Liberty Cap is located 5.2 miles from Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument. This large sandstone dome along the Ute Canyon rim is a 160 million year old sand dune that's been compressed into sandstone and sculpted by erosion. While Liberty Cap is the primary destination, spectacular slickrock and views over Ute Canyon headline this trail.

View over Ute Canyon from the Liberty Cap saddle

The Park is located on the edge of the Uncompahgre Uplift, part of the greater Colorado Plateau

Open sage flats are a good place to look for deer, coyote, and mountain lion

Lighter colored rock of the Morrison formation caps older layers of Entrada

The Rim Rock Marathon runs the entire length of the monument's Rim Rock Drive

A cairn-marked spur leads to the edge of Monument Canyon

Entrada Sandstone is the preeminent rock of Colorado National Monument

Entrada Sandstone's red hue primarily comes from hematite, an iron oxide

Mild grades are well suited for trail runners and winter recreation

The Book Cliffs are illuminated by the southern afternoon sun

Cryptobiotic crusts fix nitrogen, supporting vascular plants in shared soil beds

Cryptobiotic soil crusts between sage flats and pinyon-juniper woodlands

A primitive, unmaintained trail leads through Ute Canyon

Slickrock benches at Liberty Cap are easy to explore