Don't miss this one! When we first arrived in Fruita, Colorado. The Colorado National Monument was…read morenot on our list of things to visit. We would of totally missed it if it hadn't been for some people we met at a restaurant. Colorado National Monument is not a National Park; it is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service. It's name doesn't portray the beauty and magnitude of this gorgeous park. It is a 23 mile drive and is often called the mini-grand canyon. The towering red rock monoliths and the Canyon views were absolutely incredible.

What bliss this is…read more Colorado National Monument is basically the smaller in scale sandstone-stacked cousin of the Grand Canyon, but without all the horrific traffic and crowds upon crowds, especially at the start of summer. This place has miles of views with gorgeous towering cliffs, dramatic canyons and many trails for walking and hiking. You can also see the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-topped mountain) and the Book Cliffs from the monument. And it has that Grand Canyon feeling when you look at its depth -- as though you are looking directly into a painting. Along about a 20-mile highway (with an east and west entrance) you can enjoy the full views. There are plenty of places to pull over and park to take a look or to plan for a hike. And be very, very careful. The main drive is very deeply beloved by cyclists, so be sure to drive slow and keep eyes on the road. Do not miss Independence Monument. This is a glorious rock spire. also, the Kissing Couple is adorable. The Coke Ovens are these beautifully shaped domes -- some of my favorites in the area. Also, be aware of wildlife. I did not get lucky, but there are regular sights of bighorn sheep, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, eagles and many other animals. I did see a pretty spectacular aerial fight between a hawk and a raven during a recent visit, though. Also, be sure to check out the visitor center on the west side. It has some natural history exhibits and a gift shop. There is also the Saddlehorn Campground, which is very well maintained and has a good number of spots, but not all with sprawling city or canyon views. All told, there are three loops with nearly 80 sites. Some are small and best for a pair and others that are good for a couple of tents on one site. Overall, bring lots of water and snacks, because it is dry and sometimes feels desert like. And do not over rely on cell service, as there are a number of dead zones.

Can't believe that a dog park will get great reviews when it's closed on the weekends!read more

We were on a road trip and found this awesome dog park! It's so nice and big and convenient from…read morethe freeway. Plus the other people were very friendly too. We give it two paws up!

Wonderful dog park!! There is a very good sized area for both small/ senior dogs and for large…read moredogs. There is a fire hydrant on both sides that seems to be on a timer to spray water, which our two dogs loved. My two 16 pound pups really wanted to play with the two big dogs on the other side. So after checking with the two owners I brought them over and they were super happy to run with the big dogs and splash in the kiddie pool on that side. There is an entrance on both sides into either small or big dog side.

Beautiful grassy area for small and senior dogs. The large dog area is set up w a kiddie pool in…read morethe summer as well. A great spot to hang out while your puppy explores and plays.

What a fantastic dog park! We came into town and had our two dogs, which are great Pyrenees. It was…read moreso nice to find a nice big dog park filled with so many friendly dogs of all shapes and sizes. One of my dogs is not so dog Park friendly so my husband walked him on the outside of the dog park along a riverbank. What a great resource for this community.

Best dog park we have been to. Large fenced in area but well wooded and shady. Lots of parking.read more

I like the great .7 mile walking trail around the perimeter of the park. The large lawn in the…read moremiddle is wide open with trees skirting the edge. There are two shelters with picnic tables and charcoal grills. There is a huge playground area for the kiddos with slides and the like.

Sherwood Park is sooo cool. The city put in workout equipment!! I love this place five starsread more

Who knew that a bike park could also provide some great hiking and trail running?…read more My partner is a serious mountain biker and enjoys black and double black routes and this was mainly a mountain bike trip that he organized and I tagged along with the doggie. This was a great bike park for hikers and trail runners too and dogs are allowed and make sure they are leashed. I did see plenty of dog owners have their dog(s) off leash, which can be great for the dogs, but can be more trying for little dogs who may not want to deal with that. There is a parking lot here with plenty of spots, restrooms and air pump for your bikes here. I was able to hike this bike park for 3+ hours and really enjoyed it. I started on Tabegauche Trail and made it up to Eagle's Connector and finally to Eagle's Wing and then back on Tabeguache Trail back to the parking lot. This was about a 6 to 6.5 mile hike and with some portions where there is a bit of climbing (around 800 to 1,000 feet ascent). I really enjoyed the views and could do a bit of trail running also, and my companion, an 18 pound Shiba Inu was great! I was on the Eagle's Connector Trail and there were so many blue colored birds and I was able to ID them and they are Pinyon's Jay, which is a new species for me! Awesome! Definitely check this bike park out, but also if you have folks in your group that aren't bikers, this would be fun for them too! Lots of great trails, very well marked (can't get lost as I usually do) and some awesome views from the top and just an overall cool place to hang out for a couple of hours!