Monuments and Mesas
Snow fed rivers drain from the western slope of the Rocky Mountains to carve the canyons of the Colorado River Basin – polished works of geologic art. Extending from Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Colorado National Monument on the Grand Circle’s eastern fringe through Utah’s famed Parks – Canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley – is an empire of astonishing cliffs and canyons, mountains and mesas. It is a land that invites us to wander and wonder, hike, bike, boat, float, jeep, ride, fly, climb, ski, photograph, or just sit and absorb its timeless beauty.
Each canyon and season offers unique treasures – graceful cottonwoods blazing yellow in the autumn months, canyon wrens calling in spring. Sitting quietly on a smooth sandstone ledge next to a centuries old site and absorbing the afternoon sun (hot in summer, welcomingly warm in winter), you’ll understand how people felt a thousand years ago: completely at peace. Bike across slickrock, testing your nerves and muscles, continuing on for miles because it’s just too beautiful to turn back. Join a dinosaur dig. Jeep into the cool green mountains of the La Sals or the Abajos, or onto Grand Mesa. Visit a vineyard. Raft the rivers – splash and play under the Grand Circle’s stunning blue skies.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area
- Colorado National Monument
- Grand Mesa National Forest
- Dinosaur Journey Museum
OFFICIAL STATE VISITORS WEBSITE
To learn more about Colorado, please visit the Official Colorado State Visitors Website:
