Colorado National Monument is a National Monument in Colorado. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 24 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Colorado
We matched 24 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Colorado. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (17)
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointNatural Arches (2)
Canyons (1)
Rock Formations (4)
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
Rock FormationSunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Colorado the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:33 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:17 PM | 243° | 9h 44m |
| February | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:52 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:22 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:52 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 6:03 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:21 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 6:29 AM | 8:03 PM | 8:43 PM | 302° | 14h 54m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:41 PM | 299° | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:11 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:37 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:59 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:02 PM | 247° | 10h 03m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:10 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 240° | 9h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.0505, -108.6921); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Colorado, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:22 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:51 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:57 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:29 AM – 4:09 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:42 PM – 3:42 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:35 PM – 2:25 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:51 PM – 12:21 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:56 PM – 10:16 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:16 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
Spring: Daytime high temperatures 70-85 F (21-30 C), nighttime low temperature 30-50 F (-1 - +10 C). Summer: Daytime high temperatures can reach 100 F (38 C), afternoon thunderstorms common. Fall: Similar to spring temperatures, sudden changes in weather common. Snow can occur in October. Winter: Daytime highs vary from 10 - 45 F (-12 - +7 C). Snow common, patches of snow and ice stay around most of the winter.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Driving Westbound on Highway I-70 towards Grand Junction, Exit 31 (Horizon Drive). Follow signs through Grand Junction to the east entrance. The visitor center and campground are 19 miles from the east entrance. Eastbound on Highway I-70 take Exit 19 (Fruita). Turn south on Highway 340 to the west entrance, which is approximately three miles from Fruita. The visitor center and campground are four miles up from the west entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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