The Heart Of the World

Colorado National Monument is hoping to upgrade itself to the status of a National Park – a higher level of protection. It could hardly offer a higher level of delight!

 

Twenty-three miles of amazingly engineered road, mostly built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, but not completed until 1950, wind their way along canyon edge up into the blue Colorado sky. Overlooks provide lofty viewpoints and short hikes among juniper and pinon pine trees. Wild flowers decorated the landscape when I visited in May. Long, and no doubt rewarding, wilderness hikes await adventurers.

Rimrock Drive snakes its scenic way through the Monument.

 

The Monument lies between Fruita and Grand Junction CO, just off Interstate 70. It owes its existence to the untiring efforts of one man, John Otto, who, arriving there in 1907, thought the area too beautiful, too magnificent to be overlooked. He explored, developed trails, lobbied and eventually saw the Monument created in 1911. Ah! The power of the individual!

It's an excellent road for cycling.