Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 10

in Colorado

What is happening beneath our feet to result in such a dramatic landscape at the surface? The noticeable curve of Split Mountain is part of an anticline - an upward fold of rock. While Split Mountain arcs up, other features seem to sag.

The sags are called synclines. This underlying rollercoaster of rock formed when formerly flat sedimentary layers were compressed and wrinkled. Forces related to the building of the Rocky and Uinta Mountains 70 - 40 million years ago caused the uplifting, tilting, faulting and folding of the rock layers.

While some layers erode into mounds, others stick out as ridges. Erosion reveals not only a variety of shapes, but also an array of colors. Look back across the Moenkopi Formation labyrinth you just traversed.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 138 mi · ~4.0 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4481°, -109.2855°

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-10.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 10 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.