Alcove Trail and Black Ridge Trail hikes

Sunrise in Colorado National Monument.
Waking up for a day of hiking. 

We hiked over 6 miles after adding the Rim Trail from the visitor center to the campground in Colorado National Monument.

Canyon walk by the Alcove Trail.
The Alcove Trail. 

The Alcove Nature Trail is short and easy. It ends at an "alcove" without a roof at a corner of a small ravine. 

Inside the Alcove at the end of the trail.
Inside the Alcove. 

Looking up from inside the Alcove.
No roof in this "house". 

Black Ridge Trail goes climbing in elevation when one starts from the visitor center. 

Black Ridge Trail.
Section of Black Ridge Trail. 

The Saddlehorn from the Black Ridge Trail.
In a short time, we were up over the Saddlehorn.

Soon it crosses into McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. This wilderness is managed by the BLM. Later, the Black Ridge Trail returns to Colorado National Monument. 

Trail following a cliff.
The trail following a cliff. 

The Black Ridge Trail intersects with an unmaintained trail that goes by Kodels Canyon. 

View towards Kodels Canyon.
View towards Kodels Canyon. 

We walked a short section. Big ants out there. 

Ant nest.
Big ants nest. 

We hiked a little over two miles in the Black Ridge Trail - four roundtrip.  

We got to the point where we could see the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness - part of the McInnis Conservation Area with the second-largest concentration of natural arches in North America.

There was the Devils Canyon. 

Devils Canyon.
On the rim of Devils Canyon. 

On the way back through the Rim Trail, I took more photos of the main features of Colorado National Monument. 

The famous rocks of the Colorado National Monument.
The icons of the national monument. 

Independence Monument, Organ Pipes, Praying Hands, Kissing Couple, Sentinel, Island, Book Cliff, and Window Rock.

Window Rock.
Window rock. 

The Colorado River.
The Colorado River - before known as the Grand River. 

With the sunset, seated near the cliffs, we enjoyed the daily show of the fast swallows flying up and down through the canyons.

Flying swallows through the Colorado canyons.
The amazing birds flying through the canyons. 

Great farewell to us from this beautiful spot of Colorado. 

(Posted from the phone.)

Check this page to license our photos.

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