{"id":10653,"date":"2018-03-17T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2018-03-17T11:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/?p=10653"},"modified":"2018-03-26T08:16:36","modified_gmt":"2018-03-26T13:16:36","slug":"colorado-monument-grand-junction-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/colorado-monument-grand-junction-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"COLORADO MONUMENT \u2013 GRAND JUNCTION #Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"

COLORADO MONUMENT<\/p>\n

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. ~nps.gov<\/p>\n

Colorado National Monument\u00a0is a\u00a0National Park Service\u00a0unit near the city of\u00a0Grand Junction, Colorado.\u00a0 The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles,\u00a0ravens,\u00a0jays,\u00a0desert bighorn sheep, and\u00a0coyotes.\u00a0 There are scenic views from trails,\u00a0Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau, and the campground.\u00a0 Nearby are the\u00a0Book Cliffs\u00a0and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the\u00a0Grand Mesa.<\/p>\n

The monument’s feature attraction is\u00a0Monument Canyon<\/i>, which runs the width of the park and includes rock formations such as Independence Monument, the Kissing Couple, and Coke Ovens. The monument includes 20,500 acres (32 square miles), much of which has been recommended to\u00a0Congress\u00a0for designation as wilderness. – wikipedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To say that Rim Rock Drive\u00a0is a scenic road is an absolute understatement.\u00a0 The 23-mile drive follows the upper rim of a series of canyons, connecting points only eight miles apart in a straight line. The entire road has been designated a historic district on the\u00a0National Register of Historic Places.\u00a0 There are a number of points of interest along the way with areas to pull off and absorb the natural beauty that completely surrounds you here.\u00a0 The photo map below marks the spots highlighted below with galleries.<\/p>\n

Colorado National Monument Map<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n

Colorado National Monument Photo Map (click to enlarge)<\/p>\n

\"Colorado<\/a><\/p>\n

Dog Tooth View<\/h3>\n
\"Dog <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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\"Dog <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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Serpents Trail Overlook<\/h3>\n
\"Serpents <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Serpents <\/a> <\/div>
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\"Serpents <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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Cold Shivers Point Overlook<\/h3>\n
\"Cold <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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\"Cold <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cold <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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Red Canyon Overlook<\/h3>\n

\"Red<\/a><\/p>\n

Ute Canyon Overlook<\/h3>\n
\"Ute <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ute <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ute <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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Artist Point View<\/h3>\n
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Monument Canyon View<\/h3>\n
\"Monument <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Monument <\/a> <\/div>
\"Monument <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"2016-09-18 <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Monument <\/a> <\/div>
\"Monument <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
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\"Monument <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Views along Rim Rock Drive<\/h3>\n
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Rim <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

EXTRA<\/h3>\n