Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Colorado and Utah.

In the park service’s words

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. The construction and attention to detail will leave you marveling at the skill and motivation of the builders.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Stargazing Events in Southeast Utah (1 to 3 Hours): Rangers occasionally lead stargazing programs and events at parks throughout southeast Utah. Learn about what to expect and check out a schedule of stargazing events at Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments. Even when formal programs are not offered, people are welco
• Hike the Holly Trail (4 Hours): 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. At the end, your reward is reaching the towering remains and petr
• 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. A trail guide offers insight into the ancestral Puebloan lifestyle. Just steps from your veh
• Walk to the Square Tower Group Overlook (10 to 30 Minutes): 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. This trail is perfect for any season or time of day and for anyone hoping to get a good view of Hovenweep without much time or dis

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $20 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. Hovenweep National Monument is typically open year-round. Park trails are open only sunrise to sunset.

Camping

Getting there

The Hovenweep Visitor Center is located 40-45 miles from Cortez, CO, and Blanding and Bluff, UT. If you use a GPS or a navigation app on your phone, make sure that you have set your destination to the Hovenweep National Monument Visitor Center, and that your route matches the directions on our website. Alternate routes to the visitor center, and any road to our remote, outlying units, can be very rough.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Hovenweep Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:30PM. The visitor center is open daily if staffing allows. Hours may change depending on the season, staffing, and holidays.

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Mesa Verde, about 32 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Hovenweep National Monument (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.