Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Monument Fruita, Colorado Suggested Hikes in the Monument To Fruita and 70 (exit 19) Some land outside the park boundary is privately owned. Please respect the owners’ rights and do not trespass. West Entrance Campground Ranger Station Drinking Water Shelter Trailhead Picnic Area Hiking Trail Unmaintained Trail Seasonal Stream NY ON 340 ITA CA Fruita Dugw ay F RU Visitor Center 0. 6 5 Ri m 0.5 Ca n yo n 2.5 Window Rock Weddin g Ca ny on 5 0.2 0. Lower Monument Canyon Saddlehorn ON NY CA 5 ING 0. DD t en um on M Canyon 2.5 North Independence Monument rk Br Pa South Broadway oa dw ds White Rocks A ST w ay N ay an CANY ON c. 0. c.c 75 LD GO O NY dl 3.5 CA R T 3.0 N UME Kissing Couple 1 Mushroom Rock MON Black Ridge Otto’s Trail 1 0.5 mile 0 WE Alcove Nature Trail 0.5 km 0 Re KODELS CANYON 2.0 Tunnels . M C I NNIS C ANYONS N ATIONAL Riggs Hill 0.5 Upper Monument Canyon Coke Ovens 340 South Broadway W ild w oo dD r C ONSERVATION A REA Wildwood 0.5 Cap 1.6 0.5 Upper LibertyCap 0.5 p e r Li be rty Liberty Cap 0.2 2.5 Up South Camp Road M ONUMENT M ESA 5.5 ON E en t D M Y ON YO CAN Devils Kitchen Picnic Area Devils Kitchen Mileage Elevation 1.75 mi +770’ Old Gordon Trail 4.0 mi +1,600’ Echo Canyon 1.5 mi +300’ 1.0 mi 2.0 mi +200’ +600’ No Thoroughfare Canyon First Pool First Waterfall Liberty Cap Trail Wildwood TH to Liberty Cap Upper TH to Liberty Cap Upper TH to Wildwood TH 1.5 mi 5.5 mi 7.0 mi +1,100’ -650’ -1,750’ Ute Canyon TH to Wildwood TH 3.3 mi 6.5 mi +760’ -1,640’ Black Ridge Trail VC to Upp. Liberty Cap TH VC to CCC Trail Junction Upp. Liberty Cap TH to CCC 5.5 mi 3.0 mi 2.5 mi +810’ +810’ +810’ Corkscrew Trail Loop Protect your Park Please help us protect the park’s natural and cultural resources. Leave things as you find them, and be sure to pack out all trash. 8 0. Devils Kitchen First Pool Tra il Serpents Trail 0.2 5 +300’ First Waterfall (Seasonal) 6.5 lad tG Eas e a Ro rk Pa NO To Upper Trailhead Upper No Thoroughfare Canyon Help keep wildlife wild. Do not feed or approach animals. Second Waterfall Road d/ DS THO RO U R FA GH EC AN N YO (Seasonal) o 0.75 mi 0.8 Devils Kitchen on rd Old G +500’ -840’ -1,440’ 1.75 pen ts Tra il 1.5 2.5 mi 3.5 mi 6.0 mi Ser ECHO CANYON Gain/Loss Tunnel 0.5 One-Way Monument Canyon Lower TH to Independence Upper TH to Independence Upper TH to Lower TH C OL Trails at a Glance UM BU S RED CAN Fallen Rock on East Entrance N 0.5 Ute Canyon ad Ro um ck UT Ro e riv West G CA NY To Grand Junction 4. 0 m Ri la de P a rk / 1 6½ Rd . C o r ks cr e w 0 4. The Ribbon (BLM) Grand Junction Pets are not allowed on trails. You may walk your dog (on a leash) on paved surfaces. Bicycles are not allowed on trails. Monument Canyon Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead: From the west entrance, turn right and drive 2.1 miles on Hwy 340. Turn right at the trailhead sign and follow the dirt driveway to a gravel parking area. Trail. The park does not maintain this trail, so it will have some rough portions. Be prepared for route-finding and lose footing. (5 mile loop, +550 feet) Lower Monument Canyon Trail to Independence Monument For a moderate half-day hike, follow the Lower Monument Canyon Trail to the base of Independence Monument. Desert bighorn sheep also enjoy this sunny trail, so have your camera handy. (2.5 miles one-way, +500 feet) Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead: From the Visitor Center turn left (east) and drive for 3.8 miles. The trailhead will be on your left. Monument and Wedding Canyon Loop Try this difficult loop for a more adventurous finish to the Lower Monument Canyon hike. From the base of Independence Monument turn right to find the faint Wedding Canyon Devils Kitchen Devils Kitchen Trailhead: From the east entrance drive 0.2 miles and turn left into