Colorado National Monument - Grand Junction, CO

I arrived in the late afternoon and stayed two nights at the Saddlehorn Campground inside the national monument. I awoke the first morning to discover the air very smoky from a wildfire to the northeast.


Since I was going to travel the Rim Rock Drive that takes you to many overlooks and trails from one end of the national monument to the other, I was apprehensive about how the poor air quality would obscure the views.


You'll notice a haze in some of the photos. But for the most part, a steady breeze removed the worst of the smoke. While it was still hard to see things off in the distance, I was able to enjoy most of the scenery.


Some of the stops were roadside overlooks, while others involved a walk down to the canyon's rim.


Cold Shivers Point


Columbus Canyon
Columbus Canyon

White Rock
White Rock Stands Out from the Background


Red Canyon


Red Canyon Walls
Red Walls


Ute Canyon


Ute Canyon
Ute Canyon Travels Outward

Ute Canyon
End of Ute Canyon

Monolith
Monolith


Upper Ute Canyon


Upper Ute Canyon
The Echo after Yelling "Hello" at this Point Returned in about Two Seconds

Canyon Floor
Canyon Floor


Highland View


White Rock
Pinyon Pines and Pinyon Junipers Dot the Landscape


Artists Point


Coke Ovens
Coke Ovens

Jagged Rocks
Jagged Teeth

Thin Fingers
Thin Fingers


Coke Ovens


Coke Ovens
Coke Ovens


Monument Canyon


Kissing Couple
Kissing Couple (far right)

Wide Canyon
Wide Canyon

Rock Spire
Rock Spire

Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
(on the side of the road as I left the overlook)


Grand View



Independence Monument (center)

Kissing Couple (far left)

The Island
The Island
(looks like a train locomotive to me)

Rock Pinnacle
Flat Top Pinnacle


Independence Monument


Independence Monument
Independence Monument

Wedding Canyon
Wedding Canyon


Otto's Trail


Pipe Organ
Pipe Organ

Independence Monument
Independence Monument


Book Cliffs View


Canyon View
Rocks, Spires & Canyon Looking Eastward

The Island
Other Side of The Island


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