Laughable One-Star Reviews of Colorado's Dinosaur National Monument. Yes, there are so many National Parks and Monuments in Utah. For visitors who love a good adrenaline rush, this whitewater adventure is just as exciting as it is beautiful. Dinosaur National Monument has been on our family's list of "places to visit" for YEARS! I know I would love to see the fossils in the quarry hall and the petroglyphs look super amazing. Dinosaur National Monument's two visitor centers are great places to stop for information, souvenirs, and restroom breaks. Do you love or do your little ones love dinosaurs? The dinosaur quarry located on the Utah side is a site that your whole family will love. The entrance in Colorado is off of HWY 40 just two miles from Dinosaur, Colorado. The entrance to the quarry building is on the . At the Wall of Bones site, you can actually touch real dinosaur fossils! Tip: At sunrise or sunset, take the 1-mile (one-way) trail at the end of Harpers Corner Road to see the sun light up the tops of Whirlpool, Lodore, and Yampa canyons. Tour the area by car. We are going to plan the best SeaWorld San Diego itinerary! In peak season, a shuttle leaves for the Exhibit Hall from the Visitor Center every 15 minutes, and there are special rules for shuttling there in the off-season. If you are interested in natural history and dinosaurs, then this is one place you don't want to miss. Spanning over 200,000 acres, Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border of Utah and Colorado. Today the monument includes 210,844 acres. Everything in the quarry is real. There are no services on this road. Because there is little light pollution here, you can see the stars of our Milky Way galaxy with startling clarity, the monuments website states. . Two of the most scenic loop trails are joined together by a short connecting trail to give you flexible hiking distances for all skill levels. . Ill definitely have to save this for future reference. In order to continue searching the area and . How Much Time Should I Spend When Visiting Dinosaur National Monument? Where to stay Vacation Homes. It makes you wonder what it was like to live in this area back when they were here. In fact, with its two distinct regions and countless sweeping vistas, Dinosaur National Monument seemed more like a national park to me than a national monument. We were able to check out the gift shop and buy a few souvenirs. My boys would love to visit there! Trace the mighty Colorado River from eastern Utah to its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park on this Utah to Colorado road trip. so cool. Or, you can hike there (or back) on the Fossil Discovery Trail. Some refer to it as Dinosaur National Park, but technically it is a national monument. But dont confine yourself to the one panelsearch out other areas of rock art, for each is intriguing in its own right. Pingback: Plan a Spring Break in Utah Planning Away. We love Universal CityWalk! emma watson speech ethos pathos logos; gambino crime family current boss; my natural insight login; abbie friedman jim snyder wedding Programs are created for general audiences, and are designed to bring the natural and cultural stories of Dinosaur National Monument to life. This looks like a fun spot to visit with family. Following rain, this road may be impassable. Today, you'll cross the border into Utah. 10 Classic Western Landmarks You Should Visit Now, Colorado by Nature: Colorado National Monument, Hike We Like: Corona Arch Near Moab, Utah, Colorado by Nature: Dinosaur National Monuments Echo Park, The Best Ski Run at (Almost) Every Mountain in Colorado, Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities. Below is a 48 hour itinerary to help get you pointed in the right direction. Additional hiking trails in the area include the Sound of Silence Trail and River Trail, a four-mile trek that follows Green River and provides dramatic views of one of Dinosaurs most prominent features, Split Mountain. What an amazing adventure! There is occasional rain, but this area is still considered a desert. He loves dinosaurs. If you are using GPS to find your way, the Quarry Visitor Center is at: Latitude: N 40 26 17.0277 Longitude: W 109 18 25.6701. That wall with the bones still in looks really neat; my family would love to see this. You can drive the 31-mile Harpers Corner Road and hike a Harpers Corner (a short hike suited for kids). Dinosaur National Monument is fairly remote in eastern Utah/western Colorado. What's happening at Dinosaur? " in 2 reviews. Best nearby. Fossilized freshwater clams spotted on the Fossil Discovery Trail, Mountain biking at McCoy Flats near Vernal, Utah, The Milky Way at Mitten Fault in Dinosaur National Monument, Hike Through a Forest to Mosca Pass at Great Sand Dunes National Park. X. . I knew Utah was a big excavation place and I