I absolutely love this national monument! The scenery is gorgeous! It has a road that you can follow to look at different formations in the land. I would have loved to take a tour, but it was closed because of the government shutdown. I will be back, so I can get the full experience!! read more

Dinosaur National Monument - Museums Near Me - Dinosaur, Colorado

I am a dinosaur fanatic. This place was awesome. I was able to actually touch the fossils. Being able to be that close really lets you see just how big these creatures were. It's truly amazing. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone, especially fellow Dino Geeks!!! read more

Dinosaur National Monument - Fascinating!!! - Museums Near Me - Dinosaur, Colorado

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There are 2 separate sections to Dinosaur National Monument. Although I suggested edits to the Yelp authorities trying to explain which area of Dinosaur NM this specifically is...no changes were made. This review is for the CANYON AREA of Dinosaur National Monument. This Canyon Area is located in Dinosaur, Colorado. This is the more remote, primitive, quiet and scenic part of the monument. Here, the main way to navigate around the park is by driving the 32-mile road to an area called Harpers Corner before eventually turning around and returning back towards the starting section off Highway Road 40. There is no fee to come here, visit, hike and explore. It's only if you visit the Fossil Bone Quarry Area of Dinosaur NM located in Jensen, Utah where you'll be charged a $25 fee specifically for entering the Quarry Exhibit Hall where the dinosaur bones are situated. And...the Fossil Bone Quarry of Dinosaur NM is located 34 miles northwest from here at the Canyon Area. When arriving at this Canyon Area, the Visitor Center is located right off Highway 40. I recommend stopping in here just to get a starting orientation to this part of the monument. The VC offers you a chance to buy gifts and souvenirs, have your Parks Passport stamped and watch a short film (though the film was not running this past summer, 2021 due to the pandemic). Although it states that the entrance fee to the park is $25, none of the park rangers here at this Canyon Area enforced the $25. I came and went as I pleased and along the 32-mile road, I was never asked to show proof of payment. I visited back in the middle of July 2021, and it was hot outside. But not to fear, if you are coming here to explore, there are two 24-hour gas stations located right in the town of Dinosaur about 5 miles away where you can stock up on snacks, supplies, drinks and refreshments. Ultimately, I was well prepared to venture out for the day with everything I needed. Btw...the gas stations are Loaf 'N Jug and Conoco. They were accommodative to tourists. There are 7 - 8 roadside overlooks to stop at while along the 32-mile road. I checked them all out looking for the best picture moments. Overall, I never really connected with any one specific area, but still, I didn't have the highest of expectations. I was just here to enjoy the ride. I used about half the day to wander around and drive the 32-mile road. At the most you can use a full day and casually take your time at all the overlooks including walking the short hiking trails as well. I'd recommend exploring during morning time because the way the sun appears in the sky throughout the day, it makes for efficient photos when here in the AM. When I was exploring during late afternoon, a bunch of the stops had me staring straight into the sun which made for difficult picture taking conditions. This just a note for those photography enthusiasts out there, lol. Here's some highlights of roadside stops and trails I navigated along... - Plug Hat Trail - a short, decent 1/2-mile hike roundtrip. Easy. The scenery was okay but nothing special. - Escalante Overlook - mediocre observation point. I stood on top of a rock with Dinosaur NM background set in the distance. - Canyon Overlook and Picnic Area - I liked this stop. There's a fence situated near the vista point where you'll discover grand views of the landscape. One of the more memorable stops for me. - Utah State Line - eventually you drive through it. - Island Park Overlook - nothing really to see. - Ruple Point Trail - a 9.25-mile roundtrip moderate to difficult hike. At the end of the trail, you'll have close up views of the Green River in between Split Mountain Canyon...an iconic spot at this Canyon Area of Dinosaur NM. - Iron Springs Overlook - just alright. I took a photo here. - Echo Park Overlook - there's a bench at the vista point overlook to sit down on and appreciate the surroundings. - Harpers Corner Trail - located at the end of the 32-mile road. It's the most popular spot to explore in the monument. It's a 2-mile roundtrip, casual hike. One frustrating issue for me along the trail, it overlooks the colorful Dinosaur NM landscape but due to all the vegetative growth from the outlying trees and bushes surrounding the pathway, it's tough to capture undisturbed views of this majestic spot. The potential was there, but ultimately this Harpers Corner fell a little flat for me. One last note...there's the Echo Valley Road driving down to Echo Park. This was recommended to me at the Visitor Center. But the park ranger mentioned you should have a 4x4 vehicle to drive. And...don't drive the road if there's a threat of rain in the area because flooding at the base of the park can be a serious issue. Unfortunately, I only had a midsize car on my travels here, so I never experienced this. Overall, I had a fine time here in the Canyon Area of Dinosaur NM. I will also write a review for the Fossil Bone Quarry Area located in Jensen, Utah. read more

