Volcanic ash deposits in Colorado National MonumentMay 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 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
Here a hard caprock is protecting this deep layer of ash from an ancient volcano.
Layers of sedimentary rock exposing volcanic ash deposits
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
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
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
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
Like on the western side engineers had to employ a tunnel in order to get automobiles down the steep cliff face.
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: The John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, Utah Arches National Monument in Moab, Utah Driving US-191 from Blanding to Moab, Utah
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Until next time remember how good life is. Mike & Joyce Hendrix
More Colorado AdventuresSome Exciting Drives** More 2007 Travel Adventures
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
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