Colorado · National Monument trail

Gates of Lodore Trail Stop 4

in Colorado

The Green River is affected by events that take place far upstream of here. During spring runoff or after heavy rains, the water may be brown, gray or red with silt from nearby tributaries such as Vermilion Creek. In drier weather, the river may live up to its name, flowing cold and green all the way from Flaming Gorge Dam, which traps most of its sediments.

The dam’s greatest affect is not the river’s color, but its flow. After its completion in 1969, the great spring floods of former years are now trapped behind the dam. This altered the habitat downstream and made it more difficult for native fish to survive.

In response, dam operators release extra water in the spring to simulate natural flooding and create conditions for the fish to spawn successfully. For the rest of the year, gradual releases from the dam keep the flow at a relatively constant level.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 157 mi · ~5 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.7224°, -108.8886°

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-4.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 4 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.