Best Colorado National Monument Day Trips & Things to Do

Some of the granite and sandstone mesas in this 32 square mile park outside of Grand Junction, Colorado, rise over 2,000 feet above the Grand Valley. Officially established in 1911, the Colorado National Monument is now a popular attraction for outdoor enthusiasts, who flock here to see the unique rock formations as well as golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, bighorn sheep and mountain lions. You can travel through the monument by car on Rim Rock Drive or hike among the towering monoliths by way of Serpent Trail. For more information, stop by the Visitor Center and Natural History Museum.