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<br />OJJ2...;5 <br /> <br />fall there are splendid showings of wild flowers, especially bright <br />cactus blossoms and yucca. The forest is replete with its usual animal <br />inhabitants; the pinyon jay. towhee, mule deer, porcupine, gray fox, <br />and ringtail cat, to name a few. More secretive creatures are bobcats <br />and coyotes. Lizards are commonly seen, and six species of snakes <br />are known. <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />From within the monument, fine examples of rocks of many eras of <br />geological time can be seen. Today, ancient Precambrian rocks form <br />a conspicuous escarpment hundreds of feet .high that crosses the <br />monument and constitutes one of its more spectacu far features. <br />Despite today's more arid weathering, nature is removing rock, grain <br />by grain, and is still carving the fantastic monoliths. open caves, and <br />other rock formations that characterize Colorado National <br />Monument. <br /> <br />Visitor-Use Facilities <br />About 500,000 visitors annually come to Colorado National <br />Monument. <br /> <br />The monument features a 22.mile Rim Rock Drive, with 19 <br />outstanding overlooks. At the Saddlehorn area, a visitor center, <br />campground, and picnic area are included. The east entrance has a <br />picnic area with a shelter house. A motor nature road to Liberty Cap, <br />about 5 miles from the Rim Rock Drive, exists; it is planned to loop <br />this road to. provide a one-way motor nature road with overlooks, <br />trailheads, and a picnic area. Self-guiding trails lead to several <br />viewpoints of outstanding geological features. Several canyon trails <br />exist, some of which are proposed for improvement; several <br />additional trails are planned on the mesa tops, some of which will <br />connect with the canyon trails. <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF PRELIMINARY WILDERNESS PROPOSAL <br /> <br />The preliminary wilderness proposal of 7700 acres encompasses the <br />central and northeastern portions of the monument. excepting the <br />major portion of Monument Mesa. Some 45 percent of the <br />monument is thus proposed for wilderness. Elevations range from <br />4800 to 6560 feet. The proposal includes Monument, Ute, Red, <br />Columbus, and Gold Star Canyons, which are major canyons draining <br />into the Grand Valley. <br /> <br />The proposed wilderness boundary is offset 1/8 mile from the <br />northeastern monument boundary to provide for existing and future <br />management needs. <br />