Rising south and west of Grand Junction, nearly 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, the brilliantly colored cliffs of Colorado National Monument are simply impossible to miss. Deep canyons, alive with piñon pines and cottonwood trees, nestle at the foot of sheer rock walls, at the top of which you get panoramic views over miles and miles of the Colorado Plateau. The 23-mile-long Rim Rock Drive winds along the tops of the cliffs, giving quick access to numerous trails for up-close looks at the various layers and hues of sandstone and shale, which have eroded over the eons into masses of sculpted stone.
There’s a large visitors center (970/858-3617) at the main entrance, four miles southeast of town, and there’s another entrance off I-70 in Fruita, at the northern end of the park.
