Colorado · National Monument trail

Gates of Lodore Trail Stop 12

in Colorado

“Soon I see a bright star that appears to rest on the very verge of the cliff overhead to the east. Slowly it seems to float from its resting place on the rock over the canyon. At first it appears like a jewel set on the brink of the cliff, but as it moves out from the rock I almost wonder that it does not fall.” -John Wesley Powell Dinosaur National Monument is one of the darkest places remaining in the contiguous United States.

Because there is minimal impact from artificial lights, you can still see the stars of our Milky Way galaxy with startling clarity. The majority of residents of the United States live in places where the Milky Way is no longer visible, even on a moonless night. Night skies are a vanishing resource and increasing development, even in many rural areas, expands the impact of light pollution.

The skies above the monument are an important resource to enjoy and protect just like the fossils, stunning scenery, and wild rivers. Natural night skies also provide a important environment for animals and plants that require darkness. Due to isolation, night skies at Gates of Lodore still look similar to those that native peoples and early explorers experienced.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 157 mi · ~5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.7197°, -108.8907°

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/gates-of-lodore-trail-stop-12.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 Gates of Lodore Trail Stop 12 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.