The visitor center is open 7 days a week 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. May 1 through September 30.  October through April 30, the visitor center is open 8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week, but closed winter holidays.

Monument grounds are open sunrise to sunset.  The entrance road gate is closed only during severe winter storms.  The upper road accessing the picnic area, Chicken Creek Nature Trail (previously Fossil Lake Trail), and scenic drive closes November 1st until the snow melts, usually by late May.