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Grand Junction, CO (Colorado National Monument) - 2026

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  Colorado Monument is a beautiful place. We drove the 23 mile Rim Rock Drive starting on the East (Grand Junction) Entrance and came out on the West (Fruita) Entrance. It was too warm to do any hikes but I checked out the short hikes to some beautiful viewpoints. The plateau and canyon country is full of red rock geology. Fallen Rocks Viewpoint The weather plays a big part of rocks falling. Moisture freezes in cooler temperatures and then expands when it warms causing the rocks to fall. Highland View Artists View I did not hike down here. Coke Ovens Erosion produces unusual shapes in the landscape. As the Kayenta Formation layers erode the Wingate formation beneath it is exposes unique features. Early visitors thought these shapes looked like man-made structures called coke ovens. The Grand View The trail down to the Grand View An elder gentleman (I know he was older than me because he said he served in Vietnam) asked me if I wanted to know some things about what I was looking at....
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Durango, CO (Chimney Rock National Monument) - 2026

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Chimney Rock in southwestern Colorado is was designated as the 103rd National Monument in 2012 and is the 7th to be managed by the United States Forest Service. I t covers 4,726 acres of the San Juan National Forest between Pagosa Springs and Durango, Colo. Chimney Rock National Monument is a significant archaeological, cultural, geological and biological site. T he area has 118 known archaeological sites, including the dramatic Great House Pueblo which likely was used as an observatory for the annual summer solstice. Other features include the Great Kiva, which was likely used for religious ceremonies and community activities; storage rooms; and residential pit houses. While listening to our tour guide, I look to my left below and see this rock formation.  I think it looks like a dinosaur, it even has a tooth. Wall structure shows this building had an addition added to it.
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Durango, CO (Million Dollar Highway to Ouray) - 2026

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The drive on Highway 550 from Durango to Ouray was stunning. Part of Hwy 550 is the Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray.  Twilight Peak Echo likes the view These pictures were taken above Ouray. There was a pullout with a waterfall to the right and water coming down from the mountains on the left under the road. We had a pleasant sighting on our way back to Durango, 2 moose on the side of the road. 
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