Memorial Rock, Natural landmark near Dolores, Colorado, United States

Memorial Rock is a 8,500,000-pound (3,900,000 kg) boulder resting beside State Highway 145 near Dolores, Colorado. It came down in a May 24, 2019 rockfall from a 2,000-foot (610 m) ledge at milepost 22 and left an eight-foot (2.4 m) trench behind it. The highway was rebuilt and slightly rerouted around the rock.

On May 24, 2019, a 10,000,000-pound rockfall from a 2,000-foot ledge at milepost 22 of SH 145 near Dolores buried the highway. The largest boulder, weighing 8,500,000 pounds, left an eight-foot trench. A smaller 2,000,000-pound boulder was blasted apart on May 26 to reopen one lane. Governor Jared Polis then named the largest rock Memorial Rock and had the road rerouted at a cost over $1 million.

Governor Jared Polis designated this geological formation as Memorial Rock, establishing it as an official point of interest for Colorado residents and travelers.

Memorial Rock sits on State Highway 145 at milepost 22, about 11 miles east of Dolores. The highway was rebuilt and rerouted slightly around the boulder, so expect a short bend in the road where it rests.

Rather than spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove it, road officials chose to redirect the highway around the boulder. This practical choice transformed a natural disaster into an enduring roadside attraction.