Explore Parks
All ParksExploreActivitiesAlertsNewsroom
This site was made with love by Ben Myatt|API
National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure.

Horse and Mule in the Plaza

Photo: NPS Photo

About

In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.

Activities

Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsCultural DemonstrationsBikingRoad BikingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHikingLiving HistoryJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark Film
Museum Exhibits
Shopping
Bookstore and Park Store
Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Directions

The park is accessed via U.S. Highway 50 and Highway 194. From La Junta, Colorado on U.S. Highway 50, take Colorado Highway 109 north 1 mile to Colorado Highway 194, then east on Colorado Highway 194 six miles to the fort. From Las Animas, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 50, take Colorado Highway 194 west 13 miles. Set your GPS to 35110 State Highway 194 E., La Junta, CO.

Get directions →

Weather

Summer temperatures are often in the high 90s and low 100s. Weather is generally fair in the fall and spring. Winter temperatures can be below freezing. Most of the fort is unheated and does not have modern cooling systems, so dress accordingly.

News

Feb 17, 2026

Padre Martinez: Patriot, Villain, or Scapegoat?

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces a special presentation for Friday, February 27th, 2026, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theater at Otero College, in La Junta, Colorado.

Feb 4, 2026

2026 Programming at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site is excited to announce our program schedule for 2026! There will be something for everyone and a wide variety of programming and topics. Programs will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 150th anniversary of Colorado Statehood, and the 180th Anniversary of the US-Mexican War.

Separating Legend from Fact: Mountain Men and Bent’s Old Fort
Nov 24, 2025

Separating Legend from Fact: Mountain Men and Bent’s Old Fort

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site announces special presentations—"Separating Legend from Fact: Mountain Men and Bent’s Old Fort," for Saturday, December 6th, 2025, as part of its “Stories from the Borderlands” program series. This presentation will be offered at 10:00 a.m. in the corral at the rear of the Fort, and 2:00 p.m. at Woodruff Memorial Library in La Junta, Colorado.