Colorado · National Monument trail

Sound of Silence Trail Stop 7

in Colorado

Within this shady rock overhang, can you spot a portion of a packrat debris pile, also known as a midden? It is above your head, in the crevice between the two large rocks that form the overhang. Look for twigs, rocks and fecal pellets, all held together by shiny crystallized urine.

Middens can tell us about past environments. They may exist and be added to for thousands of years. Radiocarbon dating has identified middens up to 50,000 years old. Middens may contain leaves, seeds, fruit, twigs, pollen, bone, shells and scales, leading to identification of past environments.

We know from middens that Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine once grew in this area, during a cooler and wetter time. As the climate changed over the last 10,000 years, these species retreated to higher elevations where they are still found. You may notice some plant stumps with large root structures.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 138 mi · ~4.0 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.4459°, -109.2874°

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-7.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 7 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.