Colorado · National Monument trail

Harpers Corner Trail Stop 3

in Colorado

What killed the big tree at the last stop? There are several possibilities: insects, disease, old age, a lightning strike, or maybe even a porcupine. Look for the yellow or gray scars on many of the tree trunks along the trail, signs of porcupine gnawings.

In winter, when other food is scarce, porcupines relish the tender inner bark of piñons. Stripping only a little bark, porcupines usually do not harm the tree. If the animal chews all the way around the trunk (known as girdling), the tree’s food and water transport systems will be cut off and it will soon die.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 152 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.5245°, -109.0180°

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/harpers-corner-trail-stop-3.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 Harpers Corner Trail Stop 3 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.