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Colorado National Monument Self Guided Audio Driving Guided Tour

7 Reviews 4.86 out of 5 stars Based on 7 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Colorado, USA
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 10 (0.33) days in advance.

3 to 4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Discover red rock country at its finest with this self-guided driving tour through Colorado National Monument. Gaze up at the iconic Independence Monument, a towering spire rising from the canyon floor. Marvel at the natural sculptures of Coke Ovens Overlook, shaped by millennia of erosion. Take in sheer cliffside views at Cold Shivers Point. Wander through rugged formations at Devil’s Kitchen Trail. This drive blends dramatic geology, & wild western beauty.

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, & enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

What's Included

  • Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
  • Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
  • Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
  • No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
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Meeting Location

Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Window Rock Nature Trail

This easy hike is only half a mile and takes about 15 minutes, so I highly recommend it. If you have children along, be sure that they stay away from the edge, as it’s quite steep in places.Note: The tour is over 45 Miles long per tour, with more than 35+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Redlands View (pass by)

When you look around the Redlands View, take a look at how the rocks seem to have different layers, almost like a cake. These are different types of rock that were exposed over millions of years of erosion by the Colorado River.
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Balanced Rock View (pass by)

Our next stop features a rock doing a circus balancing act. Balanced Rock View offers a look at a 700-ton boulder seemingly perched precariously atop a rocky pillar.
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Fruita Canyon View

Settlers in the 1880s realized that this was the perfect place to grow fruit trees. Peaches, apples, and grapes all love the sheltered valley and plentiful water here.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Colorado National Monument Sign (pass by)

we’ll discover beautiful cliffs, ravines, and vistas. We’ll also hear about cattle rustlers, dinosaurs, and the famous “hermit of the Canyons.”Note: The tour is over 45 miles long, with more than 35+ audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.
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Book Cliffs View

The Book Cliffs look almost purple in some places. That’s because Mancos shale makes up the base of these cliffs. That rough, grayish stone gives way to the softer, tan sandstone that makes up the higher levels.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Amphitheater (pass by)

The Saddlehorn Amphitheater, built during the 1960s. This was part of the “Mission 66 era,” when the Federal Government worked to revitalize national parks after WWII. The amphitheater has hosted live music, plays, educational talks, ranger programs, and community gatherings over the decades.
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Saddlehorn Comfort Station

This is a small wooden rest stop for travellers built in 1937.When the Great Depression hit, millions of Americans were unemployed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt developed the Civilian Conservation Corp, putting thousands of young men to work on conservation projects around America.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Independence Monument View

When John Otto first started exploring this area, he gave the distinctive rock formations patriotic names. One of the most famous is Independence Monument, a towering monolith that soars above the valley below.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Monument Canyon View

In Monument Canyon, you’ll see more of the colorful layers of sandstone we’ve been talking about today. These distinctive layers sit on top of the Uncompahgre Plateau. “Uncompahgre” is a Ute word that means “rocks that made the water red.” That description is certainly accurate. The distinctive orange and red-colored rocks come from the abundance of iron here.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Coke Ovens Overlook

While today we might think of a coke bottle, these formations were actually named for the brick ovens that were used to heat coal into coke in the 19th century. Coke is one of the raw materials used to make steel.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Upper Monument Canyon Trailhead

One reason people do this hike is to find petroglyphs, or ancient picture writings carved directly into the stone. Protected under small overhangs of rock, two separate pictographs are carved into the soft sandstone of the canyon.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Liberty Cap Trail

The Liberty Cap monument also got its name from our friend John Otto. I did say he had a fondness for patriotic names. This domed sandstone formation might remind you of the beehive shapes of the Coke Ovens. But why the name liberty cap? In the early 1800s, there was a penny in circulation that had a profile of Lady Liberty pressed onto the front.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Fallen Rock Overlook

Fallen Rock is a gigantic piece of Wingate Sandstone, topped with the more durable Kayenta Sandstone formation, like many of the monuments here. This piece was once attached to the nearby cliff with softer Chinle formation sandstone.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Ute Canyon View Trail

The Ute Canyon Trail, a moderate 8-mile hike that takes about four hours to complete. Rather than doing this hike, I recommend just checking out the overlook at the trailhead, which we’ll see in a minute.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Red Canyon Overlook

This overlook gives you a view down into the Red Canyon. This canyon is almost untouched by humans, as no trails head directly down to it. If we decide to stop and take a look, we can hear a bit more about the canyon by tapping Learn More.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Cold Shivers Point Overlook

It’s named because of the sheer drop on the other side of the guard rail. Unlike the other overlooks we've stopped at today, the edge of the road goes right up to the edge of the cliff here.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Devil’s Kitchen Trailhead

The next trail on our route is the Devil’s Kitchen Trail, a moderate two-mile that takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. It leads down to a series of sandstone monoliths that gather together like the walls of a small room. Arches within the pillars make windows that you can peer through.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Grand Junction (pass by)

Grand Junction has come a long way since then. Today, it’s the fourth-largest city in Colorado, but still boasts plenty of wide open spaces. Along with the Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction is home to the Grand Mesa - where skiing and snowboarding are popular in the winter - and Rattlesnake Arches - a trail where you can see 35 natural stone arches formed by erosion.
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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
  • More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
  • Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Colorado National Monument Self Guided Audio Driving Guided Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-259640P36

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.86
7 reviews

Average 4.86 out of 5 stars based on 7 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 10 (0.33) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
  • Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
  • Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
  • Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
  • Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
  • One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
  • Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
  • Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
  • Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
  • Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
  • No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
  • Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
  • At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
  • Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
  • Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
  • More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
  • Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
  • Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
  • Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
  • Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
  • The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

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