National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument is a National Monument in Colorado, Utah. The NPS currently lists 2 active alerts, 1 campground and 1 visitor center; entrance fees start at $10.

Colorado Utah National Monument America the Beautiful pass accepted

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT · NPS Data API

Tall stone structures with a setting sun shining through them. Desert landscape surrounds them. — Sunset at Hovenweep Castle · Photo: NPS/Chris Wonderly (via nps.gov)

About the park

“Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between 1200 and 1300 CE which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders.”

— National Park Service, nps.gov/hove

Active alerts

Closures

Campgrounds

Visitor centers

Current alerts and closures

2 active NPS alerts as of Oct 28, 2026: 0 closures, 0 danger, 0 caution and 2 information.

Information

Voicemail not functioning

The voicemail for the main park phone line (970-562-4282) is not functioning reliably. People are advised to call during business hours in order to speak with a ranger.

Posted or updated Jan 21, 2026 ·Park conditions on nps.gov

Information

Hovenweep has gone cashless

The park now accepts only mobile or electronic payments for entrance & camping fees. You can reserve campsites and buy entrance passes on Recreation.gov, or only use debit/credit cards to pay in person.

Posted or updated Jul 3, 2024 ·Details on nps.gov

Entrance fees and passes

Entrance fees (or valid park pass) are required to visit beyond the visitor center and/or camp overnight. Entrance fees are good for 7 days from date of purchase.

Entrance fees
Fee	Cost	Details
Entrance - Private Vehicle	$20	Entry fee is valid for 7 days and grants entry for driver and passengers in one private vehicle. Does not cover camping costs. Buy online
Entrance - Motorcycle	$15	Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Buy online
Entrance - Per Person	$10	Admits one individual with no car. This fee type is typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. Buy online

Park passes
Pass	Cost	Buy
Annual Entrance - Park	$55	At the park

The interagency America the Beautiful pass is accepted here.

Things to do

A stack of rocks by the entrance of a thin pathway through the rock — Photo: NPS photo

Hike the Holly Trail

The Holly Trail (8 miles, roundtrip) offers the chance to explore away from roads and busier trails and stretch your legs with a longer hike. Gain new perspective as you traverse a canyon floor, squeeze through slot canyons, and take the long way around.

4 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Pets allowed

Hiking

a crumbling stone wall in the foreground, with other stone structures across the canyon. — Photo: NPS photo

Hike the Square Tower Group Loop Trail

Explore the ancestral Pueblo world with a hike around the Square Tower Group. Follow the two-mile, primitive loop trail along the canyon rim to see the famous Square Tower, Hovenweep Castle, and eight other standing structures.

Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

a sidewalk winds through desert landscape at sunset — Photo: NPS photo

Walk to the Square Tower Group Overlook

Take a paved trail to this canyon overlook and see what Hovenweep has to offer! Sweeping views of sage country and ancestral Puebloan structures are just yards away from the visitor center.

10-30 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

See all 4 things to do in Hovenweep →

Activities the NPS lists for Hovenweep.

AstronomyStargazingCampingHikingJunior Ranger ProgramPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store

Operating hours

Hovenweep National Monument is typically open year-round. Park trails are open only sunrise to sunset.

All Park Hours
Day	Hours
Monday	All Day
Tuesday	All Day
Wednesday	All Day
Thursday	All Day
Friday	All Day
Saturday	All Day
Sunday	All Day

Weather: Hovenweep is part of the Colorado Plateau, a "high desert" region that experiences wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day.

Contact and directions

Phone: (970) 233-9167
Email: [email protected]
Address: Along the border between southeast Utah and southwest Colorado, Cortez, CO 81321
Coordinates: 37.3913, -109.0048· View on OpenStreetMap

Official park page on nps.gov Directions

Visitor centers

Visitor center	Standard hours	Phone	Passport stamp
Hovenweep Visitor Center	Daily: 8:30AM - 4:30PM	9702339167	Yes

Campgrounds

Campground	Total sites	Reservable	First-come	RVs	Fee	Reserve
Hovenweep Campground	31	31	0	Yes, up to 36 ft	$20	Recreation.gov

Site counts and fees are from the NPS campground data. Fees show the first listed rate; availability is not shown here — check the reservation site.

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More parks in Colorado

Amache National Historic Site Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park California National Historic Trail Colorado National Monument Curecanti National Recreation Area Dinosaur National Monument Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve Mesa Verde National Park Old Spanish National Historic Trail Pony Express National Historic Trail All in Colorado

Nearest other NPS sites

Sources

Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/hove/index.htm
Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.