Hovenweep National Monument was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2014.
Photo: NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank
About
Hovenweep preserves six prehistoric sites built between A.D. 1200 and 1300 which may have served as ceremonial centers. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders. The construction and attention to detail will leave you marveling at the skill and motivation of the builders.
Activities
AstronomyStargazingCampingHikingJunior Ranger ProgramPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store
Directions
Do not use GPS to find your way. There are numerous paved and dirt roads intersecting each other in this remote corner of Utah. The Hovenweep Visitor Center is located 40-45 miles from Cortez, Colorado, and Blanding and Bluff, Utah. Follow driving directions on our webpage.
Get directions →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. The temperate (and most popular) seasons are spring (April-May) and fall (mid-September-October), when daytime highs average 60 to 80 F and lows average 30 to 50 F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 F, making strenuous exercise difficult. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 F.
News
Dec 31, 2025
2026 Community Artist in Parks announced
The National Park Service Southeast Utah Group is pleased to announce the selection of Chrissy Noel Kinslow as the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks
Sep 30, 2025
Tourism to Southeast Utah Group parks contributes $447M to local economy
A new National Park Service report shows that nearly 2.4M visitors to parks of the Southeast Utah Group in 2024 spent $421.9M in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $447 million.
Sep 9, 2025
Call for 2026 Community Artist in the Parks
The Southeast Utah Group of parks will accept applications for the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks (CAIP) program September 15 to October 15, 2025.