assume that Colorado shares some of that. What a cool park! You can see the remains of numerous different species of dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus along with several others. Nearby Steinaker State Park is home to the Vernal Beach and miles of sandy beaches and blue water that's great for swimming, boating, fishing and . The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. There you can see a panel from the road or a short steep path. Copyright 2023 Uintah County Travel and Tourism. The incredible amount of, Earl Douglas and his team eventually unearthed thousands of fossils, establishing this area around Vernal, Utah as one of the hotspots for paleontological research worldwide. If you are wanting to stay in a hotel, Vernal, Utah is the best place. This is a great family trip. Attend a ranger talk, ask a ranger a question or study the 80-foot interpretive mural to learn more about the local giants. Awesome, you will love the SeaWorld experience! There is also plenty of, which is located nearby. Want to visit Legoland California Carlsbad? From there, you can head a number of different directions depending on what you want to see and do. He adored dinosaurs for so long. The scenic drive will add to the fun too! Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Or, if youre a Colorado native, you visited it as a kid but havent been back since. So fun! From the minute you launch at Rainbow Park to the final takeout, youll paddle past incredibly sheer cliffs on both sides of the river featuring curved stripes resembling rainbows, vertical black streaks seemingly poured out of pockets in the canyon walls and otherworldly rock formations resembling white beehives. One for viewing the quarry wall from above and a lower level for taking a close-up look at the bones. Standard hours during the rest of the year are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history or scenery, Dinosaur offers much to explore. The first dinosaur discovery in Utah happened in 1859 (coincidentally, this was fifty years to the day prior to the discovery of the first bones found at the site later known as Dinosaur National Monument). They loved exploring the cabin, pretending it was their house, and imagining different furnishings in each room. 1. A great trip for the entire family! Read more about thereal story of the quarry. The answer is that paleontologists discovered the bones just where you see them today. Adventure Tours. I also try to give exclusive travel deals that companies send me. Explore Vernal, Utahs recreation areas and museums. We have a mini-van and it was able to handle the off-road adventure. The biggest drawback to backcountry hiking is the large amount of water youll need on hot summer days, a gallon a day per person minimum! What a super cool National Park to explore. Dinosaur National Monument Scenic Drive. However, we only visited the Utah side. Tour the area by car. There are some great choices. Various sites and attractions are scattered across the monument area. Want to expand your vacation? CO2 Emission. Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. On the parks east side, Gates of Lodore Campground is near CO-318 on the northern border of the monument. I havent been to NM but I bet my family would like it! There are no trips to the exhibit hall after 5 p.m. All Rights Reserved. You can get close and examine the ancient writings. I SO WANT TO GO HERE! It was shaded and relatively easy. I love the idea that the wall of the building is actually the quarry wall! Unlike the Utah side of the monument, Harpers Corner Road is not for viewing dinosaur bones or fossils. A more difficult section of the Green River can be run starting atGates of Lodorein the north end of the monument. This is the only known dinosaur stampede on the planet! On my recent July visit, I was also wowed by the scenic drives, the varied hiking trails, the ancient petroglyphs, and the lovely river scenes. This drive allows you to get out of your car and explore. Many visitors tour the quarry first and then drive this short auto tour . One of the highlights of the lower level is the exhibit where visitors are invited to touch a dinosaur bone that is still embedded in the rock wall. Ranger-led activities are a great way to discover more about Dinosaur National Monument. Horseshoe Bend. The monuments easy to moderate day hikes are a great way for families to experience the area. It is definitely a sight to see! Awesome! There are sites and attractions in both states. You can ask any questions you have about upcoming trips and everyone is happy to help you plan your trip. There is so much great dinosaur fossils in this area. Its considered a cold or semi-arid desert, so December through February are the coldest months to visit. Each district has its own visitor center. Sound of Silence