Colorado National Parks and Monuments

Colorado offers unequaled natural mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and more outdoor activities then you can imagine. The name Colorado comes from the Spanish word "colorado" which means "reddish color." On August 1, 1876, President Ulysses Grant proclaimed Colorado the 38th state.

Colorado's spectacular scenery extends from the Rocky Mountain National Park to the Florissant Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Visitors flock to Colorado to enjoy the state's four national parks, five national monuments and over forty state parks.

When planning a Colorado trip, consider the following.

• Four national parks are located in Colorado: Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, and Mesa Verde.
  
  
• Five national monuments are located in Colorado: Dinosaur, Colorado, Florissant Fossil Beds, Hovenweep, Yucca House.
  
  
• Other Interesting sites to visit are and Creek Massacre National Historic site, Old Spanist National Historic Trail, and Pony Express National Historic Trail.
  
  

Park entrance frees vary throughout the state and are subject to change.

Eddie Charles
September 2, 2008