Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Protected park · CO, USA
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in CO, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 9:00–16:00
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.
This park's official page lists: Visitor center.
Shows and experiences
- Historic sites & museum
- Junior Ranger program
Events
- Fort Open to Plaza Access
- Guided Tour
- The Business of Bison
Before you go
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- Park alert: Guided Tours at the Reconstructed Fort
- Regularly scheduled guided tours provide access into furnished rooms and explore the fort’s role in Westward Expansion and the reconstruction of the fort in 1976.
- ⚠ Caution: Capacity Restrictions at the Reconstructed Fort
- The design of the reconstructed fort fails to meet accessibility, fire, and life-safety requirements of 1976. A lack of code compliant components such as emergency lighting, illuminated exit signage, panic hardware on doors, and outwardly swinging exit doors results in a limitation of 49 occupants for visitor operations within the reconstructed fort.
- ⚠ Caution: Plaza Access to Reconstructed Fort
- Entry into the reconstructed fort is limited to the central plaza on scheduled days. For your safety respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access into additional areas.
- Park alert: A Short Walk is Required to Reach the Fort
- A 1/4 mile (1,275 feet) walk on a paved trail from the parking area is required to reach the gate of the fort. At the end of your visit, you'll return to your vehicle along the same path.
- 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.
- Weather & 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.
- Visitor center
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Visitor center
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
- Visitor center
- Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Facilities on the park map
1 bench, 1 changing table, 1 defibrillator, 1 first aid kit, 4 picnic area, 2 restroom, 3 visitor information.
History
- Opened
- 1960
- Heritage status
- Listed heritage / protected status
- Park opened