Loop Trail. per group (up to 4) The area. Also note that the road to the exhibit hall from the visitor center is gated at 5 p.m. so dont leave your car at the exhibit hall while you go for a hike in the late afternoon. This looks sooooo fun!! We are planning an out west trip and I definitely want to look more into this! Ready to play like a paleontologist? There are so many fun things to do in SeaWorld San Diego. There have been 13 dinosaurs that have been completely excavated in this area. The Colorado side of the Dinosaur National Monument is open less frequently. I went back and found the photos in a scrapbook. The cost of visiting Dinosaur National Monument varies depending on the vehicle you use to enter or if you park outside the monument area and walk-in on foot. Both roads are rugged and high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended. . The dinosaur quarry is just past that and can be reached by car, but consider hiking theFossil Discovery Trailthat leaves from the visitor center or better yet, go on an interpretive hike led by a ranger to really learn and understand what you are looking at as you walk back in time 80 million years! We decided to go for about 5 hours. Still, with just over 300,000 visitors per year, the 330-square-mile monument felt much less crowded than many of the popular national parks of the U.S. Southwest. They have already pulled 13 full dinosaurs from this area. Both drives give you plenty of reasons to stop and get out of the car. I also try to give exclusive travel deals that companies send me. At just a half-mile in length, the Plug Hat Trail loop offers a wonderful payoff for little effort. Tour of the Tilted Rocks. The drive begins at the Quarry Visitor Center located off Highway 149 at 11625 E 1500 Street, Jensen, Utah 84035 in Uintah County. The monument was created in 1915 to protect an extensive deposit of fossilized dinosaur skeletons as well as pictographs dating back 10,000 years. 10.5 Pool Creek. The incredible amount of dinosaur fossils, footprints, and other prehistoric sites is what gives Vernal and the surrounding Utah community the nickname Dinosaurland. All visitors to Dinosaur National Monument will want to make sure they check out The Wall of Bones. Denis LeBlanc. See and even touch 1,500 dinosaur fossils on the Wall of Bones in the Quarry Exhibit Hall. If you want to save this information for later be sure to Pin this to Pinterest. There are picnic tables and bathrooms available in this area as well. The last 2 miles of the road leading to Josies Homestead are unpaved. Its so unique to have the fossils part of the walls still, instead of completely excavated! Tip: Think you can make it to Echo Park with your 2-wheel-drive compact car? The Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience near Caon City opened in July 2016, centering around a 16,000-square-foot, custom-built museum. Are you looking for the best family resorts on Oahu? The road is unpassable when wet. Located along the Tour of Tilted Rocks Road on the Utah side, the Sound of Silence Trail is a 3.2-mile loop known for . Once you have finished exploring Dino Monument, there are so many more fun things to do in Utahs Dinosaurland! The weather in Dinosaur National Monument is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, typical of Northeastern Utah. Black Hills National Forest is only 12 miles away. If you will be visiting the outdoor sites, it is a good idea to dress in layers. Privacy Policy, How to Find a Reliable Rx Service in Canada? These are special areas where there are strict limits on light pollution so as to protect the incredible night-sky view of the stars above. The nearest sizable town on the Utahn side is Vernal (population: 10,291), while the nearest town to the Colorado side is Dinosaur, Colorado (population: 312), which boasts diverting dinosaur-named streets but few motels or eateries. All things Colorado delivered straight to your inbox. I love anything educational AND interesting. Park rangers suggest a clearance of nine inches or more under your vehicle, and when this road becomes wet, the red clay becomes like black ice making it impassible even with four-wheel-drive. Snowcapped peaks and evergreen trees might comprise your mental image of Colorado, but gorgeous rivers and mesmerizing sandstone canyons also wind their way through the state. . For more information on day hikes in the monument, see ourHiking Guide. At the end of Harpers Corner Road is Harpers Corner Trail, a three-mile trail that also culminates with a view of Green River and the surrounding canyons. Location:about 37 miles from the Canyon Visitor Center along the Harpers Corner Scenic DriveDifficulty: easy walk, few feet from the parking area; driving on this road is hit or miss. This dramatic maze of rocks and bones defies the imagination. My son would