Article Contributed on: 9/4/2007 8:17:15 PM
While visiting my daughter at Mesa State College, we decided to take a drive to the Colorado National Monument. Having never heard of it before, we were not sure what to expect. We were pleasantly suprised. The 32 square miles of canyons and plateaus were full of amazing and breath-taking sights.
The colorful sheer-walled canyons, free-standing monoliths, and abundance of wildlife and vegetation was worth the one hour drive through the park. Apparently the park was named after the river, not the state and is located between Fruita and Grand Junction on the eastern slope of the Colorado plateau.
Independence Monument is a free standing monolith rising 450 feet from the canyon floor. Hikers and bicyclists are a common sight and there is camp-ground located within the park. Soaring golden eagles and desert big horn sheep make their home here along with some amazing, twisted, juniper trees.
So, the next time you visit Grand Junction, enjoy the peaches and the winerys, and then take an hour to visit the Colorado National Monument.