Saddlehorn Campground

Overview

Saddlehorn Campground is located within Colorado National Monument which preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Much more than a monument, towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

Recreation

Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. Hikers flock to the miles of maintained trails, photographers come year round to capture the spectacular views, and geologists study the unique landscape for its scientific value. Climbers come for the towering sandstone, and wildlife lovers may spot Desert Bighorn sheep, golden eagles, collared lizards, and many other special creatures.

Facilities

Saddlehorn Campground is located near the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, four miles from the west entrance (near Fruita, Colorado) and nineteen miles from the east entrance (near Grand Junction, Colorado), and is the only established campground within the Monument.

There are 79 campsites with three camping loops within the Saddlehorn Campground (Loops A, B, and C).

Loop A is typically open early April through the end of October. Loop A will remain on a "day of" reservation basis for the summer due to need for scheduled maintenance.

All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.

Loop B is open year-round. Outer loop sites are reservable 6 months in advance, inner loop sites are reservable 2 weeks in advance.

Loop C is open early May through mid/late October, weather dependent. Sites 52-69 are reservable on a day of basis, while sites 70-80 are reservable up to two weeks in advance.

All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.

Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Due to size of the campground, vehicles longer than 40 feet cannot be accomodated--this includes tow vehicle AND trailer. Restrooms have flush toilets and water available during the summer, and each site has a picnic table and charcoal-only grill. There are no electric hookups, fill or dump stations, or showers.

There are three tunnels on Rim Rock Drive . There are two tunnels on the west side and one on the east side of the park; the campground sits between the east and west tunnels. Heights: The clearance above the lanes of traffic ranges from a low point of 10'6" near the edge of the curb to a maximum of 16' above the centerline of the road. Vehicles must be able to stay in their lane; vehicles may not cross the centerline without a pilot vehicle.

For a group of 15 people or more, do not book through recreation.gov. Contact the park at 970-858-2800 or [email protected] to make group reservations.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled within large red rock formations, with pinyon and juniper trees providing adequate shade. There are spectacular views of the Grand Valley to the northwest, and some of the park's most scenic monoliths and canyons to the southeast

Nearby Attractions

The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument. Among these are McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, Highline Lake State Park, and many Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service areas.

What people do here

• amphitheater
• biking
• birding
• camping
• cross country skiing
• educational programs
• hiking
• horseback riding
• interpretive programs
• photography
• ranger station
• rock climbing
• scenic drive
• star gazing
• wildlife viewing