Birding at Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock National Monument Tours
This tour is offered on select Friday and Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the quiet off-hours of the Monument. This fun and casual 2-hour bird walk is led by a knowledgeable birding guide from the Weminuche Audubon Society. These outings will introduce you to the diverse community of birds that spend their summer at Chimney Rock National Monument. Your guide will help you identify various species and explain the unique adaptations that allow these birds to survive here. Birders of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Not recommended for young children.
Participants will be walking slowly on uneven terrain in the lower area of Chimney Rock; thus, no archaeological sites will be included on this tour. Good walking shoes are advised, along with plenty of water and sun protection—also bring those binoculars!
Check-in is at the Highway 151 entrance gate at the time stated below for each tour. Please adhere to the check-in timeline. The gate will be promptly locked at the end of that time. Tickets are $20.00 for ages 13 and up, and $10.00 for ages 5-12. Making a reservation through the Recreation.gov website or the call center (877-444-6777) is the only way to guarantee a spot for this tour. Recreation.gov charges a $1.00 reservation fee that is non-refundable. To ensure this tour is scheduled, reservations are strongly recommended. Reservations will be cut off 12 hours prior to the start of the tour. Most tours are at full capacity prior to the event, but walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available. They will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, and must arrive during the specified check-in time frame. Tour tickets can be purchased directly from the guide with cash only. Note: if no one has signed up for the tour by online reservation within the allotted time frame, the tour will not run. No refunds will be issued for no-shows.
Dates:
Fridays: May 24, June 21, August 23
Saturdays: June 8, August 10, September 21
Check-in: 7:45 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Tour: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Capacity: 20
Select a date to see a list of times
Need to Know
- Safety
You are responsible for the safety of yourself and your family. This is a high desert location. Proper hydration and sun protection are vital to your comfort and safety. Bring plenty of water. Bottled water is available for sale at the Gift Shop. There is no other potable water on site.
- Appropriate Dress for this event
Dress for outdoor weather: cool or hot temperatures, wind, insects, etc. should be considered. There is no shade on the trails. Wear sturdy walking shoes. Sunblock and a hat are recommended. A walking stick is advisable for those who feel more comfortable hiking with one.
- Gate is open only for check-in
No late arrivals. The gate will be locked at the end of check-in time.
- Restrooms
Pit-style restrooms are available at the Visitor Center, the picnic area, and the upper parking lot.
- Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted anywhere in the National Monument.
- Pets
Pets (other than service animals) are not permitted on the trails. There are 3 kennels available at the cabin area. It is not safe to leave pets in vehicles or tied to vehicles. Parking areas do not provide shade.
- Trash
Make sure to use the trash receptacles at the Visitor Center, the picnic area, and/or the upper parking lot. Rodents are attracted to food scraps and can damage the archaeological sites. Food scraps are also not healthy for the animals who live at the Monument.
- Reservations
Reservations will be cut off 12 hours prior to start of program.
- Entire Program
For your safety, stay for the entire program.
