Before one gets to the famed deserts of Utah they generally pass by their first glimpse of the desert that can be seen distantly from the interstate while descending from the mountains. This Western Slope crag has a variety of climbs on sandstone fins and spires to delight beginners and experienced climbers. The easier walls of Lower Monument Canyon have several climbs to keep beginners engaged and learning climbing basics while some of the well known desert towers like Independence Monument have bigger climbs for anyone looking to get their first taste of the sandstone spires.

While the climbs of Colorado National Monument make up the western edge of Grand Junction it's status in the National Park system makes it fairly quiet. Warm winters make this a great destination for fall or winter. Summers can be hot but early starts make it reasonable except when the rain make the sandstone more fragile. In which case nearby Unaweep Canyon is another option.