Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
La Junta, CO Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

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The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Historic Site

Operating Hours & Seasons

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site Summer Hours

The park is open year around with hours of 8:00 am to 5:30 pm June through August and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm September through May. The park is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Monday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Saturday:9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Summer:
• June 1 – August 31
• Sunday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Monday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Tuesday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Wednesday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Thursday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Friday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM
• Saturday:8:00 AM-5:30 PM

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $3.00 – Bent’s Old Fort Living History Fee
  The fee allows visitors to experience the fort and its rooms and meet and visit with period clothed interpreters. It is charge on a per person basis. Payment allows the holder to visit the site for one week from date of purchase.

About

Castle of the Plains

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site features a reconstructed 1840s adobe fur trading post on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, living historians recreate the sights, sounds, and smells of the past with guided tours, demonstrations and special events.

Directions

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

Visitor Centers

Bent’s Fort

Visitors park at the parking lot and walk the 1/4 mile trail to the fort where you will be met by a period clothed interpreter. Brochures and a documentary film are available in one of the fort rooms. Western National Parks bookstore is located at the left rear corner of the fort.

Weather

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

Permits and Reservations Information