A Bit Of An Unexpected Natural Wonder, Few People Know There Are Colorful Canyons Hiding In Colorado
Colorado is known for its purple mountain majesties and rolling plains, but did you know that we also have our fair share of dramatic canyons? Sure, the most famous of all ravines may belong to our neighbor to the south, but we have this hidden and surprisingly beautiful canyon, and it’s one of the best natural wonders in Colorado.
Welcome to the hidden and unexpected McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.
Designated in 2000, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is noted as having "outstanding geological, cultural, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, environmental, biological, wilderness, wildlife habitat, and scenic resources which create highly sought educational experiences," making it not only gorgeous but also historically and scientifically significant.
Located near Fruita, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is home to - you guessed it! - the dramatic McInnis Canyons and their stunning stone arches.
Spanning nearly 124,000 acres, the National Conservation Area is also home to North America's second-largest concentration of natural arches, making its landscape even more unique.
As if that wasn't impressive enough, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area has also turned up "internationally important fossils," plus well-preserved pictograph and petroglyph sites.
