Hovenweep National Monument • CO,UT

Tall stone structures with a setting sun shining through them. Desert landscape surrounds them.

a stone structure resting on a cliff edge

a stone structure at night with the Milky Way arcing overhead

a stone structure with blue sky and clouds overhead

remains of a stone structure with wood beams on the edge of a canyon

Reddish-orange sandstone wall with petroglyphs etched into it

Hovenweep protects six groups of structures built between 1200 and 1300 CE (common era). What inspired the ancestral Pueblo people to build these multistory towers, perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders? Modern tribal consultants from some descendant communities suggest that Hovenweep was a place to pray for rain during a great drought.

Sunset of the Summer Solstice at Hovenweep Castle
NPS/Chris Wonderly

Stronghole House is one of several structures at the Square Tower Group
NPS Photo / Andrew Kuhn

Hovenweep National Monument was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2014.
NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank

The Cajon Unit is one of several outlying units at Hovenweep National Monument.
NPS Photo / Neal Herbert

The Holly Group is one of Hovenweep's outlying sites, but worth the drive or hike.
NPS photo

The Holly Petroglyph Panel is often called the solstice panel.
NPS/Chris Wonderly

An ancestral Puebloan stone structure with a desert landscape behind it

Summers at Hovenweep are hot and dry, with temperatures often reaching 95 to 100 F (35 to 39 C).

campsite with shade structure underneath a rainbow

Spend the night under the stars in Hovenweep's campground. Camping is by reservation only.

silhouetted structures with the night sky and Milky Way overhead.

Hovenweep National Monument is an International Dark Sky Park. It is the first dark sky park to span two states.

two people with a dog look at a stone structure

Read more about things to do and places to go at Hovenweep.

primitive trail lined with rocks near Hovenweep Castle

Take a trail to see Hovenweep's incredible stone structures and sweeping views.

a red truck on a paved road

Hovenweep units are isolated, and GPS units may lead you astray. Check here for directions, and use a map during your visit.

a snowy mountain range illuminated by sunlight, with shadowed foliage in front and blue skies behind

Park information at a glance, including what facilities are open, weather forecast, and trail conditions.

Last updated: August 1, 2026

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

McElmo Route
Cortez, CO 81321

Phone:

970 562-4282 x5

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