Hiking Otto's Trail: Colorado National Monument

One of our favorite places to visit is Grand Junction, CO. There you can enjoy the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers, see the Book Cliffs in the distance, and visit a true treasure: Colorado National Monument. There are many hiking and biking trails. Some are short and easy. Some are long and go into the back country. The views from The Monument are incredible, especially along the trails that skirt the edge of the rim overlooking the Colorado River valley.

Otto's Trail is one of the shorter hikes along Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument. This ¾ mile stroll descends gradually to a cliff overlooking Monument Canyon. The view showcases Independence Monument, the tallest freestanding formation in the canyon at 450 feet tall, and a point of fascination for visitors dating back to the first park supervisor, John Otto, for whom this trail is named. The panoramic vista overlooks Independence Monument, Praying Hands, and Sentinel Spire. The Pipe Organs, a series of cylindrical formation similar to the Coke Ovens, adorn the side of the canyon.

We hiked this trail after finishing the Alcove Nature Trail. It was only 1 mile from the Visitor Center and the Alcove Nature Trail. The day was starting to get hotter, but it was still cool enough to take the hike. We drifted off the trail quite a bit to get views of the canyons on either side. There is even a point on the north side of the trail where you can get a nice echo bouncing from the adjacent canyon wall. Across the canyon to the north is the Canyon Rim Trail. Even though Otto’s Trail and the Alcove Nature Trail are short, make sure you are prepared. Take plenty of water, wear hats, and watch the weather. Severe storms have a tendency to develop quickly and without much warning.

Equipment:
iPhone 10
A 15 year old Olympus VG-140
Bcway Phone All-in-One Travel Tripod with Remote
Trekking Pole and Backpack are Ozark Trail from Walmart
Hiking hat is a Tilley

Music:
Communicator by Reed Mathis

We travel in a 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE front-wheel drive with over 90,000 miles. We are still praying for a small Scamp or an Aliner to tow behind it.

Recorded on location July 7, 2021 at Colorado National Monument.