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A beautiful hike in Monument Canyon and Wedding Canyon.


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Map Key

7.2

Miles

11.5

KM

Lollipop

5,387' 1,642 m

High

4,687' 1,429 m

Low

961' 293 m

Up

960' 293 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

41%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views · Wildlife

Overview

A beautiful hike with a few miles of steeper ascent and descent. It sure is amazing to be right below some cliffs and then come out to a couple of solo spires.

Need to Know

Stay on the trail, following creek-beds usually ends with a ridiculous climb out or a turnaround.

Description

From the parking area, start up Monument Canyon Trail. Follow the trail over one little rise before it continuously climbs for around a mile with variations of rock, technical spots and packed trail. There are several cliffs rising above the trail on your right as you ascend to the spire. There are trail markers when you get to the split between the Monument Canyon Trail and Wedding Canyon Trail.

Continue on to the left over rolling terrain for the next few miles. The trail will twist and turn, working its way around smaller canyons. At about 3.5 miles in, you'll have seen some of the cooler rock formations there are to see, so this is a good place to turn around and head back to the intersection with Wedding Canyon Trail.

The first 0.5 miles features a nice little descent before getting into the very steep stuff for about another mile. This section of trail features some technical and sketchy areas with loose scree or dirt. The trail begins to undulate again as it continues down to the canyon floor and then winds its way out. The rest of the route features rollers and a few small technical spots to climb out and merge back with the Monument Canyon Trail and the parking lot.

Flora & Fauna

There are lizards and you might see some deer or bighorn sheep.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tom Wolfe

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 32 votes

#353

Overall
  4.6 from 32 votes
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Recommended Route Rankings

#75

in Colorado

#353

Overall
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11,695 Since Apr 22, 2015
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Photos

Monumental in Grand Junction, this is what running on the Western Slope is all about
Apr 22, 2015 near Fruita, CO
More beautiful formations with cloud and sun caught during the end of a storm
Apr 22, 2015 near Fruita, CO
The base of the cliffs on Monument Canyon Trail, the day before the snow
Apr 22, 2015 near Fruita, CO
Other side of Kissing Couple monolith
May 5, 2015 near Fruita, CO
Independence Monument (left) and the Pipe Organ formation (center right)
Nov 25, 2020 near Fruita, CO
The Island on a beautiful winter's day. with permission from Hobbes7714 Photo Credit: Andrew Wahr  Link: https://twitter.com/WahrAndrew
Jul 14, 2016 near Redlands, CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 33 days ago
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