Colorado National Monument is named after the river rather than the state, and covers a relatively small area of eroded red rock formations and canyons just south of the Colorado near Grand Junction. I have driven past it for years on I-70, and finally decided to devote a single trip to spend some time and explore what may one day become a National Park. At first I considered it a mini-Moab, but after spending a few days there it really does stand by itself as an amazing and unique area!