Visiting in Winter

Visiting in winter brings unique challenges. Be prepared for snowy, icy, and muddy conditions on roads and trails.

NPS Photo/ K. Thomas

 

 

Winter at Colorado National Monument allows you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city to find rejuvenating solitude in nature. Retreat into the quiet canyons and spend time in the snow-covered "Heart of the World."

Visitor Center Hours

The Saddlehorn Visitor Center is open 9am to 4:00pm daily, 7 days a week throughout the winter.

The visitor center will be closed:

· Thanksgiving Day

· Christmas Day

· New Year’s Day

For updated hours due to inclement weather, please call 970-858-2800 x 350. No ranger-led hikes nor campfire talks are typically scheduled in winter, but the Visitor Center, Rim Rock Drive, and trails are open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Tips for a Safe Winter Visit

1. Check the forecast beforehand to see if a snowstorm or foggy clouds might affect your visit.

2. Pay attention to sunrise and sunset times so that you aren't still out after an early-afternoon winter sunset.

3. Call the Monument at 970-858-2800 extension 350 for updated road conditions.

4. Always pay attention to the road while driving or bicycling!

   • Ice stays longer in shadowy places, even after a warmer winter day. Be on the lookout for snow-packed and icy conditions.

   • Wildlife often enters the roadway without notice, such as bighorn sheep jumping down from a cliff face.

5. If you’re hiking, especially when close to an overlook or cliff, consider that trails and rocks are typically snowy, icy, and/or muddy throughout winter – a major slipping hazard. Stay at least six feet away from the edge where there’s no guardrail.

Additional Considerations

Water

Please bring a water bottle or other container to fill up from the fountains and spigots located at the Visitor Center and in the Campground Loop B.

Goods and Services

The Visitor Center provides light refreshments such as trail mix, chocolate, and cactus candy. Single use liquid beverages are not available. The Visitor Center restrooms close daily when the Visitor Center closes. Saddlehorn Campground will have open restrooms in Loop B. Devils Kitchen Picnic Area and Liberty Cap also have restrooms. The closest gas stations are available in the towns of Fruita and Grand Junction.

Trail Conditions

All trails remain open during the winter season. There is the possibility that due to heavy snowfall, Rim Rock Drive may close segments of the road, limiting access to the upper trailheads of Upper Liberty Cap, Upper Ute Canyon, Upper Monument Canyon, Coke Ovens, Black Ridge, and CCC Trail. Skiing is available on Upper Liberty Cap Trail. Please bring crampons and snowshoes to navigate the ice-covered rocks and long snow-covered trails. Winter activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and similar activities are prohibited on Rim Rock Drive. These activities would conflict with the safe flow of traffic and snow removal operations.

Road Conditions

At over 6,000 feet in elevation, Rim Rock Drive provides spectacular views and winding switchbacks. When possible, Rim Rock Drive will be plowed throughout the day to maintain safe driving conditions. Periodic road closures may occur until plowing is completed. However, even after plowing, shadowed sections of the road may still harbor slick ice. Driving through the Monument at night is discouraged.

For your safety, please consider keeping a winter road trip kit in your vehicle. The kit should contain non-perishable food and water, extra blankets and warm clothing, jumper cables, an ice scraper, and kitty litter to help with traction on slippery ice and snow.

Backcountry Permits

Backcountry camping and hiking is permitted within the Monument. Pick up a backcountry camping permit at the Visitor Center. In the event of an emergency, the permit alerts park officials of the general area to distribute aid. Be prepared for sudden winter storms, fog, and icy rocks.

Daily Park Activities

Our Visitor Center proudly features an 18-minute film about the Monument as well as 10 interactive exhibits. Bring the young and the young-at-heart to participate in the Junior Ranger program. The best winter trails are Alcove Nature Trail, Canyon Rim Trail, and Otto’s Trail. These shorter trails are in close proximity to the Visitor Center, and they are easy to traverse in snowy and cloudy weather.

Weather

The average temperature (Fahrenheit) during the winter season ranges from low 10s to high 30s. The sun and elevation of the canyons allow snow to melt throughout the day. However, freezing winds and colder night temperatures can create frost and black ice conditions. Please be vigilant and check the weather before you arrive.

 

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The location for this forecast is listed as Grand Junction Regional Airport because that is where our closest NOAA weather station is located. Note that it is providing a forecast for our location and not for the weather at the airport.

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Lat: 39.05625076371952 Long: -108.70868682861328

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Video: Winter Connections at the Monument

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 7 seconds

Winter, a season often connected with scarcity, is a landscape of abundance at Colorado National Monument. If you can’t make it in person, may this video serve as your peek into the snowy canyons. | Starring: NPS/Burton | Narrated, written, edited, produced by: NPS/Scarborough | Footage by NPS/Scarborough | Track: The Unexplored | Music by https://www.fiftysounds.com | AD Narrator: CNMA/vanWaveren | Many thanks to Mesa County Libraries for recording at 970West Studio.