One of my favorite spots on our road trip was Dinosaur National Monument. If you're a Dino-nerd like me, this is the ultimate stop. To be able to see and touch history of this magnitude is incredible. We decided to go early in the morning to avoid crowds and heat, plus we wanted to hike down from the monument. The visitor check in is located inside the museum store and very easy. The tram ride up the road to the monument is beautiful and scenic; make sure to have your camera out! We were some of the first people to arrive and the ranger was so welcoming and informative. There is so much information to absorb, plan on spending hours there and make sure to take a picture & touch the dinosaur bone that is allowed to be touched. The hike down is beautiful & filled with even more history & sites! We cannot wait to go back! read more

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6/14/2023 The quarry is a fascinating opportunity to see exactly how fossils are found and excavated. It's not a museum, it was an active "dig" that has now been preserved for us to see what the archaeologists see as they work. The park rangers are very knowledgeable about archaeology in general and this specific site in particular. The drive is worth it to see this quarry, especially if you have kids who enjoy science and/or dinosaurs. read more

Amazing Views we got and hiking!! We started from Dinosaur CO and headed 30 miles in until we got to the map i posted. Then we followed a firtroad trail that took us to the river! read more

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What a hidden gem! I had never even heard of this monument before or anyone who visited. It was amazing! The history here and the ability to see real geological wonders is absolutely incredible! We were able to touch dinosaur bones and it's impressive how large they are! We spent a good amount of time here in admiration. We then went to the Petroglyphs as well! Down farther you can even camp at the park and the views were incredible! read more

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I was very impressed. There is much more to this park than dinosaur bones, which is what we came to see. Unfortunately, we didn't have any time to spend in it other than the dinosaur bones. The national monument includes a good section of both the Green and Yampa Rivers. Now these are true rivers. I really would have liked to have an extra day to camp out by the Green river and explore the wildlife and habitats of the park. But we were there just to the Dinosaur Quarry. Also, since it was well over 100 degrees when we visited the park, my family had no desire to spend any time outside. There is a short hiking trail you can take up to the Quarry from the Visitor's Center. Would have done that but the heat was too intense. I walked maybe halfway up it just to take a look at the amazing scrub habitat. Really pretty. We took the shuttle up to the Quarry and the building is pretty impressive. Quarry itself was amazing. I didn't really expect to see that many dinosaur bones preserved in a rock face, but there you go. Absolutely a must see for your little dinosaur enthusiast! My son was so excited and read all of the placards in the building. I really liked the Visitor Center. Showed so much more about the park than dinosaur fossils. Learned a lot. If you want to see the dinosaur bones, enter the park from the Utah side (off of Jensen). However, there is so much more to the park. They have a lot of different habitats, a lot of wildlife and the rivers are just beautiful. If we had more time and it wasn't so hot, I would have loved to explore some of the canyon and river habitats. read more

Visited in late October 2011, right after the new Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center re-opened to the public. AMAZING! Must see. An all-around great experience. But first, some tips: wear a hat, put on sunscreen, fill up on gas, bring a picnic, get all the maps offered (GPS won't work), and BRING EXTRA WATER. No, really. You always hear that. But the park shuts off water to the camp grounds on October 11th. That means that the Visitor Center is your last place to fill up by tilting your water bottle under a water fountain. The hikes are tree-less and sunny, so please bring lots of containers for water. There isn't a soda machine in the whole place. We entered from Vernal on 40 and then up 149. The visitor center is a great stop (and required once the shuttles start running in summer). The exhibits are very new and shiny--do check them out. We got advice here about how to tackle the park. Unlike some, you can't just drive around the whole thing. You can access certain ares via the main road coming in from Vernal but to see other parts of the park, you need to enter via the Canyon Area Visitor center near Dinosaur and Blue Mountain. This isn't just a different entrance--it's a 50 mile drive (at least) from Vernal. So be strategic. At the visitor center, spend the two bucks to pick up a couple paper-based guides. From the visitor center, drive the short distance to the Quarry. The dino ID booklet ($1) was helpful here and they're putting in touch-screen interactives soon that will help. There are SO many bones in such a chaotic smear that you'll need help picking out the coolest pieces. We found friendly volunteers very willing to help us identify different bones--and even joke around a bit. The lower level of the quarry building has some great exhibits and bones you can touch. Awesome! Note that a lot of the dinos in the quarry are juveniles; it's really interesting to see these specimens. A short walk down the road from the quarry parking lot, you'll find a small sign marking some trails below the quarry. These are cool and very dramatic views. You'll see clam imprints in rocks and ancient fish scales, plus a few dino bones right there in the wild. (Two white arrows indicate the bones as well as one white dot lower to the ground.) We enjoyed this hike but underestimated how far 1.5 miles could feel in direct sun with no water--bring the water! Little lizards scurry around. From there, check out the petroglyph tour (50 cents). You'll be pulling over quite frequently to see petroglyphs and it's great help to have the guide--the interpretation is interesting and the numbering system makes things easier. It's kind of amazing that these are 1,000 years old--some are even wearing earrings. We skipped the Sound of Silence trail and the Desert Voices trails. We had lunch at Split Mountain, which was great because the river is right there. It's refreshing and beautiful. Many shaded picnic spots. Restrooms. Water until October 11th. Fall colors--spectacular. We then checked out the Josie Morris Cabin area. Sounds like just a homesteader's cabin but it's so much more. Josie had a little stream that created an oasis in the dry area. The shade from high canyon walls is wonderful. Explore and listen to the bubbling of the water. Josie penned in her wildlife in the canyons and they're dramatically gorgeous--you've seen them from afar the whole drive, get close up! You won't be disappointed by their colors, textures, and quirks. We even touched the walls to see what the sandstone was like! This area has very flat hikes--quite easy. Anyways, I really recommend Dinosaur. You'll love it. read more

