These massive rock formations look vaguely similar to beehive-shaped ovens used to process and purify coal. 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. Halfway down I spotted three desert bighorn sheep negotiating the rock outcroppings. Glenwood Canyon was perhaps the coolest part of the entire drive coast-to-coast. One seems way more deadly than the other. It’s an automotive experience more than anything else. Most of my wandering took place at the eastern end of the park. The red canyons and rock formations were a true sight to behold. Required fields are marked *. The 23-mile drive follows the upper rim of a series of canyons, extending from the vicinity of Fruita, Colorado in the west to near Grand Junction, Colorado in the east, connecting points only eight miles apart in a straight line. I find it fascinating how animals get nervous around people but always seem fine with cars. Rim Rock Drive is a 23-mile stretch of road crossing the rugged terrain of Colorado National Monument. They all depart from the same parking area near the Eastern entrance. The full, present-day roadway did not reach completion until the 1950s. Your email address will not be published. The leader of the bunch spotted me and began to descend towards the roadway. From the East, the road snakes its way up No Thoroughfare Canyon, ducking into a tunnel before cresting the top of the park’s “rim”. The idea was to get unemployed, young American men off the streets and back to work. I got back into the car, cranked up the A/C, and enjoyed the last winding stretch of Rim Rock Drive. This park easily outranks a lot of “real” national parks in my book (Pinnacles, Gateway, and everything East of the Mississippi come to mind). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Colorado National Monument's Rim Rock Drive is one of the grandest scenic drives in the United States. But the main attraction is a scenic joy ride along Rim Rock Drive. I-70 and US-50: A road trip across America. In retrospect, I am incredibly glad I prioritized this little gem outside Grand Junction. One of the grandest scenic drives in the American West, the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive offers redrock canyons, crisp blue skies, and glorious views along the way for motorists and bicyclists. There are some other great hikes throughout the park. Closer to the western end of the monument sit the “Coke Ovens”. Rim Rock Drive winds its way up No Thoroughfare Canyon before driving along the upper crest of Colorado National Monument. After these morning hikes, I ducked into my air-conditioned car for a nice leisurely journey along Rim Rock Drive. You can see these giant rock formations clearly and easily from alongside Rim Rock Drive, but there’s also a cool trail that takes you much closer. It also provides access to Saddlehorn Visitor Center and campground, many signed viewpoints, and 14 … Colorado National Monument’s Rim Rock Drive offers 19 overlooks and more than a dozen hiking trails from which to savor the ruggedly beautiful terrain. The early days of this crisis shut down the half-dozen or so national parks that were on my route west (Rocky Mountain, Arches, Canyonlands, Great Basin, among others). Like most bits of cool infrastructure in our country, the road was largely built during the Great Depression by various New Deal agencies, including the civilian conservation corps. To the best of my knowledge, it just means “the National Park Service runs this place, it’s pretty nice, but it’s not a national park.” And with this nominal demotion, these gorgeous sites go from must-visit family vacations to road trip afterthoughts.
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