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Dogs aren’t allowed on the monument’s trails, so consider leaving your pupper at home.
Midsummer highs average 90 degrees here. If that’s too hot, plan your trip for fall, when the mercury drops into the 70s.
At press time, Saddlehorn Campground, the only maintained camping area in the monument, was closed due to COVID-19. When it reopens, try to snag sites B36 or B39 for some of the best cliffside views.
Be prepared for afternoon breezes. The area’s diurnal winds are the result of differential heating. As the sun warms canyon walls, the winds are drawn into them, seeking lower pressure. At night, as the rocks cool, the winds drain back down.
Don’t be surprised by the number of arms in slings you see in town. Collarbone injuries are common in this mountain biking mecca; Lunch Loop Trails, near CNM’s eastern entrance, is a popular local system.
At press time, many hotels and restaurants in Grand Junction (pictured) and Fruita were closed (or partially closed) due to COVID-19.
