Exploring Colorado’s National Parks and Monuments
Colorado is a treasure trove of natural beauty, offering a diverse array of national parks and monuments that showcase everything from towering sand dunes to ancient cliff dwellings. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a casual traveler, there’s something for everyone in the Centennial State. Here’s a guide to some of the must-visit national parks and monuments in Colorado.
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National parks
Great Sand Dunes National Park
The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Located in Mosca, Co there are three diverse ecosystems here, so be sure to plan enough time to visit all of them. Alpine tundra is the highest ecosystem at Great Sand Dunes. There are five named alpine lakes and a few unnamed ones in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. The dune field with the tallest dunes in North America spreads across 30 square miles. And this is just the beginning of all you can see here. You can hike the many trails and all the sand dunes or go sandboarding or snow sled on the dunes. Play or swim in Medano Creek when there’s water. Or tour on horseback. Fees for private vehicles start at $25.
Black Rock Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
About 60 million years ago, a small area of land uplifted and brought metamorphic rock to high elevations. This is called the Gunnison Uplift. About 30 million years ago, large volcanoes erupted on either side of this uplift, burying it in volcanic rock. Then, about two million years ago, the Gunnison River began flowing in force. The river and time eroded the volcanic rock and cut a deep canyon in the metamorphic rock below. This is now Black Rock Canyon located in Montrose, CO on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. There are 3 scenic drives you can drive; each take 2 hours or more to complete. There are numerous hiking trails and a campground. If you enjoy winter activities, you can snowshoe or enjoy cross-country skiing in some parts of the park. The standard entrance pass starts at $15. Be sure to check the website for weather conditions before you go. You may also want to visit the nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area to experience the Gunnison River in a different form.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing. Located in Estes Park, CO, this park is open all year but be sure to check the website for winter weather closures. Fees to enter the park start at $30 for private vehicle. Stop by a visitor center, take a hike, take a scenic drive, enjoy snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, horseback ride through the park, camp-out under the stars and do some stargazing. There is an endless number of things to do here.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, in Mancos, is perhaps the most well-known Indian cultural park in the United States. The main attraction is the many elaborate cliff dwellings in the area. The largest, and most famous, is called the Cliff Palace. Mesa Verde was one of the three centers of early Ancient Puebloan culture, the other two being Chaco and Kayenta branch in Arizona. The area has been occupied for nearly 2,000 years. The park features mesa top pueblos and pit houses as well as the cliff dwellings. There is also an excellent museum. There are two loop drives to give you a wonderful view of the park: Cliff Palace Loop Road is a 6-mile drive with overlooks of cliff dwellings and access to the Soda Canyon Overlook Trail and Mesa Top Loop Road where you’ll drive 6-miles through 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history including excavated mesa-top villages and overlooks of cliff dwellings. Cliff Palace, which is the largest cliff dwelling in North America can be viewed from the Cliff Palace Overlook on the Cliff Palace Loop and from Sun Temple on the Mesa Top Loop. There are two short walks: Park Point is a short walk to the highest point in the park with spectacular views across the Four Corners Region and Far View Sites is an easy ¾-mile walk through a pinyon-juniper forest that connects a community of mesa-top farming villages and an ancient reservoir. The museum is also worth checking out. Pass fees start at $20 for a single vehicle.
National Monuments
Browns Canyon National Monument
Browns Canyon National Monument covers more than 21,500 acres of pristine rivers, canyons and forest. The canyon is carved by the Arkansas River and features granite cliffs and colorful rock outcroppings. There are many ways to enjoy this amazing monument from white water rafting, fishing, hiking or horseback riding. You can camp at one of the campgrounds although reservations are required with a fee. If you like winter activities, you can enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. There is no fee to enter this National Monument. You’ll find this wonderful monument in Salida, Co.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Delores, Co. which is in the four corners area and encompasses over 174,000 acres of federal land. The Monument contains the highest known archaeological site density in the United States, with well-preserved archeological finds of Native American cultures. This cultural landscape contains more than 8,300 recorded sites reflecting many physical components of past human life: villages, field houses, check dams, reservoirs, great kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, sacred springs, agricultural fields, petroglyphs and sweat lodges. Some areas have more than 100 sites per square mile. The total number of sites is estimated to be up to 30,000. A great starting point for visitors to the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument is the visitor center and museum. With tons of historical and informational data on the protected lands, the center is the perfect place to gather information for your guided or unguided tour. Admission to the museum is $7.
Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument
Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument lies along the Continental Divide in north central Colorado near Vail. This area started as a training area for US mountain troops. Today you can visit many of the historic buildings or ski at the family run resort Ski Cooper. There are no fees to enter.
Chimney Rock National Monument
Chimney Rock Archaeological Area is a San Juan National Forest Archaeological Area located in Chimney Rock, CO. Surrounded by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Chimney Rock covers seven square miles and preserves 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings, some of which have been excavated for viewing and exploration: a Great Kiva, a Pit House, a Multi-Family Dwelling, and a Chacoan-style Great House Pueblo. Chimney Rock is the highest elevation of all the Chacoan sites, at about 7,000 feet above sea level. From the base, the hike to the top is just a half mile and it’s rewarded with dramatic 360-degree views of Colorado and New Mexico. All vehicles and motorcycles will be subject to an activity pass fee – $20.00. The activity pass fee provides 5 days of access to the Chimney Rock National Monument. Self-guided tours are available during open hours and are included in the activity pass.
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument preserves towering monoliths that 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. Along with taking the 23-mile drive, which has many overlooks and access to some of the hiking trails, there are over 40 miles of hiking trails available for you to enjoy the beautiful scenery. If you love to climb rocks, it is permitted here. Bicycles are allowed on the main road. You can camp in the campground or get a permit for backcountry camping. Standard passes start at $15. This National Monument is located in Fruita, CO.
Dinosaur National Monument
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here, and their fossils are still embedded in the rocks in Dinosaur National Monument. Petroglyphs reveal the lives and connections of Indigenous people to this land. Depending on your interest and time, you can discover dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs and pictographs, homesteader cabins, early 20th century ranches, remote canyons, dramatic vistas or peaceful rivers. Some places are easily accessible from the monument’s roads while others may require extended hikes, 4-wheel drive vehicles or river trips. Dinosaur National Monument is spread over 210,000 acres along the Colorado and Utah border. is in Dinosaur, CO but the physical address is the Visitor Center in Jensen, UT. The private vehicle entrance fee is $25, other fees vary.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado. This is what you will find when visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant CO. There are 3 short self-guided hikes and if you like hiking there’s 14 miles of nature trails for you to explore. Visit Hornbek Homestead to learn more about the history of this monument. Be sure to stop at the Visitor Center! Entrance fee for this National Monument is $10.
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument in Dove Creek, Ut is on the border of Colorado and Utah. Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. Hovenweep National Monument protects six ancestral Puebloan communities that are spread 20 miles along the Utah-Colorado border. Each community is one “unit” of the park, and each unit is not connected to the others. You should start your visit at the Square Town Group the park’s main unit, which includes the visitor center and campground, as well as several of the park’s famous ancestral Puebloan structures. The rest of Hovenweep’s units are considered outliers and are more difficult to visit. All the outliers are accessed via dirt road, and we highly recommend using high-clearance vehicles. These units are Cutthroat Castle, Holly, Cajon, Horseshoe and Hackberry Groups. Please check the website for directions as this is not a straightforward monument to visit. Passes to visit the park start at $10.
Yucca House National Monument
Yucca House National Monument, in Cortez, preserves a large unexcavated pueblo with a stunning setting in Montezuma Valley, nestled between Mesa Verde and Ute Mountain. Currently, there are no signs directing you to Yucca House. The monument is surrounded by private land. Once you leave the main highway, the road to Yucca House becomes gravel or dirt, which may be impassable in wet weather. You may need to pass through livestock gates and close them behind you. Once you arrive at the parking area, follow the boardwalk and enter the monument through a small gate, making sure you close it behind you. Please see the website before you visit to find out more information and printable guide.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to marvel at the natural wonders or dig into the rich history of ancient civilizations, Colorado’s national parks and monuments offer an unforgettable experience. Plan your visit today and explore the diverse landscapes and cultural heritage of this beautiful state. Be sure to visit the website before you plan your trip to learn more about the park or monument. Please be sure to leave it as you find it. Don’t touch, move or damage anything you find while exploring. Throw trash away and bring out anything you took in.
We hope to help people find their adventures and pass on helpful information and tips we’ve learned to make your trip as stress-free as possible. We hope to inspire people to go out, explore and find new adventures. Even if it’s a day trip near home, you can make memories. Don’t forget to take your camera! Have fun and enjoy every day!
