Colorado · National Monument trail

Canyon Rim Trail (Colorado National Monument)

in Colorado

Location: Starts behind the Saddlehorn Visitor Center and ends at Book Cliffs View. One may also start at Book Cliffs View and end at the Saddlehorn Visitor Center. Mileage: 0.5 one way (0.8 km) Difficulty Level: Easy Elevation: 5,626 feet (1715 meters) Average time: 1/2 hour Usage: Hiking only.

Horses prohibited. Description: Level trail following the cliff edge above colorful Wedding Canyon. The trail does have two pairs of switchbacks and railings when the trail is adjacent to the canyon edge.

Parents should keep a close eye on children. Outstanding views make this a favorite for landscape and wildlife photographers. Download the Canyon Rim and Window Rock Trail brochure. History: This trail was built with the Visitor Center and Bookcliff Shelter between 1963 and 1965 to connect the the two places.Canyon Rim Trail is unchanged from its original design and provides an outdoor experience for visitors thus fulfilling one of the goals of the Mission 66 visitor center design.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid coords: 39.1008°, -108.7349°

About Colorado National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Colorado National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/canyon-rim-trail-colorado-national-monument.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Canyon Rim Trail (Colorado National Monument) and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.