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.
Wikimedia Commons/Wusel007
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.
Google/Tonya Baker
Located near Fruita, the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is home to - you guessed it! - the dramatic McInnis Canyons and their stunning stone arches.
Wikimedia Commons/Matt McGrath, BLM
If you think Arizona's canyon is grand, wait until you get a load of ours!
Google/Kirk Magill

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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.
Google/Phillip Hogan
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.
Google/Tonya Baker
When you visit, you can enjoy the area's beauty up close via hiking trails, boating, biking paths, and other recreational opportunities.
TripAdvisor/Management
To learn more about the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, please visit the Bureau of Land Management's website.
TripAdvisor/Rita B

Do you have a favorite attraction, event, or restaurant that you would like to see featured here on Only in Colorado? Tell us about it via our nomination form! For even more to see and do after visiting one of the best natural wonders in Colorado, check out A Trip To An Outdoor Paradise In Colorado, Fruita, May Just Be The Perfect Long Weekend Getaway.

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Featured Addresses
McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, Fruita, CO 81521, USA