Colorado National Monument

Off to Colorado National Monument.  We must be making good time because

we are able to pass this bicyclist

Here we are! 

The man at the booth takes a look at our truck and 5th wheel and lets us know that the road is steep and winding (now there's something different).  He also lets us know that there are 3 tunnels that are 10'6" tall, but if we stay in the middle it is 13', good to know as we are 12' high.  He also said that they are not responsible for anything that might happen.  Oh boy!

The Uncompahgre Plateau rose high above it's surrounding terrain millions of years ago during the upheaval that also created the Rocky Mountains.  The shear walled canyons were carved primarily by floodwaters flowing over the plateau for thousands of years.

After the first few miles (Rimrock road is 23 miles long) I let Gary know he is free to turn around before we reach the highest point.

We make it through the 1st Tunnel

Hey! Isn't that the bicyclist we passed back a few miles?

The Plateau rises over 2,000 feet above the Colorado River.

Tucson scans for big Game

 

A good place for lunch

Gary decides we'll take the road to the very end (that would be dead mans curve

The tall formation on the right is known as Independence Monument created  when a massive rock wall eroded and it became a free standing monolith.  It is popular with rock climbers today. 

Artists point -have to stop here

I can see where one would be inspired here

Another Tunnel - hope no ones coming the other way

Views of where we came from and where we're going to

 John Otto first saw the Canyons in 1906 and wanted to open them up to all people  Otto built miles of trails through the proposed park so people could see its beauty.  Because of his efforts it was established as a National Monument in 1911.  He was named the park's caretaker which he did until 1927 for $1 a month. 

Once known as the Crookedest road in the world, it was the main road through the park until 1950.  It had an elevation gain of nearly 1100 feet over 2.5 miles.  The current road was completed in 1950.  Most of the road was constructed with almost entirely manual labor by labor from the Works Progress Administration , Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corp., and represents one of the Depression Era's most significant public projects

 Made it through Dead Man's Curve to the end!

What a great little side trip - so glad we did it.  We were then rewarded with a Rainbow at the end of the day!

Next stop Steamboat!