National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument

Southwest

About Hovenweep

Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between 1200 and 1300 CE which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. The construction and attention to detail will leave you marveling at the skill and motivation of the builders.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Southwest
States: Colorado and Utah
Designation: National Monument
Entrance fee: $20, private vehicle

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 Hovenweep.

Entrance fees

$20 Private Vehicle Entry fee is valid for 7 days and grants entry for driver and passengers in one private vehicle. Does not cover camping costs.
$15 Motorcycle
$10 Per Person

Passes

$55 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

All Park Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Hovenweep National Monument is typically open year-round. Park trails are open only sunrise to sunset.

Weather and when to go

Hovenweep is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.

Getting there

The Hovenweep Visitor Center is located 40-45 miles from Cortez, CO, and Blanding and Bluff, UT. If you use a GPS or a navigation app on your phone, make sure that you have set your destination to the Hovenweep National Monument Visitor Center, and that your route matches the directions on our website. Alternate routes to the visitor center, and any road to our remote, outlying units, can be very rough.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: Along the border between southeast Utah and southwest Colorado, Just north and west of Cortez, CO, Cortez, CO 81321
Phone: (970) 233-9167
Email: hoveinfo@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/hove

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 Hovenweep

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 Hovenweep

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

Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah

Stargazing · about 1.7 hours

Rangers occasionally lead stargazing programs and events at parks throughout southeast Utah. Learn about what to expect and check out a schedule of stargazing events at Arches and…
Hike the Holly Trail

Hiking · about 4 hours

The Holly Trail (8 miles, roundtrip) offers the chance to explore away from roads and busier trails and stretch your legs with a longer hike. Gain new perspective as you traverse…
Hike the Square Tower Group Loop Trail

Front-Country Hiking · about 2 hours

Explore the ancestral Pueblo world with a hike around the Square Tower Group. Follow the two-mile, primitive loop trail along the canyon rim to see the famous Square Tower, Hovenw…
Walk to the Square Tower Group Overlook

Front-Country Hiking · about 15 min

Take a paved trail to this canyon overlook and see what Hovenweep has to offer! Sweeping views of sage country and ancestral Puebloan structures are just yards away from the visit…

Campgrounds in Hovenweep

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Hovenweep Campground

31 reservable sites

A 31-site campground near the visitor center is open year-round and fully reservable through Recreation.gov. The campground is designed for tent camping, thoug…

Reserve on Recreation.gov