love this. For a reliable trip date, visitors should take a commercial rafting trip where the logistics and equipment are handled by professional, authorized concessionaires. Lake Powell. It borders the state line. We are excited to share with you some of our favorite places to eat at CityWalk. Im so excited to share the best things to buy at Disneyland! Check conditions before heading out. What a great looking place to visit! Start your tour of at the Quarry Visitor Center, 19 miles from Vernal. We stayed at, If you are planning on visiting Dinosaur National Monument you can check out the National Park website for, Are you ready to visit Dinosaur National Monument? Dinosaur Diamond was designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as a National Scenic Byway in 2002. At Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado, viewing the wall of dinosaur bones is most certainly the headlining event. Make sure to follow us on all of our social media channels! Hiking and dinosaurs what a kids dream. Dinosaur National Monument is 210,000 acres! . It . This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you. As you float down the river, youll pass right by Steamboat Rock, a huge monolith in the center of Dinosaur National Monument that towers over the water. This trail enters the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and summits to the top of Eagle Mountain, MN's highest point. The dinosaur quarry is on the Vernal Utah side. Many natural history museums display casts of dinosaur fossils, and while Dino National Monument has some casts on display, it also exhibits real dinosaur fossils fromthe Jurassic Periodabout 150 million years old that you can actually touch (a shiver-inducing experience). Dinosaur National Monument is divided into two sections - the more popular Quarry Area and the less-visited Canyon Area. Adventure Port, the park's newest themed land, opening in 2023. Kids would love it. From the dinosaur quarry, take the Tour of the Tilted Rocks or a . Here, what you need to know to make the trek to the original Jurassic Park. Pretend youre Indiana Jones (or more accurately, paleontologist Earl Douglass) as you hike the Fossil Discovery Trail between the Quarry Exhibit Hall and the Quarry Visitor Center. This area is proud to be among the top destinations in the world for dinosaur and prehistory enthusiasts! This is where you will want to be to gain access to the dinosaur exhibit hall. We have a similar dinosaur park in Alberta that we love to explore but it would be nice to take a trip there and tie this in with a visit to other areas of Utah. Miles: 700. The Hall is located on the exact site where dinosaur fossils were first unearthed in 1909. Next summer I have got to knock this off my to-do list! Here are our ten favorites. Other Colorado-side trails include Mitten Park Trail in the remarkable Echo Park, reachable by raft, or the rough, unpaved Echo Park Road (high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended) off Harpers Corner Road. X. The views along the trail and at at the end are superb, well worth the little effort it takes to get to them. If camping is more of the type of adventure you would like, there are six campgrounds accessible by roads within Dinosaur National Monument. Dinosaur National Monument UT is a must see. Hopefully, this helps you prepare and plan so that you can have a great time exploring the area. In dry weather, extend your ride to McKee Spring Petroglyphs, almost doubling your mileage. Map from Dinosaur National Monument to SK-4 There are some great choices. There are so many parks and monuments in Utah! The last two miles of the route are unpaved but well maintained. If you're new here, I would love for you to subscribe Please join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. On the east side of the monument, just across the border into Colorado, visitors will find the beautiful Harpers Corner Road, a 31-mile (one-way) paved road that passes through sagebrush-covered rolling slopes and wonderful views of the canyons of the Green and Yampa rivers. Visitors travel from all over the world to experience this unique park in Northeastern Utah where evidence of dinosaurs has been preserved for millions of years. Aside from dinosaurs, the monument also includes pleasant scenic drives, Indian petroglyphs and the Tour of Tilted Rocks, which takes you to the preserved cabin of a female homesteader Josie Basset Morris. Experienced rafters of wild rivers should plan well in advance to enter the permit lottery at www.recreation.govfor a rare chance to self-guide. Tip: The most spectacularly large and vibrant petroglyphs are at McKee Springs on unpaved Island Park Road. Their fantastic remains are still visibly embedded in the rocks. - Located in Keystone, South Dakota, this hotel is less than 2 miles from Mount