Colorado Monument Or National Park? How To Tell The Difference

I hear locals and tourists say it all the time. A tour of the Colorado National Monument feels like you're inside a National Park - but technically, you are not.

Read More: 9 Surprising Secrets of the Colorado National Monument

If you have ever wondered what the difference between a National Monument and a National Park is, you are not alone. Many who visit Grand Junction have the same question.

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National Monument vs National Park?

So, what’s the difference between a National Park and a National Monument?
National Parks are typically created by Congress to protect places with big scenic, educational, or recreational value. National Monuments, on the other hand, are usually set aside by a President to protect something historically (or prehistorically), culturally, or scientifically important.

Why the Monument Feels Like A National Park

The Colorado National Monument was created in 1911 by President Taft. The park covers 32 square miles (20,500 acres) and features six unique high desert canyons. The sandstone cliffs and monoliths in the monument were formed over 3 million years ago.

Viewing the canyons from the overlooks along the 23-mile-long Rim Rock Drive is breathtaking. The first time you hike the Monument Canyon trail, it feels like another world. I think this 'beautiful, larger-than-life' feel is what makes CNM seem like a National Park.

Big Horn sheep, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, golden eagles, and red-tailed hawks can all be spotted here. The monument includes a campground, picnic areas, BBQs, and a visitor center.

Read More: Why Did Colorado Abolish Two National Monuments?

CNM Vs. Nearby National Parks

If the Colorado National Monument has a 'sister park,' it's probably Arches National Park in Moab. Both are about the same size and include similar features. If Grand Junction's rattlesnake arches were inside the Colorado National Monument, it probably would have become a national park by now.

As recently as 2014, a bill was introduced to upgrade the Colorado National Monument to a National Park and rename it Rim Rock Canyons National Park. It did not pass.