Volcanic ash deposits in Colorado National Monument

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Volcanic ash deposits in Colorado National Monument

May 22, 2007.

There are several campgrounds available in the Fruita / Grand Junction area. We chose Monument RV-Park just because we needed to easily & quickly get into the campground and head out to experience Colorado National Monument. Monument RV-Park is a good clean park but at at $35 price tag. They do have location ---- like, within a mile of the western entrance to Colorado National Monument. The Colorado River State Park is located directly across the street from Monument RV-Park. I think we would probably stay in the State Park on a return trip if for no other reason than cost.

 

 

Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument

 

 

Colorado National Monument is located along I-70 in western Colorado near the towns of Fruita and Grand Junction.

While Colorado National Monument isn't one of the "top-10" destinations for tourist it is one of the most spectacular drives you will ever take. The views and geology exposed in the monument are some of the best available. Fruita and Grand Junction are on one side of an ancient fault line while Colorado National Monument is on the other side.

 

 

Caprock protecting ash from an ancient volcano

Caprock protecting ash from an ancient volcano Colorado National Monument

 

 

Here a hard caprock is protecting this deep layer of ash from an ancient volcano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layers of sedimentary rock exposing volcanic ash deposits

Sandstone caprock covering volcanic ash deposit

 

 

 

This layer of sedimentary rock is exposing how dustings of volcanic ash occurred many times over thousands of years with intervals in between when the ash would be covered with other sediments then covered with ash again only to have the process repeated time and again.

 

 

 

 

Volcanic ash and sandstone

Colorado National Monument

 

 

 

 

Again, volcanic ash is evident in this sandstone formation. It is for the most part wind deposited sand in what is known as the slick rock formation that lies on top of the Kayenta Formation.

 

 

 

 

 

Hundreds of millions of years of geology exposed in sedimentary rocks of the Kayenta Formation and Wingate Sandstone

Kayenta Formation and Wingate Sandstone

 

 

 

This picture is showcasing hundreds of millions of years of sedimentary rock exposed in the cliff face of Colorado National Monument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Junction from Colorado National Monument

Kayenta Formation and Wingate Sandstone

 

 

Joyce took this picture of Grand Junction, in the valley and an awesome switchback visible several hundred feet below as we snake our way down the cliff face on the eastern side of Colorado National Monument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tunnel through Wingate Sandstone in Colorado National Monument

Wingate Sandstone in Colorado National Monument

 

 

Like on the western side engineers had to employ a tunnel in order to get automobiles down the steep cliff face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorado National Monument

Fault line Colorado National Monument

 

 

 

Only moments after entering Colorado National Monument we start our climb up the shear sandstone cliff. Joyce snapped this picture of the Fruita/Grand Junction Valley below Colorado National Monument from midway on that climb.

 

 

Years ago there wasn't a valley. There was a time when the the valley and the mesa was flat. Forces in the earth's crust made them move to the positions they now occupy. These forces in the earth's crust made the Mesa rise while a fault line developed and the valley fell. The fault runs east and west almost parallel to I-70.

These are some of our other Travel Logs in this area:

Moab, Utah Scenic Drive

The John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, Utah

Arches National Monument in Moab, Utah

Driving US-191 from Blanding to Moab, Utah

 

Click here for more Colorado Travel Logs & Travel Journals

 

Until next time remember how good life is.

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

 

 

 

 

More Colorado Adventures

Some Exciting Drives** More 2007 Travel Adventures

 

 

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

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