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2 different entrances: 1- Dinosaur, CO: Canyon visitor center with great views but no fossils (closed for the winter) 2- Jensen, UT: go north on Highway 149 to Quarry visitor center (Rangers have to escort each car up to the Exhibit Hall where the fossils are, tours start on the hour and the last one is 4pm) The fossils on the riverbed wall was unique because it's untouched and left the way it was from millions of years ago. It's a great park but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here because most natural history museums have the same fossils. read more

On July 3rd I drove to Dinosaur National Monument and visited the Quarry which has an enormous fossilized block with hundreds (thousands?) of fossilized bones it. I never could have imagined something like this! Then I took an hour drive to go through the entrance on the other side of the park. I drove down into a canyon to view Steamboat Rock. Thank goodness for this 4x4 rental or I never would have been able to return. The Echo Park drive was so steep, windy and bumpy that a 13-mile dirt road down the hill took me 75 minutes to drive!! I also drove to Harpers Corner and did a mile hike. Inside the canyon I found petroglyphs and an amazing entry into a cave in the side of a canyon wall. THE JOURNEY IS ALWAYS MORE REWARDING THAN THE DESTINATION. read more

Dinosaur National Monument is an amazing place with interesting geology, great dinosaur fossils and other fun things to discover and explore. The Monument is free to visit and ranger's conduct daily tours that are interesting and fun. The last time I was there the new Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center was still under construction so I wasn't able to visit it. I hope to go back soon. read more

I went here over 4th of July weekend to escape some of the crowds and did I do that! First off minus one star for the visitor center being closed. I know that it is needed but I was really sad when I went into the temporary visitor center and asked if there was any place I could see fossils, I was told the museum back in vernal. I don't want to go to the museum I want to see them here! I wished they at least had some where that people could go to see some dinosaurs. I mean it is DINOSAUR national monument. Since I was already there I talked to the very helpful (in all ways but finding fossils and seeing dinosaur remains) ranger and found out some places to go back country camping. We headed up to the northern section of the park to hike down past Jones hole and along a very primitive trail. While fossils were not seen (as you can tell I'm very sad about this) we did see some cool petrographic and pictographs. We did a really good job of getting away from people. After Jones hole, which had quite a few people we didn't run across a soul. We hike and beat our way thru the bushes on a trail that looked like it hadn't been touched since last season. We did see amazing views that I'm sure very few people get to see. I also loved camping on the top of a cliff. Amazing sunrises and sunsets. The next day we hiked back, stopping along the river were we say the morning rafters heading down the river. After getting back in the car we headed back near the visitor center in Jensen and checked out some of the more touristy sites. There are several places to stop along the road where you can jump out of the car read a few signs and see some petrographs. We went down and looked at an old homestead and went on two very short hikes around the area. This place is different from many national parks and monuments because so much of the park is only accessed by hiking. If you are up for an adventure then it is a great place to check out. One thing I would like to mention is there are few road in the park. Many of the roads to get to various parts of the park are dirt roads with few signs. We bought a map at the visitors center and found our way with ease. However it may be a bit difficult for some. It also takes quite a bit of time to drive places, there are few direct routes to various parts of the park. * petrographic are carved into the rock while Pictographs are painted on the rock. read more

