The Colorado National Monument is a breathtaking place -- with a few fundamental principles to follow. Follow these 10 commandments, and your hike will be blessed.

  • 1

    Thou Shall Be Prepared

    Water is life, especially when you're in a place as dry as this. So if you don't want to shrivel up, keep water handy when hiking the Colorado National Monument.

  • 2

    Thou Shall Not Get Burnt

    Western Colorado's sun can be brutal. You should always sport sunscreen and protective clothing. Think hats and long sleeves. Also, you'll seriously regret it if you don't bring sunglasses.

  • 3

    Thou Shalt Watch the Sky

    Keep your eyes on the sky while hiking the Monument. The weather, much like myself, is unpredictable. Don't get caught in Mother Nature's fits of fury.

  • 4

    Thou Shalt Not Walk Pets

    Trust me, I love my furbaby just as much as yours, but this is a human-only trip. (Other than the animals that already live there.) Pets are prohibited on the trails at the Colorado National Monument.

  • 5

    Thou Shall Keep the Park Clean

    Don't be gross and don't litter. If you have trash, hold on to it and then throw it in a trash can, and not on the majestic Monument.

  • 6

    Thou Shalt Not Destroy Nature

    Be nice to nature, and nature will be nice to you. Our future depends on it, so don't mess it up for the rest of us.

  • 7

    Thou Shalt Not Ride a Bicycle

    It makes my thighs burn just looking at people riding bicycles on the Colorado National Monument. I think I'll let you take this ride, just make sure it's on the road -- not on the trails.

  • 8

    Thou Shalt Not Feed the Wild Life

    Even though you like Flamin' Hot Cheetos, it doesn't mean the wild life will. Trust us, they do find on their own around the Monument (without your Cheetos.)

  • 9

    Thou Shalt Watch For Cougars

    It's a beautiful and great thing to coexist. Make sure you're on the lookout, after all, you're a visitor in their house.

  • 10

    Thou Shalt Take In the Beauty

    The Colorado National Monument is full of breathtaking views and rock formations dating millions and billions of years. There's no getting around this one.

More From 99.9 KEKB - Grand Junction's Favorite Country