Colorado · National Monument trail

Confluence Trail

in Colorado

Leaving from the Echo Park Campground, this trail wanders through Echo Park towards the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers alongside the towering Steamboat Rock. The trail ends at the mouth of Sand Canyon. Sand Canyon is open to off-trail hiking for an 8-mile loop back to Yampa Bench Road, however it is not marked and considered moderately difficult in terms of terrain.

Some route finding and navigation skills required along with occasional scrambling. Length: 1.25 miles one-way / 2.5 miles round trip. Not a loop. Level of Difficulty: Easy. The trail is sand and even terrain for most of the hike.

Trailhead Location: End of the Echo Park Road further down from the vaulted toilets and boat ramp. Your Safety: Be prepared for desert hiking. Take a hat, sunscreen, and water. Let someone know where you are going, and when to expect you back.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 153 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.5201°, -108.9884°

About Dinosaur National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Dinosaur National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/confluence-trail.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Confluence Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

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Colorado