Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 4

in Colorado

Take a close look at the earthen bank on your right for evidence of flowing water — sometimes swift and other times slow. Faster water can carry larger particles. Can you find a layer that was accompanied by the sound of rushing water?

Slower water can only carry fine sediments. Try to find a layer that would have been deposited by a quiet trickle. The surrounding cliffs, slowly eroded by wind and water, add to the diverse, sorted sediment layers.

Erosion continues with each new rainstorm moving more sediment downstream. Differences in the sediment layers help natural cavities develop. Holes may be enlarged and used by squirrels and birds, as nesting sites.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 139 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4420°, -109.2787°

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-4.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 4 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.