The Colorado National Monument

The Colorado National Monument is a National Park near the western border of Colorado and Utah, close to the town of Grand Junction.  The Monument is named after the Colorado River, rather than the state, and it is a relatively small area of eroded red rock formations and canyons.  Immediately southwest of Grand Junction, tributaries of the Colorado River have carved through the edge of the high Uncompahgre Plateau that borders the Colorado for some distance.  The most scenic area, about 5 by 10 miles, is contained within the national monument.  This contains four main canyons, cutting into the plateau for several miles, with many smaller ravines, isolated towers and pinnacles, and a multitude of other sandstone formations.