Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

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Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie in foreground and blue sky and clouds above

Wooden boxes and buffalo furs are scattered around a plaza inside an adobe fortification.

Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie, tepee and wagon in foreground and blue sky & clouds above

bundles of glass trade beads tied together hang from a wooden rafter

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Park Alerts (6)

Do Not Handle Wildlife: If you see a dead bat or a bat acting strangely at the fort, please do not touch or move it. Report the location of the animal to park staff.

Beat the Heat!: Make sure to take weather into consideration when visiting. Carry water and use sunscreen to reduce the risk of heat injuries during your visit.

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.

About Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

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.

Available Activities

Arts and Culture

Craft Demonstrations

Cultural Demonstrations

Biking

Road Biking

Guided Tours

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Hiking

Living History

Junior Ranger Program

Wildlife Watching

Birdwatching

Park Film

Museum Exhibits

Shopping

Bookstore and Park Store

Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Weather

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.

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.

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Hours

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

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. Plaza access into the reconstructed fort is on a separate schedule—see the event calendar for hours of operation on scheduled plaza access days.

Replica Fort

Five days a week the public is invited inside the 1976 replica of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20th century reconstruction. Entry into the replica fort is limited to the central plaza, except on guided tours, due to safety issues. For your safety, respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access to some furnished spaces.