Browns Canyon National Monument
Prime pinyon-juniper habitat nestled in the Upper Arkansas canyon. There is no fee for entrance to the National Monument, but the only parking is at the AHRA sites, which require the annual parks pass or daily vehicle pass. Look for Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, White-breated Nuthatch, and more!
For centuries, the rugged granite cliffs, colorful rock outcroppings and stunning mountain vistas of Browns Canyon National Monument have attracted visitors from around the world. Browns Canyon National Monument, including the Browns Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA), covers approximately 22,000 acres of federally and state-managed public lands in Chaffee County, Colorado. The area’s unusual geology and roughly 3,000-foot range in elevation supports a diverse riparian corridor, granite outcroppings, wooded drainages lead from the river to upland areas covered with aspen, limber pines, Douglas firs, and subalpine grasslands. The variety of terrain provides a wealth of geological, ecological and cultural and historic resources.
President Obama designated the 21,589-acre Browns Canyon National Monument on February 19, 2015. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service jointly manage the Monument. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), through the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), manages river-based recreation on the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon.
County: Chaffee
Directions: From US Highway 285, you can the monument either at Ruby Mountain Campground (north end) or Hecla Junction (south end). There are many trails on the north end and only one on the south, but does walk along the river.
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours: Any
Ownership: BLM
Admission or Fees:
Parking: Unpaved parking areas
Lodging: Hotels in Salida and Buena Vista
Latitude: 38.7519715
Longitude: -106.0657261
Contact Information
Browns Canyon National Monument
3028 E Main Street
Canon City CO 81212
phone: 719-269-8500
email: blm_co_brownscanyon@blm.gov