Rim Rock Road

The Rim Rock Road is the main road through Colorado National Monument along the many canyons of the park with overlooks and trailheads to enjoy this incredible park. Rim Rock Road was built with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the new deal programs created by FDR. Rim Rock Road is called by the national parks service “one of the most spectacular drives in the United States”. It travels from the east entrance to the west entrance diagonally across the park. This article will describe the road as well as the many pullouts to stop at and take in the view.

Starting at the East Entrance, or Grand Junction entrance, the road begins its steady climbs towards the top of the canyons. A short spur road leads to the Devil’s Kitchen Area with bathrooms and picnic tables. Just beyond this point is a pullout with a few trails. One of them is the Serpent's Trail. This historic 3.5 mile trail used to be the only road in the park surveyed by John Otto, the park's founder. On the other side of the road is a trail that splits off into the Devil's Kitchen Trail, splits again again to the No Thoroughfare Canyon Trail. Back at the original split is the Old Gordon Trail. This trail is great in the spring when many varieties of flowers are in bloom, many rock layers are also exposed and visible from this trail. Old Gordon is 8 miles roundtrip. The Devil’s Kitchen trail is 1.5 miles total and leads two tall rock spires that create a shaded area. The No Thoroughfare Canyon Trail is an all day trail 17 miles total. It is the longest trail in the park. This trail goes past a small waterfall through No Thoroughfare Canyon and eventually into an unmaintained trail. It is recommended that you bring a topographical map for unmaintained trails.

Back on the Rim Rock Road we head north going up and through seven switchbacks. Pass through the first tunnel of the road. Side note: none of the tunnels have lights so be sure you have your headlights ready to go. On the right side of the road pull over at Cold Shivers Point. This view is across a canyon, on the overlook side of the canyon is another wall with a little fin on the rock that makes for a unique picture. Back on the road you are at the end of Columbus Canyon, the canyon you just saw at the overlook. A road to Glade Park, Colorado splits off, you are four miles from the park entrance by this point. From Columbus Canyon you then see Red Canyon. Pull over at the next pullout to take a picture. The next stop is the Ute Canyon View. This canyon is a much smaller scale Grand Canyon. There are visible rock layers as well as a small stream flowing at the bottom depending on the time of year.

To hike down into Ute Canyon the next pullout is a small place to park and take the Ute Canyon. This is a 14 mile round trip trail that leads down to Liberty Cap and the Corkscrew Trail. The trail goes down 12 switchbacks before reaching the bottom of the canyon following the steam until the trail reaches the Liberty Cap formation. Further along the road two more overlooks provide different angles and perspectives of the previously mentioned Ute Canyon. A few miles down the road a junction leads to roads out the park. You are 12 miles from the entrance station, half way through the road, at this point. Just around the bend is a road that leads to a parking lot. One of the trails is the Liberty Cap trail that ends with the Ute Canyon Trail. It is also a 14 miles round trip. The other trail is the Black Ridge Trail that offers a higher up view of the canyons at Colorado National Monument. The trail does leave the monument but comes back and has a trailhead at the Visitor Center.

The road then meets with the Monument Canyon, the largest canyon in the park. Stop at the Highland View to take in the beauty of the canyon. Artists Point provides a view of the Coke Ovens and the surrounding canyon. Around the corner is another couple of trailheads. One of them is the Civilian Conservation Corps Trail that leads to the Black Ridge Trail. The other side leads to the Monument Canyon Trail going past Independence Monument down to Broadway in Grand Junction This trail is 12 miles total round trip. It takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of the park without crowds of people. The Coke Ovens Trail is 1.5 miles long and provides a closer view of the rock formation seen from Artists Point and Coke Ovens View.

The road continues along the Monument Canyon Rim and another view of the canyon to half tunnel. The premier overlook of Colorado National Monument, Grand View. From here you have the most commanding view of Independence Monument, the surrounding canyon, Grand Junction and the Rocky Mountains beyond. Another view of Independence Monument view is just up the road. Stop at the next trailhead to take the short Otto’s Trail. This 1 mile trail leads to another view of the Monument Canyon and the Pipe Organ rock formation. Around a bend in the canyon the road continues to the visitor center. From here more trails lead out in every direction. The side road leads to the park campground.