Colorado Activities

There are a variety of outdoor activities available at Colorado National Monument, including picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, and bicycling.

Colorado National Monument's trails offer many opportunities to hikers, backpackers and horseback riders. Bird-watchers and photographers discover the splendor that they traveled so far to find. Find hikes ranging from only 1/4 mile to over 8 miles.

Horseback Riding: A limited number of horseback opportunities are available in the park. Please talk to Visitor Center staff for more information.

Picnicking: There are three picnic areas: behind the Visitor Center, near the Saddlehorn Campground, and Devils Kitchen picnic area near the East Entrance. Devils Kitchen and Saddlehorn picnic areas have tables, charcoal grills, water, and restrooms. Devils Kitchen and the Visitor Center picnic areas have shade shelters, but the Saddlehorn picnic area does not. Groups of 15 or more require a permit.

Bicycling the Rim Rock Drive is a popular (and challenging) pastime. It has challenged many of the world's strongest riders, but yields to the most casual of recreational cyclists.
By itself, the Rim Rock Drive is just 23 miles long, but it joins with connecting roads outside the monument for a grand loop of 33 miles. Whether you decide to ride the entire circuit or only a part of it will depend on how much time you have and how fit you are.
For the Grand Loop, start wherever you wish and go either way around the circuit that includes the entire Rim Rock Drive and other rural/suburban roads. The aggregate climb for a complete trip is 2300 vertical feet, due primarily to the steeper grades just inside either entrance. Allow three hours.
For an easier 10-mile ride, start at the Visitor Center and ride to Artist's Point and return.
Off-road mountain biking is not permitted in the Monument, but several adjoining areas are ideal for it.
To insure your safety, please share the road with drivers and follow these instructions:
- Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic laws including speed limits, passing zones and stop signs.
- Bicyclists are required to ride single file at all times within the Monument.
- Ride as far to the right as is safely possible at all times.
- Please allow vehicles to pass if you are obstructing traffic and there is a safe place to pull over.
- Bicycles or riders must be equipped with reflectors or lights visible from the front and rear for safe passage through the tunnels.
- Passing vehicles in the tunnels is prohibited.