument

sandstone spire hundreds of feet tall stands above sparsely vegetated canyon bottom and cliffs
Independence Monument as seen from Rim Rock Drive is an icon of the larger national monument.
Two female desert bighorn sheep look to the right among rusty sandstones
Desert bighorn sheep are often seen along Rim Rock Drive.
a wide sandstone monolith stands next to cliffs on a misty, cloudy day with green shrubs below
Independence Monument, and all our monoliths and canyons, change moods with the weather, seasons, and time of day.
Rock spire with large boulder balancing on top, blue skies above, green shrubs below.
Balanced Rock is one of many monoliths in the national monument easily seen from pullouts along Rim Rock Drive.
lizard with turquoise body and yellow head lounges on sandstone with canyon cliffs in distance
Collared lizards are one of many lizard species found in the monument.
Silhouette of twisted juniper tree as starry clusters of Milky Way rise vertically in dark night sky
Many clear nights allow for excellent dark sky viewing in most areas of the monument.
two people stand together at canyon cliff edge pointing to tree covered hills across the canyon
Canyon Rim Trail starts at Saddlehorn Visitor Center and provides a great introduction to this canyon landscape.
Looking down from canyon rim at a U shaped portion of road entering and exiting the canyon
Historic Rim Rock Drive was begun in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Photos: National Park Service

About Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Monument
Park State / Territory MembershipColorado
Current Alerts1
Visitor Centers1
Campgrounds1
Things To Do13

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Spring: Daytime high temperatures 70-85 F (21-30 C), nighttime low temperature 30-50 F (-1 - +10 C). Summer: Daytime high temperatures can reach 100 F (38 C), afternoon thunderstorms common. Fall: Similar to spring temperatures, sudden changes in weather common. Snow can occur in October. Winter: Daytime highs vary from…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Colorado. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle$25.00

$25 for a private vehicle. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all its passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Private vehicle must be non-commercial and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.

Entrance - Motorcycle$20.00

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Per Person$15.00

This pass is good for 7 days for an individual who is walking or bicycling into the monument.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$15.00

Organized groups such as Scouts, Rotary, Hiking Clubs, Youth Groups, Religious Institutions, etc. that do not qualify for an Academic Fee Waiver are charged as follows: $15 per person, not to exceed the equivalent commercial rate. Passes are valid for 7 days. Youth ages 15 and under are free. Individuals or families in the group may use any valid Annual or Lifetime pass for entry. Pass and photo ID must be presented.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups$0.00

Groups entering the park for educational purposes (curriculum-based classes or activities) may be eligible for a free academic fee wavier. Email COLM_permits@nps.gov to apply for a waiver or for more information.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25.00

Cost: $25, plus $15 per person to a maximum of $40. The entry fees for commercial tours are based on the total capacity of vehicles that carry 7 or more people, regardless of the actual number of passengers. Possession of an annual or lifetime pass, or the ages of the passengers, does not affect the price charged unless the vehicle's capacity is less than 7 passengers, excluding the driver.

Commercial Entrance - Van$40.00

The entry fees for commercial tours are based on the total capacity of vehicles that carry 7 or more people, regardless of the actual number of passengers. Possession of an annual or lifetime pass, or the ages of the passengers, does not affect the price charged unless the vehicle's capacity is less than 7 passengers, excluding the driver.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$40.00

The entry fees for commercial tours are based on the total capacity of vehicles that carry 7 or more people, regardless of the actual number of passengers. Possession of an annual or lifetime pass, or the ages of the passengers, does not affect the price charged unless the vehicle's capacity is less than 7 passengers, excluding the driver.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$100.00

The entry fees for commercial tours are based on the total capacity of vehicles that carry 7 or more people, regardless of the actual number of passengers. Possession of an annual or lifetime pass, or the ages of the passengers, does not affect the price charged unless the vehicle's capacity is less than 7 passengers, excluding the driver.

