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.
Photo: NPS Photo/Shawn G. Gillette
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.
- LocationChivington, CO
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursToday: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
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Weather now79°F Sunny
- Alerts 2 active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Civil War
- Grasslands
- Indian and Frontier Wars
- Indigenous and Native Warrior
- Massacres
- Military
- Native American Heritage
- Prairies
6 more topics
- Social Movements
- The Gold Rush
- Tragic Events
- US Army
- Wars and Conflicts
- Westward Expansion
Alerts (2)
Caution8 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 ab… Read more
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.
InformationVisitor 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… Read more
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.
Things to Do
4 experiences from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
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Be a Sand Creek B.A.R.K. Ranger
Bring your furry friend to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and take the B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge!
Learn more about Be a Sand Creek B.A.R.K. Ranger on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
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.
Learn more about Hike the Monument Hill Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
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…
Learn more about Sand Creek Ranger Talk on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
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. Benches and…
Learn more about The Bluff Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
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Activities in the park
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Facilities & Services
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Centers
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Information Center
Visitor Center
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…
Details
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. NOTE: park store sales end at 3:30 pm.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Today: 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Hours details
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Sand Creek Massacre National Historic SiteToday: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
The park is located 23 miles outside of the town of Eads, Colorado and is open five days a week. Please view the directions tab for more information.
Monday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Saturday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Sunday 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Address
55411 County Rd WChivington, CO 81036
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
79°F
Sunny · feels like 65°
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Today
82° 69°
Sunny1% rain
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Tomorrow
79° 62°
Sunny1% rain
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Wednesday
60° 49°
Overcast74% rain
Updated 3 min ago
What to expect by season
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
Upcoming Events
1 coming up-
Ranger Talk
About
The Sand Creek ranger talk explores 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 not that this program is a stationary talk, not a walking tour.
Photos
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The setting sun highlights trees along Sand Creek, forming a hauntingly beautiful landscape — NPS Photo/Jeff Campbell -
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1 more photo
Getting There
Chivington, CO 81036
The Sand Creek Massacre is located in Kiowa County, Colorado. To visit the site, follow Colorado State Highway 96 east off Highway 287 near Eads, or west off Highway 385 at Sheridan Lake.
Full directions
Near Chivington, turn north onto County Road 54/Chief White Antelope Way or at Brandon, turn north onto County Road 59. Follow these roads to their intersections with County Road W. The park entrance is along CR W a mile east (right) of CR 54 or several miles west (left) of CR 59.
Mailing address: 1301 Maine Street, Eads, CO 81036-0249
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