Colorado · National Monument trail

Desert Voices Trail

in Colorado

The Desert Voices Trail offers spectacular views of Split Mountain and several adjacent rock layers. Trail signs describe the area's geology and ecology. There are also many signs that were written and drawn by children for children.

Length: 1½ mile round trip. A ¼ mile connector trail allows you to combine this with the Sound of Silence loop for an even longer hike. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Elevation change is approximately 300 feet.

Trailhead Location: Split Mountain Boat Ramp, approximately 4 miles east of the Quarry Visitor Center. 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 · 140 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4452°, -109.2534°

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/desert-voices-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 Desert Voices Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.