{"id":5435,"date":"2021-04-01T08:26:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T08:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/?p=5435"},"modified":"2023-03-31T03:25:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T03:25:17","slug":"colorado-national-monument-hikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/colorado-national-monument-hikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Colorado National Monument Hiking Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Colorado National Monument is made up of 23,000 acres of canyons, monoliths, plateaus, that are all naturally sculpted and captivating. All around this monument are trails that hikers can choose to take and see the views.  Since there are hikes for a variety of levels, you will want to plan which trails for hiking Colorado National Monument with kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spent 3 days here hiking the Colorado National Monument with a toddler and kids. Living on the western slope, this area has been on radar but I always seemed to have other plans and drove right by it. This spring I decided to take the kids here rather than the more crowded Utah National Parks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two entrances to this monument, the east entrance near Grand Junction and the west entrance near Fruita.   We started on the west entrance near Fruita and worked our way back to the east entrance along Rim Rock Drive.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rim Rock Drive is spectacular, breathtaking, and a little frightening if you are afraid of heights.  If you or your passenger are anxious on narrow steep roads, I would do this drive east to west putting you on the inside track. Entering this national monument from the west, just outside Grand Junction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to watch out for the bighorn sheep and soaring eagles while you\u2019re driving. We slowed down to enjoy two young bighorn sheep grazing on the side of the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find several family-friendly trails in the Colorado National Monument that vary from easy, moderate, to complicated hikes. From monoliths that tower to the sky to an endless plateau of canyon panorama bliss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The monument is lined with 43 miles of trails. Some of which are on the flat parts of the canyon, while some weave along the side with steep drop-offs. Many trails lead to viewpoints where you can enjoy the vista and take photos.  Other trails, for the more cautious end in interesting and safer views, like the small slot canyon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you embark on any trail, start at the visitor center and get a map.  We always stop at the visitor center to get our junior ranger program booklets.  The kids collect the booklets and the badges from all our US National Park visits. Don\u2019t forget the junior ranger bagdes and swearing-in for the kids. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of our series on Colorado, we created this guide to camping near Grand Junction, Colorado. You will enjoy our other resources for visiting Grand Junction and the surrounding National Colorado Monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n