If you’re looking for an unforgettable outdoor experience, Colorado is one of the best places to explore. With its stunning landscapes and incredible national parks and monuments, it’s no wonder why so many people flock to this beautiful state each year.
In this blog post, we will cover the top 12 national parks and monuments in Colorado. From Mount Evans to Mesa Verde National Park, there are plenty of exciting places to explore. So, grab your hiking boots, some sunscreen and a camera—we’re about to embark on an adventure!
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The park is located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and covers an area of over 400 square miles.
The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep, bears, and cougars. Rocky Mountain National Park also has a variety of landscapes, from alpine meadows to subalpine forests to montane ecosystems.
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde National Park, located in Montezuma County, Colorado, was established in 1906 to preserve and interpret the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home from 600 to 1300 CE.
The park occupies 81.4 square miles (211.4 km2) of land near the Four
Corners and features more than 4,000 archaeological sites, including 600
cliff dwellings. Mesa Verde is best known for these cliff dwellings, which
were built in the shelter of overhanging cliffs during the late 1190s and
early 1200s.
The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde are some of the
most well-preserved and best-known examples of Ancestral Puebloan
architecture. The structures were built using local materials, including
sandstone, timber, and mortar. The inhabitants of Mesa Verde used a variety
of techniques to construct their homes, including stone masonry, log cabin
wall construction, and adobe brick walls.
The Mesa Verde region
was first inhabited by hunter-gatherer groups in about 7500 BCE. These
groups began to build pit houses around 1000 BCE. By 600 CE, the Ancestral
Puebloans had begun constructing above-ground dwellings and developing a
complex irrigation system to support their growing population. The mesa-top
villages such as Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House were built between 1200
and 1280 CE. By 1300 CE, following a period of drought and social upheaval,
the majority of the population had
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
The Great Sand Dunes National Park
and Preserve is one of the most unique and beautiful national parks in the
United States. The park is home to the tallest dunes in North America,
which rise up to 750 feet high. Visitors can explore the dunes by hiking,
climbing, or even sand sledding.
In addition to the dunes, the park also includes a variety of other
landscapes, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, and alpine lakes.
Wildlife is abundant in the park, and visitors may see animals such as
elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Colorado. The park is located in western Colorado, and it features a number of different attractions.
Some of the most popular attractions at the park include the Black Canyon Visitor Center, which offers a variety of different exhibits; the Gunnison River, which is perfect for fishing and kayaking; and the Black Canyon Trail, which is a great place to hike and explore the park.
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument is a great place to explore the history and culture of the Native Americans who once inhabited this region. The monument is home to a variety of ancient ruins, including the Hovenweep Castle, which was built by the Anasazi people.
The Hovenweep Castle is a large structure that was once used as a defensive fortification against enemies. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the monument. Other notable ruins include the Square Tower Group and the Holly Group.
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
is a U.S. National Monument located in the western United States, near the
city of Grand Junction, Colorado. The monument protects an area of public
land that includes canyons, mesas, and desert lands. It is known for its
unique rock formations, which are made up of sandstone, limestone, and other
sedimentary rocks.
The monument was first established as a
national park in 1911, but it was later redesignated as a national monument
in 1933. It covers an area of approximately 32 square miles (83 square
kilometres).
The Colorado National Monument is home to a variety
of plant and animal life. Some of the more common animals that can be found
in the monument include mule deer, coyotes, jackrabbits, and lizards. There
are also a number of bird species that make their home in the monument, such
as hawks, eagles, and ravens.
In terms of plant life, the
Colorado National Monument is home to cactus species, such as the prickly
pear and barrel cactus. There are also a number of trees and shrubs that can
be found in the monument, including junipers, pinyon pines, and
sagebrush.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area is located in the western United States, in the state of Colorado. The recreation area consists of three reservoirs: Blue Mesa Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir, and Crystal Reservoir.
These reservoirs are surrounded by canyons and mesas. The recreation area offers opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and water sports.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in northwestern Colorado. The monument is divided into two sections, the Dinosaur Quarry and the Canyon Area.
The Dinosaur Quarry houses one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world, with over 1,500 individual fossils representing over 150 different species. The Canyon Area is home to some of the most stunning scenery in Colorado, with its red rock canyons and views of the Green River.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
is located in Teller County, Colorado and was established in 1969. The
monument consists of 42,000 acres of public land that contains a large
number of fossilized tree stumps and leaves. The fossils date back to the
Eocene Epoch, which was approximately 56 to 34 million years ago.
The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a great place for those
who are interested in geology or palaeontology. The monument offers a
variety of ranger-led programs and hikes that allow visitors to learn
about the area’s geology and history. There are also a number of picnic
areas and hiking trails available for those who want to enjoy the
outdoors.
Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a United States National Park located in White Pine County, Nevada. The park was established in 1986 and covers an area of 77,180 acres (310 km2).
The park is home to several species of plants and animals, including the bristlecone pine, the oldest tree species in the world. The Great Basin National Park is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and fishing.
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Monument is one of the most famous national monuments in the United States.
The monument features the faces of four past U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Carved into the side of a mountain, the monument is an incredible sight to see. Visitors can take a ranger-led tour of the monument, hike one of the many trails in the area, or simply enjoy the views from the observation deck.
Yucca House National Monument
Yucca House National Monument
is located in the southwestern part of the state of Colorado. It was
established as a national monument in 1919 and covers an area of 1,716
acres. The monument is home to a variety of plant and animal life, as well
as a number of cultural resources.
The Yucca House National Monument was designated as a National Historic
Landmark in 1964. It is one of the largest and best-preserved
archaeological sites in the United States. The site includes a number of
features, including ancient pueblo, petroglyphs, and potsherds.
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