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. Read More
Use our top ten tips to plan your trip to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.
Take a self-guided tour, hike a trail, attend a ranger program, or explore on your own.
Alerts, operations updates, and other information about what facilities and services will be available during your visit.
Explore the interior of the fort and the grounds of the park.
Bent’s Fort was built first and foremost for the growing bison robe trade. This trade would transform the southern plains.
Learn more about this multi-cultural and multilingual trading post on the western borderlands.
Last updated: September 8, 2024
