Saddlehorn Campground

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. 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. Saddlehorn is the only established campground within the Monument, 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. There are 79 campsites across three loops. Loop A is typically open early April through the end of October and will remain on a "day of" reservation basis for the summer due to need for scheduled maintenance. Loop B is open year-round; outer loop sites are reservable 6 months in advance, inner loop sites 2 weeks in advance. Loop C is open early May through mid-to-late October, weather dependent, with sites 52-69 reservable on a day of basis and sites 70-80 reservable up to two weeks in advance. All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of. Restrooms have flush toilets and water available during the summer, and each site has a picnic table and a charcoal-only grill. There are no electric hookups, fill or dump stations, or showers. Due to the size of the campground, vehicles longer than 40 feet cannot be accommodated — this includes tow vehicle and trailer. There are three tunnels on Rim Rock Drive, two on the west side and one on the east, with the campground between them; clearance above the lanes of traffic ranges from a low point of 10 feet 6 inches near the edge of the curb to a maximum of 16 feet above the centerline. Vehicles must be able to stay in their lane and may not cross the centerline without a pilot vehicle. 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. The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, and abundant recreation areas surround the Monument, among them 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.