the trailhead parking area. Devils Kitchen Trail Although less than a mile from the road, the shady interior of Devils Kitchen rock formation feels like a remote oasis. This moderate trail ascends a large rock slope and is hard to follow, look for cairns (rock piles) and carved steps. (0.75 miles one-way, +300 feet) No Thoroughfare Canyon Keep your eyes peeled for collared lizards as you explore this narrow canyon. For an easy hike, follow the wash for 1 mile to the First Pool and turn around. For a moderate hike, follow the path to the right of the First Pool, then walk up the wash for 0.8 mile to the First Waterfall. A rough route continues past the waterfall for 6.5 miles to the Upper Trailhead. (1-2 miles one-way, +200-500 feet) Corkscrew, Liberty Cap, and Ute Canyon Trails Wildwood Trailhead: From the West Entrance turn right at the stop sign and drive 6.5 miles on Hwy 340. Turn right at the light onto South Broadway/Redlands Pkwy. Drive 1.2 miles and turn left onto Wildwood Drive. The gravel parking lot will be on your right. Corkscrew Trail Loop The Corkscrew Trail follows an historic route built by the park’s first ranger, John Otto. You can hike it in either direction, but we suggest hiking up the Liberty Cap Trail and down the Corkscrew Trail (counter-clockwise). (3.3 miles one-way, +760 feet, moderate) Short on Time? Ask at the visitor center for suggestions on short hikes. Protect Yourself Colorado National Monument 1750 Rim Rock Drive Fruita, CO 81521 (970)858-3617 x360 www.nps.gov/colm Liberty Cap Trail Climb for 1.5 miles on this steep, rocky trail to reach the Liberty Cap rock formation, a Upper Monument Canyon Trail to Independence Monument During the first 0.5 mile of this difficult trail, you will descend over 700 feet through steep, rocky switchbacks. Make sure you are prepared with enough water and proper footwear. (3.5 miles to the base of Independence Monument, -840 feet, 6 miles to the Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead, -1,440 feet) Echo Canyon Trail You may think Echo Canyon feels like a jungle compared to the dry shrubland surrounding it. A spring keeps this lush canyon green throughout the summer. To reach Echo Canyon, follow Old Gordon Trail for 0.5 mile to a signed junction and turn left. (1.5 miles one-way, +300 feet) Old Gordon Trail Follow cairns to find your way along this historic toll road. Your hard work will be rewarded with great views of No Thoroughfare Canyon below. (4 miles one-way, +1,600 feet, moderate) Serpents Trail Named for its many switchbacks, Serpents Trail was the park’s only auto road until Rim Rock Drive was opened in 1952. Be sure to take in the views of the Grand Valley to the north on the way to the Upper Trailhead. (2 miles one-way, +780 feet) large sandstone dome. The trail continues past the cap for 5.5 miles to the Upper Liberty Cap Trailhead. (1.5 miles one-way, +1,100 feet) Ute Canyon Trailhead: From the Visitor Center, turn left onto Rim Rock Drive and drive 9.4 miles. The trailhead will be on your left. Ute Canyon Ute Canyon offers a nice chance to explore the lush canyon bottom ecosystem. After the first 0.5 mile, the trail becomes rough and hard to follow. In many areas vegetation covers the trail, so be prepared to route-find and hike through thick brush. (4.5 miles one-way, -880 feet) • Be prepared. There is no drinking water in the canyons. Always carry extra water. lightning is in the area, be sure to stay in lowlying areas and return to your vehicle. • Protect your skin. Wear a hat and sunscreen. • Backcountry campers must get a free permit from the visitor center. • If you become lost, stay in one place and call for help. • In case of emergency call 911. • Pay attention to rapidly changing weather. If EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ printed on 100% recycled paper