Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 1

in Colorado

Dinosaur National Monument is best known for its dinosaur fossils, but it protects so much more. 23 geologic layers are exposed in the monument, spanning more than one billion years of Earth's history. Sparse vegetation reveals these layers that tell us about the distant past.

Look to the west and view geologic layers through time. Frontier Formation and Mowry Shale to the south (on your left) are younger rock layers, dating to the late Cretaceous, approximately 98 million years ago. The Nugget Sandstone to the north (on your right) is much older, extending back to the Triassic, 200 million years ago.

In front of you is over 100 million years of climatic and environmental change. Change can be continuous and slow or incredibly quick in a desert environment like this. Soon you will encounter an intermittent stream bed (referred to as a wash).

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 139 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4389°, -109.2777°

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/sound-of-silence-trail-stop-1.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 Sound of Silence Trail Stop 1 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.