Search for exclusive lodging deals in Grand Junction. The climb from the top to the bottom is about a 600 foot drop, once you reach the bottom of the cliff the trail levels off and is fairly smooth with mild up and down portions. Also saw big horned sheep every time I’ve been out there! Hiking. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, Monument Canyon Trail to Independence Monument in Colorado National Monument. For additional parking, turn right into the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area. The Monument Canyon trail sits right in the Colorado National Monument. Monument Canyon Trail is a 10.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Grand Junction, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. This portion of the trail is probably where the “moderate” rating comes from especially if you go down and back up. Monument Canyon Trail almost 13 mile hike.

There are two trailheads to this trail, the upper trailhead and the lower trailhead. Most hikers do not attempt the entire route.

Steep 600-foot descent from the plateau into Monument Canyon where you can walk beside many of the park's major rock sculptures: Independence Monument, Kissing Couple, and the Coke Ovens. Three and a half miles (and 850 vertical feet) from the top, the trail passes Independence Monument, the largest freestanding rock formation in the park. : Highest trail in the park with far-reaching views west to Utah canyonlands, east to Grand Valley, and south to the San Juan Mountains. one of my favorite hikes!! Well marked and easily managed. There is a sign that was buried in the bushes indicating this is the Monument Canyon Trail. Click here to see a photo gallery of this hike. : Rigorous descent into narrow Ute Canyon from the plateau follows a primitive trail. This splendid trail takes the user through amazing sandstone formations and gorgeous views and to the base of Independence Monument.

Monument Canyon Trail.

The trail begins at Monument Canyon's Upper Trailhead and drops 900' in just .9 miles to the canyon …

The trail is unmaintained beyond the second waterfall. Turn left and go 0.5 miles (0.8).

4,800 to 6,550 feet (1463 to 1996 meters) from lower trailhead to upper trailhead. Be sure to bring more than enough water in the park’s backcountry. Boring beginnings, but once you’re in the canyon, everything is gorgeous. As you walk along the bottom you pass by the Coke Ovens and almost right under Kissing Couple and can stop at the base of Independence Monument. Whether you do the loop (which I love and suggests to go wedding canyon to the monument and then monument canyon back to the car) or the monument trail to rim rock drive (I have done both) you will get nothing but great views. The trailhead is shared with two other trails: Old Gordon Trail and Devils Kitchen Trail. Isolated. Rangers will tell you that if you have time for only one long trail, this is it.

I did this as a trail run and only went up 4 miles. Zebra Canyon Zebra Canyon is a stunning and unique out-and-back canyon located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Awe-inspiring natural beauty and the dramatic red rock landscape of the Colorado National Monument. The trailhead is shared with two other trails: No Thoroughfare Canyon Trail and Devils Kitchen Trail. Monument Canyon Trail starts on Colorado National Monument’s Rim Rock Drive at an elevation of 6130 ft. To access the upper trailhead from Grand Junction, travel west on I-70 to the Fruita exit. The trail is a six mile hike one way and is considered moderate. The trail immediately starts to drop off into the canyon along the cliff edge. Monument Canyon Trail is six miles long in one direction, dropping from Rim Rock Drive across Monument Canyon to a second trailhead on the eastern edge of the park. Find the Monument Canyon Trailhead. Try to do this hike about 4 times in the season.

Monument Canyon trail, also popular, follows Monument Canyon for about 5 miles. At about the half-way point on the Cave Trail, there was a ‘T’ with another trail taking off. It immediately begins to twist and turn going down the red walls of the canyon. Horseback riding permitted along the. Check the weather as flash floods pose an imminent danger. Other than driving along Rim Rock Drive, hiking the Monument Canyon Trail is probably the most popular activity in Colorado National Monument. Horseback riding is permitted along the upper 5.0 miles (8.0 km).

Follow Liberty Cap Trail to trail junction sign at 1.0 mile (1.6 km). There is also signs indicating Colorado National Monument. Also saw a couple colorful collared lizards! 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.

The park's geologic story is told almost in its entirety through the layers of rock exposed along this mostly undeveloped route. This is my favorite trail in the area!

