Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site brings back the adobe trading post that once stood guard on the Santa Fe Trail along the Arkansas River, eight miles east of La Junta. Walk the prairie path to its thick earthen walls and you step into the busy crossroads where traders, trappers, travelers and the Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples met to do business in the 1840s.
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in La Junta, CO
Brothers Charles and William Bent and their partner Ceran St. Vrain built the fort in 1833 to trade with Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho hunters and with mountain trappers, mostly for bison robes. In the 1840s the Arkansas River marked the border between land claimed by the United States and Mexico, which put the fort right on the edge of two nations. For much of its 16 years in business it was the only major permanent American settlement on the Santa Fe Trail between Missouri and the Mexican settlements, and it hosted soldiers, explorers and adventurers along with its own labor force. William Bent abandoned the post in 1849. The fort you see today is a careful reconstruction finished by the National Park Service in 1976, built of adobe on the original site, with a trade room, a dining room, corrals and a walkway along the top of the walls.
Visiting is free. Entrance fees have been suspended since May 2025 because access inside the aging reconstruction is restricted. The park grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. From the parking area it’s a quarter-mile walk on a paved trail to the fort’s gate, and you’ll return the same way. Entry into the fort is limited to the central plaza on scheduled days, and ranger-led tours, capped at 15 people and about 45 minutes long, are the only way into the furnished rooms. Water and restrooms are at the parking area, not inside the fort, and leashed pets are welcome in most of the park. Plan a half day for the drive, the walk and a ranger talk.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: Bent's Old Fort – 8728051937 by QuesterMark (CC BY-SA 2.0); Approach to Fort P6010750 by Chris Light (CC BY-SA 4.0); Bent's Old Fort buildings by Ealdgyth (CC BY-SA 4.0); 2015-07-02 Old Bent's Fort, CO NRHP 66000254 (20) by AuntBsMom1 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Bent's Old Fort Dining Room by QuesterMark (CC BY-SA 2.0); 2015-07-02 Old Bent's Fort, CO NRHP 66000254 (22) by AuntBsMom1 (CC BY-SA 4.0); 2015-07-02 Old Bent's Fort, CO NRHP 66000254 (8) by AuntBsMom1 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Bent's Old Fort entrance ceiling by QuesterMark (CC BY-SA 2.0); 2015-07-02 Old Bent's Fort, CO NRHP 66000254 (5) by AuntBsMom1 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Check plaza access days, guided tour times and special programs on the official Bent’s Old Fort event calendar. On Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, “The Business of Bison” runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with living historians portraying 1840s Bent, St. Vrain and Co. traders and later hide hunters, a bison conservation station from the Southern Plains Land Trust and historic weapons demonstrations by park staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Bent’s Old Fort?
- Walk to the fort: Follow the quarter-mile paved trail across the prairie to the adobe gate.
- Plaza visit: Step into the central plaza on scheduled access days and talk with park rangers.
- Guided tour: Join a 45-minute ranger tour into furnished rooms like the trade room and dining room.
- Living history: Time your visit for special events with costumed traders, trappers and demonstrations.
- Junior Ranger: Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge, and the park store sells books and trade goods.
What is nearby Bent’s Old Fort?
- La Junta: The nearest town, eight miles west, with places to eat and an Amtrak stop.
- Las Animas: A small town 15 miles east on Highway 194.
- Pueblo Riverwalk: Boat rides, shops and art along the Arkansas River, about 75 miles west.
- Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: One of the country’s highest suspension bridges, a scenic drive farther west past Pueblo.
How much does it cost to visit Bent’s Old Fort?
It’s free. As of May 2025, entrance fees at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site are indefinitely suspended because access inside the reconstructed fort is restricted. No entrance pass is needed.
When is Bent’s Old Fort open?
The park grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plaza access runs on a separate schedule; through Oct. 31, 2026, the plaza is open Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with guided tours Friday through Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Check the park calendar for the schedule after that.
Are there any tips for visiting Bent’s Old Fort?
Call ahead at 719-383-5010 (rangers usually answer 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) or check the calendar so you arrive on a plaza or tour day. Tours are limited to 15 people, so get there early. Fill water bottles and use the restrooms at the parking area, since the fort has neither right now. Bring sun protection and a jacket; the open prairie can be hot, windy or cold depending on the day. Set your GPS to 35110 State Highway 194 E., La Junta.
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is located at 35110 State Highway 194, La Junta, CO 81050, eight miles east of La Junta. Call 719-383-5010 or visit nps.gov/beol to plan your visit.