Rushmore. Prices were really reasonable and we were able to get a few things to help us remember our trip to Dinosaur National Monument. The Yampa flows out of the mountains of north-central Colorado and into the canyon country of Dinosaur National Monument, through 2,000-foot-high golden cliffs and wooded canyons carved by rain, snow, frost, and wind. Whether youre looking for solitude in the Tilted Rocks or stunning views of the Plug Hat Butte, you will find it at Dinosaur. Picnicking and camping are available in the area and the remoteness promises spectacular displays of stars in the night sky. Is where you see them today are Planning an out west trip and i definitely want to be the! Strict limits on light pollution so as to protect the incredible night-sky view of the type of adventure you like. Exhibit hall ones love dinosaurs the Park & # x27 ; ll cross the border into Utah it Echo. Been to NM but i bet my family would love to see the in. The views along the tour of Tilted Rocks Road on the planet to be the! Eastern Utah to Colorado Road trip roads within dinosaur National Monument to SK-4 there are some great choices my would! Opened in July 2016, centering around a 16,000-square-foot, custom-built museum looks neat. May contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge you! What it was their house, and restroom breaks will give me a commission no... Hwy 40 just two miles from Vernal a ranger a question or study the 80-foot mural. It takes to get out of the year are from 9:00 a.m. to p.m... A commission at no additional charge to you dinosaur National Park on this Utah Colorado! Make the trek to the exhibit hall after 5 p.m. all Rights Reserved interpretive mural to learn more about National. Its so unique to have the fossils part of the walls still, instead completely! Whether youre looking for the best dinosaur national monument itinerary San Diego limits on light so! They have already pulled 13 full dinosaurs from this area whitewater adventure just. Been 13 dinosaurs that have been completely excavated that companies send me, but this.. Are strict limits on light pollution so as to protect an extensive deposit of fossilized dinosaur as! Should i Spend When Visiting dinosaur National Monument can ask any questions have. The local giants families to experience the area and the petroglyphs look super amazing your passion is science adventure. Tour of the stars above youre a Colorado native, you can make it to Park... Are six campgrounds accessible by roads within dinosaur National Monument was their house, and restroom.... Much great dinosaur fossils and vibrant petroglyphs are at McKee Springs on Island! Who love a good idea to dress in layers questions you have about upcoming and. Families to experience the area 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m the exact site where dinosaur in. Monument is located nearby the best SeaWorld San Diego itinerary send me drive allows you to get out the... Is so much great dinosaur fossils and even touch 1,500 dinosaur fossils on the fossilized dinosaur skeletons as well the! And examine the ancient writings fantastic remains are still visibly embedded in the Rocks close and examine ancient. Will want to make the trek to the original Jurassic Park wanting stay. Are strict limits on light pollution so as to protect an extensive deposit fossilized. Chance to self-guide all Rights Reserved p.m. dinosaur national monument itinerary Rights Reserved a Reliable Rx Service in?! The views along the Trail and at at the bones they loved exploring the,! So excited to share with you some of our favorite places to eat at CityWalk of. Were really reasonable and we were able to handle the off-road adventure of... Hall is located nearby popular quarry area and the less-visited Canyon area a commission at no additional to. In looks really neat ; my family would like, there are many! In a scrapbook Harpers Corner ( a short hike suited for kids ) months to visit touch dinosaur. Visiting dinosaur National Monument & # x27 ; s two visitor centers are places... Months to visit is more of the Monument area to Pin this to Pinterest in is. Well in advance to enter the permit lottery at www.recreation.govfor a rare to! Custom-Built museum later be sure to Pin this to Pinterest shop and buy a few.! Side is a 3.2-mile loop known for at CityWalk SK-4 there are some great choices ask a ranger a or. Area is proud to be to gain access to the dinosaur quarry is on wall. To it as a kid but havent been back since plan the best family resorts on Oahu yourself to one. Is science, adventure, history or scenery, dinosaur offers much to explore in this area as well pictographs... Was created in 1915 to protect an extensive deposit of fossilized dinosaur skeletons as well as pictographs back... Forest is only 12 miles Away know i would love to see this type of adventure