Approach Pullout

The Approach pullout overlooks the area where Chivington's forces dropped their baggage and prepared to attack the village. Exhibits here address the Cheyenne and Arapaho journey to Sand Creek as well as the soldiers’ journey from Fort Lyon to Sand Creek. Three wayside exhibits here explore the story up to the beginning of the attack on the village. 

• The Approach pullout overlooks the area where Chivington's forces dropped their baggage and prepared to attack the village. Exhibits here address the Cheyenne and Arapaho journey to Sand Creek as well as the soldiers’ journey from Fort Lyon to Sand Creek. Three wayside exhibits here explore the story up to the beginning of the attack on the village. 

Bent's New Fort and Fort Wise/Lyon

Bent's New Fort was a historic fort and trading post along the banks of the Arkansas River on the Mountain Route branch of the Santa Fe Trail. William Bent operated a trading post with limited success at the site and in 1860 leased the fort to the United States government, which operated it as a military outpost until 1867. The site is privately owned today, and little remains of the building that once stood there.

Bluff Trail Junction

Junction between the Monument Hill Trail and the Bluff Trail at Sand Creek Massacre NHS

• A large white boulder about 2.5 feet tall and 4 feet long sits in the middle of the "T" shaped intersection of two gravel pathways. The path on the right leads uphill and the path on the left leads slightly downward.

Monument Hill Parking Area Connection

The short trail connection that links the Monument Hill Trail to the Monument Hill parking area at Sand Creek Massacre NHS

• A gravel trail splits into two directions. One trail continues uphill to the right. The other trail goes left through a 3-foot gap between two sections of wooden rail fence and leads to a restroom structure and parking area.

Monument Hill Trailhead

Wayside exhibit at the Monument Hill Trailhead

• A wayside exhibit stands in front of open prairie land. A line of trees can be seen in the far background.

Orientation Area

The orientation area is located in between the visitor parking area and the Visitor Contact Station. Among the shade of cottonwood trees is a vault toilet, picnic tables, and orientation exhibits. A tornado shelter is located near the contact station. 

Overlook

The Overlook offers a panoramic view of the creek bed, where the Cheyenne and Arapaho village was located and where the massacre began. The surrounding landscape illustrates specific facets of the story such as the location of the pony herds, the direction of the soldiers’ attack and the routes of escape that most of the Cheyenne/Arapaho followed. With little exception, the landscape appears today exactly as it did during the time of the massacre.

• The Overlook offers a panoramic view of the creek bed, where the Cheyenne and Arapaho village was located and where the massacre began. The surrounding landscape illustrates specific facets of the story such as the location of the pony herds, the direction of the soldiers’ attack and the routes of escape that most of the Cheyenne/Arapaho followed. With little exception, the landscape appears today exactly as it did during the time of the massacre. There are a few benches and a shade structure, which can accommodate up to sixteen seated visitors.

Repatriation Area

This site includes interments of the remains of massacre victims that have been repatriated to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes from museums and private individuals and interment sites for those that may be repatriated in the future.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site recognizes the national significance of the massacre in American history, and its ongoing significance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho people and massacre descendants.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, the Santa Fe Trail

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is located along the Santa Fe Trail. This massacre of nearly 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people by the US Army occurred on November 29, 1864, when 675 soldiers of the First and Third US Colorado Volunteer Cavalry attacked and destroyed a peaceful village, killing mostly women, children, and the elderly.

• A shallow grassy valley with a creek running through and scattered trees. The Visitor Contact Station is a single-story building with a deck and ramp. A sign reads, "Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Information Center."

Wayside: A Chief's Village

Wayside exhibit: Cheyenne and Arapaho Chiefs at Sand Creek - Monument Hill

• The west side of the hill overlooking the Big Sandy Creek. A bluff line extends further towards the west. Below the bluffs to the north is a valley with a line of trees marking the course of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Cheyenne and Arapaho Village at Sand Creek

Wayside exhibit: the village at Sand Creek - Monument Hill

• The west side of the hill overlooking the Big Sandy Creek. A bluff line extends further towards the west. Below the bluffs to the north is a valley with a line of trees marking the course of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Conscience and Courage

Wayside exhibit: Soule, Cramer, and Wynkoop - located in the orientation area near the visitor contact station.

• A space shaded by several cottonwood trees, surrounded by open prairie. A little over half a mile to the north is a line of trees marking the bed of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Fort Lyon Reservation

Wayside exhibit: the Fort Lyon Reservation and worsening conditions - halfway along Monument Hill Trail

• A wayside halfway up the Monument Hill Trail, surrounded by open prairie. Another sign to the left shares the same stone base as this sign. There is a bench to the left of the stone sign base. A quarter mile to the north is a line of trees marking the bed of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Sacred Memory

Wayside exhibit: remembering difficult event sin history - Monument Hill

• The north-west side of the hill overlooking the Big Sandy Creek. Below the hill to the north is an open valley with a line of trees marking the course of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Sand Creek as a Camp Site

Wayside exhibit: Sand Creek as a camp site - halfway along the Monument Hill Trail

• A wayside halfway up the Monument Hill Trail, surrounded by open prairie. Another sign to the right shares the same stone base as this sign. There is a bench to the left of the stone sign base. A quarter mile to the north is a line of trees marking the bed of the Big Sandy Creek.

Wayside: Why a 33 Star Flag

Wayside exhibit: Chief Black Kettle and the 33-star flag - near visitor contact station.

• An interpretive sign near the visitor contact station. In the background, on the right, is a flagpole that flies a 33-star flag. To the left of the flagpole is an area with several cottonwood trees and picnic tables.

Visitor Contact Station

• Visitor Contact Station
• The Contact Station 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 Contact Station maintains the same hours as the park. NOTE: Bookstore sales end at 3:30 pm.

• 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.  

• Sand Creek Ranger Talk
• 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.

Monument Hill Trail

The Monument Hill trail is an easy to moderate out-and-back trail, approximately 1-mile round trip. Most hikers complete the trail in 30-60 minutes. At the top of Monument Hill, the valley where the Cheyenne and Arapaho were camped in November of 1864 can be easily seen.