About 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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Colorado. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
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.
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.
Getting There
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. 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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
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!
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…
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…
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…
Visitor Centers
Information 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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.