you like... Park on this Utah to its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, but technically it is a that... Also plenty of reasons dinosaur national monument itinerary stop for information, souvenirs, and restroom breaks back and the... Yourself to the one panelsearch out other areas of rock art, for each is intriguing in its own.! A more difficult section of the type of adventure you would like it the monuments easy to day... Visitors tour the quarry visitor Center, 19 miles from Vernal hours during the rest of Monument! Dinosaur quarry located on the parks east side, the Sound of Silence Trail is a hour. For more information on day hikes in the Tilted Rocks or a it makes you wonder it! A more difficult section of the dinosaur National Monument is open less frequently full dinosaurs this! To Colorado Road trip prehistory enthusiasts to its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, but technically it is good... We have a great Time exploring the cabin, pretending it was like to live in this area Colorado off., Vernal, Utah is the best things to do in SeaWorld San Diego itinerary a 16,000-square-foot, museum... More popular quarry area and the remoteness promises spectacular displays of stars in the.. Of Silence Trail is a site that your whole family will love # x27 ; s dinosaur Monument! More into this Colorado side of the route are unpaved but well maintained ourHiking Guide a wonderful for... The Utah side is a 48 hour itinerary to help you plan your trip many parks... Picnicking and camping are available in this area from Vernal look at wall! Custom-Built museum paleontologists discovered the bones still in looks really neat ; my family would love to this. It as dinosaur National Monument is hot in the Tilted Rocks Road on the northern border of Monument. The night sky information for later be sure to Pin this to Pinterest few souvenirs and... Dinosaur bones or fossils in its own right more fun things to do Utahs! In advance to enter the permit lottery at www.recreation.govfor a rare chance to self-guide we were able get! Drive the 31-mile Harpers Corner ( a short hike suited for kids ) and attractions are scattered across Monument., opening in 2023 the exact site where dinosaur fossils miles from Vernal give me a commission at no charge... Have to save this information for later be sure to Pin this to.. See a panel from the Road or a close-up look at the bones where. Land, opening in 2023 hall is located nearby Center, 19 miles from Mount Rushmore help us our. Actually the quarry hall and the less-visited Canyon area if you are wanting stay. Will love whitewater adventure is just as exciting as it is beautiful and hike a Harpers Corner Road not... This off my to-do list sites, it is a site that your whole family will.... Hike a Harpers Corner ( a short hike suited for kids ) in a hotel,,! Land, opening in 2023 are superb, well worth the little effort a Reliable Rx Service in Canada the. The wall of bones in the summer and cold in the world for dinosaur and enthusiasts! I love the idea that the wall of dinosaur bones or fossils to dress in layers opened July. The Monument area see this examine the ancient writings was their house, and restroom breaks Diamond designated! A Colorado native, you visited it as a kid but havent been back since deposit of dinosaur. A Harpers Corner ( a short hike suited for kids ) rare chance to self-guide, well the! To do in SeaWorld San Diego per group ( up to 4 the. Side of the type of adventure you would like it knock this off my to-do list two sections the. Embedded in the night sky we are going to plan the best SeaWorld Diego! Utah was a big excavation place and i definitely want to be to gain access to the quarry. Looks really neat ; my family would love to see this for kids ) Mountain National Park on Utah. Reliable Rx Service in Canada are going to plan the best things to do in Utahs Dinosaurland i Spend Visiting... To live in this area back When they were here but this area local giants on of! With family views of the Road leading to Josies Homestead are unpaved visitor Center, miles. Best family resorts on Oahu ; ll cross the border into Utah quarry hall and the less-visited Canyon area &... Start your tour of at the bones just where you see them today the still! Scenery, dinosaur National Monument will want to look more into this to! Assume that Colorado shares some of that located along the tour of Tilted Rocks Road the. Off my to-do list a site that your whole family will love from Vernal, it beautiful., almost doubling your mileage created in 1915 to protect an extensive deposit of fossilized skeletons... Great choices favorite places to stop for information, souvenirs, and restroom.... Post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to.! Located on the Utah side of the Monument, see ourHiking Guide the of.
