Plug Hat Trail

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6974 - 7001 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Plug Hat Picnic Area
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views, interpretive trail

The Plug Hat trail is located within the Colorado Section of the Dinosaur National Monument. The trail gets its name from the nearby Plug Hat Rock. The rock got its name due to its resemblance of a top hat or bowler hat. At present there is not an entrance fee for the Colorado Section of the monument.

The trailhead is located across the road from the Plug Hat Picnic area which is about 5 miles north of the Canyon Visitor Center.

The entire length of the trail is paved making it wheelchair accessible. The trail forms a loop through the pinon and juniper woodland along the ridge connecting Plug Hat Rock with the rest of the mesa.

The Plug Hat trail is interpretive in nature with all of the information provided on trail plaques so no brochure is necessary. The easiness of the trail coupled with its interpretive information makes this a good hike for school age children.

The trail along the south side of the ridge provides views of Plug Hat Rock. At night you can see the distant lights of Rangley, Colorado.

From the other side of the ridge on the loop back you can see a nearby canyon with Blue Mountain in the background.

Across the road at the Plug Hat Picnic Area is another short trail that provides almost another half mile of hiking with more canyon views. Part of that trail is also wheelchair accessible as are several of the picnic spots. A picnic at Plug Hat and a hike at Harpers Corner would make for a very nice day at the Colorado Section of the Dinosaur National Monument. Another picnic site to consider is Canyon View which is further along the road toward Harpers Corner. It is in a particularly pretty setting. There is a restroom at that location also. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.