Colorado · Hiking

Monument

MonumentPhoto: bgautrea, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
12.3 mi
round trip
1,416 ft
climb
8,429 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jul, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Monument open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 11 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Monument is a hard hike in the Pikes Peak Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 12 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 1,400 feet from a low point of about 7,000 feet to a high of about 8,400 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Monument run to highs around 79°F in June and 83°F in July, with July and August also bringing the most wet days of the year. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail. The I-A Fitness and Todd's Track Trail hikes start within a mile, and the Main Boulder climbing area is about 1.2 miles away. For an overnight stay, Tent City campground is about 3.6 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jul, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Monument

    Best months: May–July and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 16°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      43° / 18°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      50° / 23°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      57° / 29°

      9 wet

    5. May

      68° / 39°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 47°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 54°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 52°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 43°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 33°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 22°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      41° / 17°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Monument, CO, 2.3 mi away at 7,080 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.