National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site

Southwest

About Bent’s Old Fort

In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Southwest
State: Colorado
Designation: National Historic Site
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Bent’s Old Fort.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Mon: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Tue: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Wed: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Thu: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Fri: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sat: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sun: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

The park grounds are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on New Year's Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington's Birthday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. During the off-season [October-March annually], the grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for the holidays listed above. Plaza access into the reconstructed fort is on a separate schedule—see the event calendar for hours of operation on scheduled plaza access days.

Weather and when to go

Summer temperatures are often in the high 90s and low 100s. Weather is generally fair in the fall and spring. Winter temperatures can be below freezing. Most of the replica fort is unheated and does not have modern cooling systems, so dress accordingly.

Getting there

The park is accessed via U.S. Highway 50 and Highway 194. From La Junta, Colorado on U.S. Highway 50, take Colorado Highway 109 north 1 mile to Colorado Highway 194, then east on Colorado Highway 194 six miles to the fort. From Las Animas, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 50, take Colorado Highway 194 west 13 miles. Set your GPS to 35110 State Highway 194 E., La Junta, CO.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 35110 State Highway 194, La Junta, CO 81050
Phone: (719) 383-5010
Email: beol_interpretation@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/beol

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Bent’s Old Fort

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Bent’s Old Fort

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Western National Parks Store at Bent's Old Fort

Bookstore and Park Store · about 45 min

The park store is operated by Western National Parks, an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Bent's Old For…
Guided Tours of Bent's Old Fort

Guided Tours · about 50 min

Take a tour with a Park Ranger to learn more about Bent's Old Fort. Tours are limited to fifteen participants and will explore the historic use of the site and the reconstruction…
Plaza Access in the Fort

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 15 min

The public is invited inside the reconstruction of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of th…
Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Birdwatching · about 45 min

Birdwatching can be a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. Seventy-two species of birds are currently documented at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. The park has a…
Hiking along the Arkansas River

Hiking · about 50 min

Visitors can hike a 1.75 mile trail that winds its way through the cottonwood trees alongside the wetlands and the Arkansas River. Interpretive exhibit panels explain the further…
Trail to History

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 15 min

The entrance to the reconstructed fort is gained from the one-quarter mile paved pathway extending from the shade shelter to the fort doors. The pathway is wheelchair accessible;…