Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
On November 29th, 1864, Chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope, Left Hand and others were encamped with around 750 Arapaho and Cheyenne people in a valley by the Big Sandy Creek. A hope for peace, brought forth by Black Kettle was in the balance. It was a tragic day where the blood of the Cheyenne and Arapaho was shed, and a painful memory for generations of Native Americans was made.
Alerts
- CautionNPS ↗8 Miles of Unpaved Road to Reach Park
In order to reach the Sand Creek Massacre Site, visitors must travel on at least 8 miles of unpaved roads. We are not able to guarantee road conditions of county roads 54 or W after spring storms.
- InformationNPS ↗Visitor Services Available Only at the Site
All visitor Services are available at the Historic Site, 23 miles northeast of Eads, Colorado. The Center for Sand Creek Massacre Studies located in Eads, Colorado is available for appointment only research requests.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 11, 2026Closed Veterans Day | Closed |
| Nov 14 to Dec 31, 2026Fall off season period |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Closed Thanksgiving Day | Hours not published |
| Dec 25, 2026Closed Christmas Day | Hours not published |
| Jan 1 to Mar 15, 2027Winter off season period |
|
| Jan 1, 2027Closed New Year's Day | Hours not published |
| Jan 18, 2027Closed MLK | Closed |
| Feb 15, 2027Closed Washington's Birthday | Closed |
| Jun 19, 2027Closed Juneteenth | Closed |
When to go
May draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Information Center ↗Passport stamp
The information center is located at the historic site, which is eight miles north of the town of Chivington. It provides education and orientation materials and has a sales outlet for educational merchandise. The information center maintains the same hours as the park.
Explore
Things to do
- Be a Sand Creek B.A.R.K. Ranger5-15 Minutes
Bring your furry friend to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and take the B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge!
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike the Monument Hill Trail
The Monument Hill Trail runs from the orientation area to the hill where the overlook is located. Exhibits and benches along the trail introduce the events which led to the massacre.
Opens on the Park Service site - The Bluff Trail
The Bluff Trail is approximately three-quarters of a mile long and runs northwest from the overlook along the bluff overlooking the Big Sandy Creek at roughly the 4,000-foot contour line.
Opens on the Park Service site - Sand Creek Ranger Talk30-40 Minutes
The Sand Creek ranger talk discusses the events of the mid 1800's and describes some of the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to the Sand Creek Massacre. Please note that this is a stationary talk, not a walking tour.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Ranger Talk10/1610:00 AM · runs through Dec 27 · freeOverlook OR Orientation Area The location of the Sand Creek ranger talk can vary depending on the weather.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Guidebooks for Colorado's national parks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Weather conditions at the park vary considerably. Temperatures range from over 100°F in summer to under 20°F in winter. Visitors can expect blowing dust and sand year-round, especially during infrequent storms. Some of these storms produce violent tornadoes or large blizzards, so prepare accordingly, and contact the on-duty Ranger to ask about road conditions at (719)-438-5916
Questions people ask
Does Sand Creek Massacre charge an entrance fee?
No. Sand Creek Massacre is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Sand Creek Massacre?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 4:00PM on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Sand Creek Massacre right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Visitor Services Available Only at the Site; 8 Miles of Unpaved Road to Reach Park.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Sand Creek Massacre?
4,338 recreation visits in 2025, number 374 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Sand Creek Massacre?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Sand Creek Massacre?
Weather conditions at the park vary considerably. Temperatures range from over 100°F in summer to under 20°F in winter.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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