Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Colorado
🟢 hikes
Free entry
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.
Activities
Topics
No entrance fee.
Hours
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. Access into the reconstructed fort on a separate schedule—see the event calendar for hours of operation on scheduled plaza access days.
Conditions
Weather now: ☀️ Clear, 68°F
⛈️ 92°/56°
☁️ 100°/66°
🌦️ 95°/66°
Things to do
Western National Parks Store at Bent's Old Fort
Guided Tours of Bent's Old Fort
Plaza Access in the Fort
Hiking along the Arkansas River
🟢 Trail to History
Become a Junior Ranger at Bent's Old Fort
Birdwatching at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Visitor centers
Information Center
Not an official safety source — always defer to NPS.gov and rangers for life-safety decisions.
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