04/13/2023 — Johanna van Waveren

Visit Colorado National Monument

Here are some great opportunities to visit the monument!

Have you been to Colorado National Monument? Heard of it? We’re okay with being a “hidden gem” however, we’d love for you to visit to find respite among these large red rock monoliths. Stunning vistas can be seen from your card window. You may even pass bighorn sheep and cyclists as you drive along the rim of the canyons.

Maybe you’d like to visit by joining one of CNMA’s educational programs? It could be a guided hike to learn about millions of years of geological history or perhaps an astronomy program to see Saturn’s rings for the first time.

A visit to Colorado National Monument is special, no matter if it’s your first time or your hundredth time. If it’s your first time, an important detail is that, like most National Park units, there is an entrance fee charged when you enter the monument. Why pay the entrance fee? It costs a lot of money to maintain a National Park Service site and staff is working hard to make each visitor’s experience as positive as possible. Read more here.

However, we want equitable outdoor access for all and we understand that the entrance fee or a park pass may be difficult for many to purchase. Here are some opportunities to visit Colorado National Monument for free…

Explore Your Local National Park with CNMA. Every June and December CNMA selects community members based on an application process and the winners receive a year pass to Colorado National Monument. These passes enable the holder of the pass to visit the monument for free for as many times as they’d like in a year and this includes everyone in their vehicle (if driving). To learn more or to apply, visit our contact page.
Discover the Colorado National Monument with Mesa County Libraries. As a Mesa County Library card holder you are eligible to check out a backpack that includes binoculars, a nature journal, activity guides, and a pass that is good for entry into the Colorado National Monument for up to 7 days.
Fee-free days. There are 5 days in the year when all NPS sites waive entrance fees. Check them out here.
Gold Star Families and Veterans: Receive a free lifetime pass and active military receives a free yearly pass to thank all of these individuals for their service and to encourage them to spend time on our country’s public lands. Read more here.
Do you have a 4th grade student in your family? Learn more about the Every Kid in a Park Pass.