1.7 Billion Years in the Making: COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT: USA

The Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grandest landscapes in the American West.
It's been 1.7 Billion years in the making!
From Fruita, Colorado, the Rim-rock road rises steeply up onto the Mesa top.
Challenging, it twists and turns along the very edge of shear walled red rock canyons for 23 miles. With it's narrow sections and tight corners. it's not for the fainthearted
There are 19 overlooks and 14 trails varying in length from 1 to 14 miles.
We visit all 19 overlooks and walk their associated trails.
In particular:
The canyon Rim Trail
This trail is around 5,600 feet elevation and is an easy one mile out and back trail.
From the overlook the views across Wedding and Monuments Canyons are stunning.
Otto's Trail
Otto's trail is around 5,700 feet elevation and is an easy one mile out and back trail.
From the overlook there are spectacular views of Monoliths, Fins and Spires.
Devil's Kitchen Trail
The Devil's Kitchen Trail is 1.5 miles out and back, with a height gain of 200 feet and is graded easy.
This is hot, dry, arid, high desert country, if you cannot stand the heat, keep out of this particular kitchen!
Plenty of drinking water should be carried.
The Devil's Kitchen formation is a spectacular group of Monoliths, Spires and Fins high up on a ridge a short distance up No Thoroughfare Canyon.
Worthy of exploration, the enclosed grotto is the actual Devil's Kitchen, it offers some relief from the heat of the day.
Enjoy the video.