Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 6

in Colorado

Enjoy the view as you study the plants growing all around you. Does the pattern of their placement say anything to you? The bench of land you are on overlooks a riparian area, filled with Fremont Cottonwood trees growing where water is more plentiful and soil is deeper.

On the rocky ledges above are junipers, which can survive on very little water. In between, where you are now, are shrubs like greasewood and sage. Many vegetation patterns occur throughout Dinosaur National Monument, influenced by elevation, amount of water, minerals in the soils, or sunlight.

In turn, these zones provide a variety of unique habitats for wildlife.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 138 mi · ~4.0 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4455°, -109.2859°

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-6.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 6 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.