Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Caution Information See 4 current alerts
Current alerts (4)
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Caution
Capacity Restrictions at the Reconstructed Fort
The design of the reconstructed fort fails to meet accessibility, fire, and life-safety requirements of 1976. A lack of code compliant components such as emergency lighting, illuminated exit signage, panic hardware on doors, and outwardly swinging exit doors results in a limitation of 49 occupants for visitor operations within the reconstructed fort.
More from the park: Capacity Restrictions at the Reconstructed Fort
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Caution
Plaza Access to Reconstructed Fort
Entry into the reconstructed fort is limited to the central plaza on scheduled days. For your safety respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access into additional areas.
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Information
Guided Tours at the Reconstructed Fort
Regularly scheduled guided tours provide access into furnished rooms and explore the fort’s role in Westward Expansion and the reconstruction of the fort in 1976.
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Information
A Short Walk is Required to Reach the Fort
A 1/4 mile (1,275 feet) walk on a paved trail from the parking area is required to reach the gate of the fort. At the end of your visit, you'll return to your vehicle along the same path.
More from the park: A Short Walk is Required to Reach the Fort
Hours
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
| Every day | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
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Coming up:
- Nov 26: Thanksgiving Day (closed)
The park grounds are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on New Year's Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington's Birthday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. During the off-season [October-March annually], the grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for the holidays listed above.
Plaza access into the reconstructed fort is on a separate schedule—see the event calendar for hours of operation on scheduled plaza access days.
Replica Fort
| Monday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
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| Tuesday – Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday – Sunday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
Coming up:
- Nov 26: Thanksgiving Day (closed)
Five days a week the public is invited inside the 1976 replica of Bent’s Old Fort, entering through the zaguan gate and into the plaza. Park Rangers will be present to explain the features of the fort and its 20th century reconstruction. Entry into the replica fort is limited to the central plaza, except on guided tours, due to safety issues. For your safety, respect all closures and restrictions. Guided tours provide access to some furnished spaces.
Visitor centers
Information Center
Information Center
| Monday – Sunday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM |
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Coming up:
- Nov 26: Thanksgiving Day (closed)
The information center is currently open 9-4 daily. This facility closes from 11:30-noon for lunch.
Events in the next few days
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Fort Open to Plaza Access
· 09:00 AM – 03:00 PM · Free
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Guided Tour
· 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM, 02:00 PM – 02:45 PM · Free
About this park
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.