Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West, where towering monoliths rise within a vast plateau and canyon panorama and sheer-walled red rock canyons follow the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, with bighorn sheep and soaring eagles sometimes visible. Spring daytime high temperatures range from 70 to 85 F, with nighttime lows from 30 to 50 F. In summer, daytime high temperatures can reach 100 F and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Fall has temperatures similar to spring, with sudden changes in weather common, and snow can occur in October. In winter, daytime highs vary from 10 to 45 F, snow is common, and patches of snow and ice remain through most of the winter.