Colorado · National Monument trail

Jones Hole Trail

in Colorado

Jones Hole Trail is a pleasant hike along a babbling brook in the bottom of a wide canyon with some shade. The trail is relatively level with a few ups and downs. The trail terminates at the Green River.

Approximately 1½ miles down the trail from the fish hatchery are several panels of petroglyphs and pictographs known as Deluge Shelter. After two miles, the Island Park Trail intersects with the Jones Hole Trail at Ely Creek. A short walk up Island Park Trail takes you to a small waterfall.

Distance: 4¼ miles one-way / 8½ miles roundtrip. Not a loop. This does not include the side trip to Ely Creek Falls. Elevation Change: Approximately 400 feet Level of Difficulty: Moderate Type of Trail: Out and back Trailheads: US Fish & Wildlife Service Jones Hole Fish Hatchery, 47-mile drive on paved roads north of the Quarry Visitor Center.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 149 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.5834°, -109.0559°

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