Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 14

in Colorado

On this ridge, take a moment to rest in the shade of the small Singleleaf Ash tree, a species unique to the American Southwest. Surviving by means of deep roots and sheer perseverance, they often take on a dwarfed appearance. Unlike most species of ash trees, which have compound leaves, this western ash has a single leaf on each stem.

The red rock ridge underneath you is the Chinle Formation, formed during a time when rivers, marshes, and small lakes covered the landscape. Plants would not have included a flowering tree like the Singleleaf Ash. Instead, conifers, cycads, ferns, and horsetail plants grew here.

Dinosaurs made their first appearance in this time period, about 225 million years ago. Coelophysis, a three-toed, therapod dinosaur about the size of a large dog, roamed the land. Large crocodile-type creatures called phytosaurs lurked in the waters.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 139 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4435°, -109.2768°

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-14.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 14 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.