Operating Hours

The Monument is open 24 hours a day year-round. Rim Rock Road is only closed for poor road conditions (snow, ice, rock fall, etc). For updates on storm or temporary closures call the park hotline at (970) 858-3617 ext 350.

FridayAll Day
MondayAll Day
SaturdayAll Day
SundayAll Day
ThursdayAll Day
TuesdayAll Day
WednesdayAll Day

Activities

Auto and ATVScenic DrivingBikingRoad BikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingClimbingRock ClimbingFoodPicnickingHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife Watching

Current Alerts

Year-round Fire Restrictions in Effect

Smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle. Fireworks and wood fires are always prohibited. Charcoal fires only allowed in designated grills. Visit our Fire Safety page for more info.

Getting There

Driving Westbound on Highway I-70 towards Grand Junction, Exit 31 (Horizon Drive). Follow signs through Grand Junction to the east entrance. The visitor center and campground are 19 miles from the east entrance. Eastbound on Highway I-70 take Exit 19 (Fruita). Turn south on Highway 340 to the west entrance, which is approximately three miles from Fruita. The visitor center and campground are four miles up from the west entrance.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed Address1750 Rim Rock Drive, Fruita, CO, 81521

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park$45.00

Annual Pass for Colorado National Monument, valid for one year from month of purchase.

Topics & Themes

Schools and EducationTransportationRoads, Routes and HighwaysAnimalsCanyons and CanyonlandsGeologyScenic ViewsTrails

Things To Do

Accessible Visit to Colorado National Monument

Accessible Visit to Colorado National Monument

Explore accessible ways to visit Colorado National Monument, from visitor center features to short trails to overlooks into the canyons.

Short Hikes in the Monument

Short Hikes in the Monument

These out-and-back trails start from along scenic Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument. All are less than two miles…

Junior Ranger of the Monument

Junior Ranger of the Monument

Become a Junior Ranger of Colorado National Monument by completing a booklet (pick up at Saddlehorn Visitor Center) to earn…

Backpacking in the Monument

Backpacking in the Monument

Backpacking or backcountry camping in the Monument is a great way to deepen your visit with the canyons. Monument, No…

Start at Saddlehorn Visitor Center

Start at Saddlehorn Visitor Center

Begin your visit to Colorado National Monument at the visitor center. Watch the orientation film, explore the exhibit hall, shop…

Hiking from Saddlehorn Visitor Center

Hiking from Saddlehorn Visitor Center

These hikes can be accessed from the visitor center. Several short hikes to incredible views begin here, as well as…

More Things to Do

Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.

Hiking in Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument trails offer a hike for everyone from 0.25 mile to over 14 miles, from flat accessible surfaces to rugged…

Road Biking on Rim Rock Drive

Road biking the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive offers cyclists a challenging ride with stunning views.

Travel on Rim Rock Drive

For panoramic views of Colorado National Monument's canyons and rock monoliths, a trip along Rim Rock Drive is a must.

Monument Canyon Loop Hike

This 5-mile loop can be extended for a deeper exploration into Monument Canyon. We recommend starting at the Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead…

Hiking from Devils Kitchen Picnic Area

Many incredible hikes begin just inside the East Entrance to the Monument. Choose from short day hikes to longer, more difficult backcountry…

Climbing in the Monument

The sandstone cliffs and spires of Colorado National Monument attract hundreds of climbers a year. Most routes in the park require "traditional"…

Shop for Monument Souvenirs

Shop for souvenirs at the Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA) park store, located in Saddlehorn Visitor Center. Preserve your memories of the…

Visitor Centers

Saddlehorn Visitor Center

For first hand information, maps, and brochures, the visitor center is a good place to start your adventure. It is located four miles from the…

Campgrounds

Saddlehorn Campground

All Saddlehorn Campground reservations, including same day, MUST be made online at www.recreation.gov. The campground is 4 miles from the west (Fruita) entrance. It is…

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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