National Historic Site · Colorado

Trails in Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

3 named trails · 2 miles · 2 trailheads · 1 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

3 trails, A to Z.

Big Loop Trail

1.4 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 3,992 ft–4,006 ft · gravel surface · hiking

Picnic areasVisitor centers

4,004 ft 4,004 ft · 1.4 mi high 4,006 ft

Along the way Picnic Area Bent's Old Fort

Trailheads Trailhead 4,004 ft Drive there · Trailhead 4,006 ft Drive there

Hiking along the Arkansas River the Park Service's write-up

30-90 Minutes · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies

Start Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Photo of Arkansas River with blue sky and sunflowers beside Bent's Old Fort trail
Trailside view of Arkansas River Photo: NPS/D. Ocheltree

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site offers hikers access to the reconstructed fort and historic grounds. Multiple opportunities for bird watching exist along the 1-3/4 mile looping trail system. Visitors can enjoy meandering beside the Arkansas River among the blue grama and buffalo grasses hemmed by cottonwood groves all year round. The pinks and yellows of the showy milkweed and prairie sunflower bring the trail to life in late spring and summer. Our wetlands provide cover and habitat for several local and migratory bird species such as ring-necked pheasant, turkey, snow geese and American coot. You will likely hear the call of red-winged black birds and meadowlarks or spot a northern harrier overhead while you visit. Interpretive wayside panels are dispersed throughout the length of the trail and highlight the importance of the Arkansas River's ecosystem to the communities living near Bent's Fort nearly two hundred years ago. The loop trail can be accessed at either the visitor parking area or at the gate installed on the southside of the fort structure.

Accessibility The mostly level hiking trail is paved and accessible for a 1/4 mile (1,275 feet) walk each way from the visitor parking lot to the reconstructed fort. The rest of the trail is dirt and gravel. The total distance of the big trail loop (including the paved section) is 1.75 miles.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Paved Walkway

0.3 mi one way · 4,005 ft–4,010 ft · asphalt surface · hiking

Picnic areasVisitor centers

4,010 ft 4,006 ft · 0.3 mi high 4,010 ft

Along the way Picnic Area Bent's Old Fort

Trailheads Trailhead 4,004 ft Drive there · Trailhead 4,006 ft Drive there

On the parks map

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.