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Amazing Arches of Rattlesnake Canyon

Colorado's Rattlesnake Canyon is the Southwest's lesser-known answer to Arches. The scenic area has 35 natural arches (including eight major arches), making it the second-largest collection of natural arches in the world (after the national park).

The Rattlesnake Arches are off the beaten path, but those willing to make the journey will be rewarded with one of Colorado’s most remarkable landscapes. In fact, you can find a collection of 35 natural arches, including eight major arches, tucked away in Rattlesnake Canyon.

These soaring spans, protected in the 123,400-acre McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, form the world’s second largest concentration of arches outside of Utah’s Arches National Park. The Rattlesnake Canyon Arches are one of Colorado’s most spectacular wonders, but also one of its best-kept secrets.

The Arches are accessible only by a rough drive on a 4x4 track or a 15-mile round-trip trek from a trailhead west of Grand Junction. The drive on Black Ridge Access Road west of Colorado National Monument takes you to the upper trailhead, which makes for a much shorter hike.

A high-clearance vehicle is mandatory, and four-wheel-drive or an ATV is required for the last two miles in order to navigate the rocky obstacle course with steep grades. The road is impassable when wet, so plan accordingly to make sure you don’t visit after rain or snow. Hikers without a four-wheel-drive vehicle can park further out and either hike or mountain bike the last couple of miles to the trailhead.
 
This panorama from western Colorado shows Centennial Arch (also called Rattlesnake Arch) on a colorful summer sunset is shown above. This portion of the McInnis Canyons area is known as Rattlesnake Canyon and sits just west of both Colorado National Monument and the city of Grand Junction. While difficult to access this area (either through a long and uphill hike or a long rough 4WD road) the effort does have its rewards. Views like this await.
 
The above photo was taken in The Arches of Rattlesnake Canyon. This view looks up at the iconic Centennial Arch. This area has the second highest concentration of sandstone arches in the United States, second only to Arches National Park. Rattlesnake Canyon and Rattlesnake Arches are located just west of Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado and are connected by a dirt road to Colorado National Monument.