U.S. Department of the Interior National Monument Fruita, Colorado

Suggested Hikes in the Monument

To Fruita and 70 (exit 19) Some land outside the park boundary is privately owned. Please est ntrance respect the owners’ rights and do not trespass.

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0.5 Lower TH to Independence 2.5 mi +500’ E Upper TH to Independence 3.5 mi -840’ CHO

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Upper TH to Lower TH 6.0 mi -1,440’ Devils 1.5

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O First Pool 1.0 mi +200’ 6.5 First Waterfall 2.0 mi +600’ 4.0 Road Second Waterfall Liberty Cap Trail d/DS (Seasonal) oa N R YO rk AN Wildwood TH to Liberty Cap 1.5 mi +1,100’ Pa E C de Upper TH to Liberty Cap 5.5 mi -650’ la HFAR t G G Upper TH to Wildwood TH 7.0 mi -1,750’ Eas OU OR TH Corkscrew Trail Loop 3.3 mi +760’ NO Ute Canyon TH to Wildwood TH 6.5 mi -1,640’ Black Ridge Trail To VC to Upp. Liberty Cap TH 5.5 mi +810’ Upper VC to CCC Trail Junction 3.0 mi +810’ Trailhead The ibbon Upp. Liberty Cap TH to CCC 2.5 mi +810’ (BLM)

Protect your Park Grand Upper No Thoroughfare Junction Canyon Please help us protect the park’s Help keep wildlife Pets are not allowed Bicycles are natural and cultural resources. wild. Do not feed or on trails. You may walk not allowed Leave things as you find them, approach animals. your dog (on a leash) on on trails. and be sure to pack out all trash. paved surfaces. Monument Canyon Lower Monument Canyon Trailhead: From Trail. The park does not maintain this trail, so the west entrance, turn right and drive 2.1 it will have some rough portions. Be prepared miles on Hwy 340. Turn right at the trailhead for route-finding and lose footing. sign and follow the dirt driveway to a gravel (5 mile loop, +550 feet) parking area.

Lower Monument Canyon Trail to Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead: From Independence Monument the Visitor Center turn left (east) and drive for For a moderate half-day hike, follow the 3.8 miles. The trailhead will be on your left. Lower Monument Canyon Trail to the base of Independence Monument. Desert bighorn Upper Monument Canyon Trail to sheep also enjoy this sunny trail, so have your Independence Monument camera handy. (2.5 miles one-way, +500 feet) During the first 0.5 mile of this difficult trail, you will descend over 700 feet through steep, rocky Monument and Wedding Canyon Loop switchbacks. Make sure you are prepared with Try this difficult loop for a more adventurous enough water and proper footwear. (3.5 miles to finish to the Lower Monument Canyon hike. the base of Independence Monument, -840 feet, From the base of Independence Monument 6 miles to the Lower Monument Canyon turn right to find the faint Wedding Canyon Trailhead, -1,440 feet)

Devils Kitchen Devils Kitchen Trailhead: From the east Echo Canyon Trail entrance drive 0.2 miles and turn left into the You may think Echo Canyon feels like a jungle trailhead parking area. compared to the dry shrubland surrounding it. A spring keeps this lush canyon green through- Devils Kitchen Trail out the summer. To reach Echo Canyon, follow Although less than a mile from the road, the Old Gordon Trail for 0.5 mile to a signed junc- shady interior of Devils Kitchen rock forma- tion and turn left. (1.5 miles one-way, +300 feet) tion feels like a remote oasis. This moderate trail ascends a large rock slope and is hard to Old Gordon Trail follow, look for cairns (rock piles) and carved Follow cairns to find your way along this his- steps. (0.75 miles one-way, +300 feet) toric toll road. Your hard work will be rewarded with great views of No Thoroughfare Canyon No Thoroughfare Canyon below. (4 miles one-way, +1,600 feet, moderate) Keep your eyes peeled for collared lizards as you explore this narrow canyon. For an easy Serpents Trail hike, follow the wash for 1 mile to the First Named for its many switchbacks, Serpents Trail Pool and turn around. For a moderate hike, was the park’s only auto road until Rim Rock follow the path to the right of the First Pool, Drive was opened in 1952. Be sure to take in the then walk up the wash for 0.8 mile to the First views of the Grand Valley to the north on the Waterfall. A rough route continues past the way to the Upper Trailhead. (2 miles one-way, waterfall for 6.5 miles to the Upper Trailhead. +780 feet) (1-2 miles one-way, +200-500 feet)

Corkscrew, Liberty Cap, Wildwood Trailhead: From the West large sandstone dome. The trail continues past and Ute Canyon Trails Entrance turn right at the stop sign and drive the cap for 5.5 miles to the Upper Liberty Cap 6.5 miles on Hwy 340. Turn right at the light Trailhead. (1.5 miles one-way, +1,100 feet) onto South Broadway/Redlands Pkwy. Drive 1.2 miles and turn left onto Wildwood Drive. The gravel parking lot will be on your right. Ute Canyon Trailhead: From the Visitor Center, turn left onto and drive Corkscrew Trail Loop 9.4 miles. The trailhead will be on your left. The Corkscrew Trail follows an historic route built by the park’s first ranger, John Otto. You Ute Canyon can hike it in either direction, but we suggest Ute Canyon offers a nice chance to explore the hiking up the Liberty Cap Trail and down the lush canyon bottom ecosystem. After the first Corkscrew Trail (counter-clockwise). 0.5 mile, the trail becomes rough and hard to (3.3 miles one-way, +760 feet, moderate) follow. In many areas vegetation covers the trail, so be prepared to route-find and hike through Short on Time? Ask at the visitor Liberty Cap Trail thick brush. (4.5 miles one-way, -880 feet) center for suggestions Climb for 1.5 miles on this steep, rocky trail on short hikes. to reach the Liberty Cap rock formation, a

Protect Yourself • Be prepared. There is no drinking water in lightning is in the area, be sure to stay in low- the canyons. Always carry extra water. lying areas and return to your vehicle.

• Protect your skin. Wear a hat and sunscreen. • Backcountry campers must get a free permit Colorado National Monument 1750 Rim Rock Drive • If you become lost, stay in one place and call from the visitor center. Fruita, CO 81521 for help. (970)858-3617 x360 • In case of emergency call 911. www.nps.gov/colm • Pay attention to rapidly changing weather. If

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