Colorado · National Monument trail

Gates of Lodore Trail Stop 2

in Colorado

Browns Park is an isolated area, but it is not immune to change. Beginning in the 1870s, early settlers altered the landscape to suit their needs. Great cattle herds once roamed the range. Unlike native animals, cattle grazed on native grasses faster than they could reproduce and new invasive plants took their place.

Cheat grass is one of the most common of these species. Originally introduced in grain shipments from the Mediterranean, it spread rapidly across the American west. Not only does it provide poor forage for native animals, but its seeds have the ability to hitchhike to new destinations by catching in fur or your socks.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 157 mi · ~5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.7228°, -108.8877°

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-2.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 2 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.