Twenty-three miles of canyon rim, 23 square miles of sandstone formations, and the story of one man who built it all by hand — what to know before you go.
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We came in from the Fruita side, midday, which is not the hour the photographers recommend. The light was flat and the heat was already rising off the rock in visible waves. None of that mattered. The canyon opened up on our left as the road climbed the rim, and Vince pulled over at the first overlook before either of us said anything about stopping.
That’s the thing about Colorado National Monument. It doesn’t require good light or good timing to make an impression. It just requires showing up.
What Colorado National Monument Actually Is
Colorado National Monument protects 23 square miles of canyon country in the high desert of western Colorado, just outside Grand Junction. Most people come for Rim Rock Drive, the 23-mile road that runs along the canyon rim connecting the Fruita entrance on the west to the Grand Junction entrance on the east. You can drive it in 45 minutes without stopping. You won’t want to.
Driving Rim Rock Drive — What to Expect
Rim Rock Drive enters the monument at the Fruita entrance and immediately starts climbing. Within the first mile the road has cut itself into the canyon wall and the drop on your left is real. The road is paved throughout and in good condition. Midday light is flat but the canyon delivers regardless — the colors are saturated, the shadows are sharp, and the heat rising off the rock gives the canyon floor a shimmer that early morning doesn’t.
Pets are allowed at all overlooks and paved areas on leash. No pets on any trail inside the monument boundary.
The Overlooks — Which Ones to Stop At
Artist Point
If you only stop once, stop here. Artist Point gives you the widest, most unobstructed view down into the canyon of any overlook on the drive. Named for the painters who set up easels here in the early 20th century. We pulled in planning to stay ten minutes and stayed thirty.
Red Canyon Overlook
Where the color contrast is most pronounced — the deep red of the Entrada sandstone against the sage-green of the canyon floor below. In early morning light it’s almost unreal.
Coke Ovens Overlook
A row of rounded sandstone domes eroded into shapes that look, with surprising accuracy, like a line of 19th-century industrial coke ovens.
Balanced Rock
A sandstone boulder perched on an eroding pedestal that has been defying expectations for longer than the park has existed.
Grand View
The longest sight line on the drive — Book Cliffs, the Grand Valley floor, and on a clear day the La Sal Mountains in Utah on the horizon.
Lower Monument Canyon Trail
The trailhead for Lower Monument Canyon sits just outside the Fruita entrance — no pass required, no entry fee. The trail is compacted dirt, accessible and well-maintained, running 4.5 miles out-and-back to Independence Monument, an 800-foot freestanding sandstone tower. Even a short walk in gives you a sense of the canyon floor’s scale that the overlooks above can’t. Go early, carry more water than seems necessary, and expect bighorn sheep — they’re unbothered by hikers and tend to hold their ground.
The Man Who Built It — John Otto
John Otto arrived in Grand Junction in 1906. He moved into the canyons, built trails by hand through terrain most people had written off as useless, and lobbied Congress until they listened. In 1911, President Taft signed the proclamation establishing Colorado National Monument. The federal government hired Otto as its first custodian at one dollar a month. He took the job.
“I came here last year and found a beautiful garden of rock forms, from which a national monument can be made,” he wrote to the government. The trails he built by hand are still here.
Practical Information for Colorado National Monument
Getting there
The Fruita entrance is accessed from Highway 340 off I-70 at exit 19. Entry is $25 per vehicle without a pass, valid for 7 days. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers entry. The Lower Monument Canyon trailhead sits just outside the Fruita entrance and does not require a pass.
Time needed
The full drive takes 45 minutes without stops; 2.5 to 3 hours with meaningful time at overlooks. Adding Lower Monument Canyon Trail adds another 2 to 3 hours. Both in a single day is a full but not taxing itinerary.
RV access
Rim Rock Drive is fully paved and handles most RVs and fifth wheels. Some overlook pullouts are tight for larger rigs — drive past and use the next one. If you’re towing, the flexibility of the tow vehicle alone is worth considering for the overlook stops.
🏕 Where We Stayed — Junction West RV Park
Junction West RV Park, Grand Junction CO | junctionwestrvpark.com
We based out of Junction West — Fruita is 12 miles west of Grand Junction on I-70, an easy morning drive. Disclosure: our stay was hosted by Junction West RV Park. All opinions are our own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a pass to visit Colorado National Monument?
Entry is $25 per vehicle without a pass, valid for 7 days. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers entry. The Lower Monument Canyon trailhead is just outside the Fruita entrance and does not require a pass.
Can I bring pets to Colorado National Monument?
Pets are allowed at all overlooks and paved areas on a leash. Not allowed on any trail inside the monument boundary — including Lower Monument Canyon Trail, which enters monument land from the trailhead.
How long does Rim Rock Drive take?
45 minutes without stops. With stops at the main overlooks, plan 2.5 to 3 hours. It’s worth the full time — each overlook shows you something the others don’t.
What is the best overlook on Rim Rock Drive?
Artist Point — the widest, most unobstructed view on the drive. Grand View is the second choice for a longer sight line into the surrounding landscape.
Can RVs drive Rim Rock Drive?
Yes. Fully paved and handles most RVs and fifth wheels. Some overlook pullouts are tight for larger rigs — drive past and use the next one.
Vince DiLoreto spent 20 years in the United States Air Force seeing the world before deciding to see it properly — this time with a camera, an RV, and considerably better food. A trained photographer and the visual half of Fitting in Adventure, Vince captures the places, people, and moments that make every trip worth telling. When he’s not behind the lens, he’s behind the wheel, which means he’s seen every gas station between Florida and the Pacific Northwest.