Rimrock Drive — Colorado National Monument’s Canyon Rim Road via Cold Shivers Point
Canyon rim above the Grand Valley — sheer drops included.
Rimrock Drive cuts across the spine of Colorado National Monument between the Fruita and Grand Junction entrances, but the real dirt is the spur network hanging off its edges — particularly the road to Cold Shivers Point, where the canyon drops away at your bumper and the Grand Valley spreads out 2,000 feet below. Monument Canyon Road and the backcountry spurs off Rimrock into Ute Canyon are where the high-clearance rigs earn their keep. The Wingate sandstone walls here are sheer and burnt orange, and the Kayenta cap rock above them is fractured into a badlands maze. Petroglyphs appear on canyon walls well off the main corridor if you know where to look — this was Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan country long before ranchers ran cattle across these benches.
The main Rimrock Drive is paved and accessible to any vehicle, but the spur roads into Monument Canyon and along the canyon rims are packed gravel and embedded sandstone that demands at least a high-clearance vehicle. Nothing here requires lockers or serious technical skill, but a blown tire on the rim road with no cell service and 60 miles to a tire shop is a bad situation — carry a spare and a patch kit. Best season is April through June and September through October; summer heat regularly tops 100°F in the canyon bottoms. No dispersed camping within monument boundaries, but Fruita Campground sits on the rim year-round. No permit required for driving.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 23 mi / 37 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6640 ft |
| Best season | April-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle for main road; high-clearance for spurs |
| Nearest town | Fruita, Colorado |
| Land manager | National Park Service — Colorado National Monument |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | NPS Rimrock Drive guide |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock SUV or sedan handle Rimrock Drive?
The main 23-mile paved road is fine for any vehicle. The high-clearance requirement only applies to the unpaved spurs — like the Cold Shivers Point spur — where rocks and loose surface can scrape low bumpers.
When is Rimrock Drive closed or inaccessible?
The road occasionally closes in winter due to snow and ice — Colorado National Monument sits above 6,600 feet. April through June and September through October are the most reliable windows; summer works too but temps on the canyon rim can push past 100°F in the valley below.
Is there an entrance fee, and do I need a permit?
Yes — Colorado National Monument charges a standard NPS entrance fee (currently $25 per vehicle, valid 7 days). America the Beautiful passes are accepted. No additional permit is needed for driving Rimrock Drive.
How exposed is Cold Shivers Point — is it actually dangerous?
The overlook is unfenced with sheer Wingate sandstone drop-offs of several hundred feet. The drive out to it is easy, but the point itself is not for people uncomfortable with unguarded edges. Stay aware of wind and keep kids and dogs close.
Is there camping along or near Rimrock Drive?
Saddlehorn Campground sits near the west entrance off Fruita — it has 75 sites and fills fast on spring and fall weekends, so reserve ahead on Recreation.gov. There's no dispersed camping inside the monument; Fruita is your closest town for fuel and supplies.
Trail track
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