I found a trailhead in the middle of the park to do a quick hike down the Liberty Cap trail. The trail was mostly flat and with the brilliant blue sky overhead I was shortly 4.5 miles down the trail and turning back and rounding out my 9 miles of hiking. 

I carried on driving through the national monument and was treated to more soaring vistas and jaw-dropping cliffs. The rock formations were so varied turn after turn — what an incredible road & highlight of Grand Junction!