Location: Two access points: (1) from the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, turn left onto Rim Rock Drive and travel 3.8 miles (6.1 km) to the trailhead on the left.It is also the trailhead for Coke Ovens Trail, and (2) from the west entrance of the monument, turn right onto Highway 340 (going east); after 2.1 miles (3.4 km) turn right just beyond … Monument Canyon Trail starts on Colorado National Monument’s Rim Rock Drive at an elevation of 6130 ft. There are two trailheads to this trail, the upper trailhead and the lower trailhead.

COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The road actually looks like it is some ones driveway. Click Here to Go Back to Colorado National Monument.

Canyon walls rise over 400 feet. Most people begin at the lower trailhead and hike the three miles up to Independance Monument then turn around there and head back to the parking area. There are two trailheads to this trail, the upper trailhead and the lower trailhead. This trailhead is shared with Ute Canyon Trail and Liberty Cap Trail.

There is a sign that was buried in the bushes indicating this is the Monument Canyon Trail. Great hike. Three access points: (1) from the west entrance, turn right onto Highway 340 (going east); continue 6.5 miles (10.5 km) and turn right at the light on South Broadway; go 1.2 miles (1.9 km) and turn left onto Wildwood Drive; from Wildwood Drive, 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, (2) 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, and (3) from the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, turn left onto Rim Rock Drive and drive 6.4 miles (10.3 km) to the trailhead on the left.

: From the east entrance, travel 0.2 miles (0.3 km). : From the east entrance, travel 0.2 miles (0.3 km). Once inside the park, travel approximately eight more miles to the trail head. : Originally built by John Otto in 1909. Find deals and coupons for activities and more in Grand Junction. Saw a large herd of sheep. The panel to the south of the trail register has a panel within a rock shelter. The Monument Canyon trail sits right in the Colorado National Monument. The return segment is not maintained and will require extra effort to navigate. Turn left and travel about 2.5 miles to Rimrock Drive and turn right. Turn right to find the faint Wedding Canyon Trail, which the park does not maintain.

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We went up Monument Canyon and down Wedding Canyon. The first two access points are shared with Ute Canyon Trail and Corkscrew Trail. : Descent from plateau on maintained trail followed by undeveloped route through remote canyon.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Pretty level until climb last mile to top. Monument Canyon trail is one of the premiere trails located in the Colorado National Monument. Hikers have a couple of options with regards to this iconic hike. This was a great trail that was a moderate difficulty hike.

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. Turn right to find the faint Wedding Canyon Trail, which the park does not maintain. 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. Route then follows the streambed with seasonal stream and pools bordered by cottonwoods and willows. The road actually looks like it is some ones driveway. Hiking. Like much of this area, you may encounter bighorn sheep. Keep your distance and enjoy!

There are two areas on either side of the trail register near the mouth of the canyon that each have a panel of petroglyphs. Hundreds of miles of world-class mountain biking trails such as the Kokopelli Trail.

Ample opportunity for amazing views and wildlife watching. This and additional trailhead information can found on the Backcountry Hiking Trails page of the National Park Service’s Colorado National Monument website. You will need to pay a park fee to enter the National Monument which costs $7.

To get to the lower trailhead from 1st and Grand in Grand Junction you will need to head west on Broadway for approximately 8 1/4 miles. I had two devices, neither of which recorded properly.

There are several cliffs rising above the trail on your right as you ascend to the spire. : From the east entrance, proceed north on Monument Road 0.6 miles (1.0 km); turn left on South Camp Road.

Begin to climb and follow the trail as it climbs steadily for around a mile with variations of rock, technical spots and packed trail. Continue on to the left and there are … Horseback riding is permitted along the boundary of the monument to the base of the escarpment only. It will have some rough portions, so be prepared for route-finding and lose footing. Trail ascends steeply for 2 miles from the Grand Valley floor to Liberty Cap rock sculpture. : Steadily ascending trail that follows the path of a historic lumber and cattle drive road. While the descent to (and ascent from) the canyon floor is challenging, the rest of the hike is relatively flat and incredibly scenic. 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.