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So cool! I loved this tour and Amanda the ranger made it extra special. We were two of four people in the entire park and I couldn't believe how stunning it was. Saw the petroglyphs, the dinosaur bone quarry and scenic pit stops. Stunning and well kept his place is a national gem. My mind was BLOWN! read more

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Earl Douglass, a paleontologist, found 8 tail bones of dinosaurs in 1909. He began to discover even more bones of more than 500 different dinosaurs. It is an eye-opener to see the actual wall of rocks with dinosaur bones still intact. We were allowed get close and touch the real dinosaur bones! When will you ever get to touch the fossils of dinosaurs that is 149 million years old? It's a long drive but it's definitely worth it to make a visit! read more

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The quarry itself is amazing! We went here last summer and camped out with my parents. River rafting is incredible and though pricey it's totally worth it (we did the Green River). If camping-call and ask if there is tree cover. We assumed there were trees and left the easy ups at home (big mistake). We were quite hot last summer!! This place is fairly desolate and there's no alcohol sales unless your in CO... stores are scarce esp on Sunday. Come prepared if your camping! Workers were nice and knowledgable. Loved it and on our way back next week read more

What an exquisite place! I have no idea how you would ever be in the area unless you were road tripping through like we were. An absolute must see for any age. The tram up to the dinosaur bones quarry makes it feel even that much more exclusive/special. Amazing exhibits, amazing experience all around. Once in a lifetime! read more

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Beautiful park filled with very self-tour guided friendly signs. The park was $20 to get into, but our hotel gave us a free pass, so maybe look into that if you're staying close by. There are paved roads to drive on as well as unpaved roads to drive so beware for rain as things can get a little dicey. My only complaint is the park info staff that happened to be working in the visitor center on the day we went. She was very monotone and was not helpful at all. I asked if she knew where I could drop a stamped postcard and she first offered to take it, but then changed her mind and got really passive aggressive on not taking it. Definitely check this spot out, but do it on a day you're okay with just spending driving around and stopping very frequently. read more

I've been to Dinosaur National Monument twice. The first time I was about 11 and was able to see the rock face within the old museum. There were literally hundreds of skeletons emerging from the mountain. It was absolutely one of the coolest things I've seen. I think I had seen Jurrassic Park recently, because I kept imagining dinosaurs running out from behind a corner. Though it is now closed due to unsafe foundation, the monument is constructing a new museum, and has a temporary museum set up. While it's not nearly as cool as the original rockface museum (re-openining in 2011), the temporary museum did have some neat fossils. The best part though is the hike up the mountain to see big fossils in situ. This was actually really neat since we had to hunt for them. Archeologists in training! We made the mistake of hiking on one of the hottest days of the year, but it was pretty short and a shuttle will drop you off and pick you up if you're particularly lazy. The location itself is very pretty. Overall, I can't wait until the new museum opens so I can loose myself in dinoland again. Also, further down the road are Amerindian petroglyphs which were really amazing. You can literally drive up to see them nestled under outcroppings of red rock. I personally love the feel of the place; we were alone with the wind whipping along the rock face bringing a palatable sense of stepping back in time to gaze at the thoughts and ideas and experiences of a people lost. read more

Wow. What an awesome, unique place. It's a little off the beaten path in Colorado, so I find that not many people have been there. Is that what makes it so cool? We camped at Echo Park campground this past weekend. I was a little apprehensive at first because when we called to ask about camping options, the woman on the phone said she didn't think anybody was camping down there and that made me a little uneasy. However, when we got to the visitor's center, they assured us a ranger/park official has a cabin near the campground. In actuality, there were only a few spots left when we arrived around 7pm. It is a beautiful 12 mile drive (4 wheel drive necessary) down to the campground which is surrounded by rock formations. The spots are fairly overgrown (some more than others). Spaces are pretty far apart so you have lots of privacy. The hike to Harpers Corner is highly recommended- amazing views on either side, as it eventually narrows to an overlook point. The double rainbow we saw on the trail was the icing on the cake. Scenery on this trail is breathtaking. The next day we drove 2 hours to the other visitor's center in Utah- this is where you can see the 149 million year old Dinosaur fossils- pretty amazing. We did the short Fossil Discovery trail which is nice- make sure to pick up a free guide book and it will point out what fossils you're supposed to see on the trail. Will revisit again! read more

This is a very special place. How fortunate we are that our government has protected it. Our tour guide, Tiffany, was a real expert and very interesting to talk to. If you are in the area, it is a MUST SEE. read more

So cool! Our three kids enjoyed the shuttle ride as much as the fossils. We are very happy we went out of our way to see an extraordinary building, a massive collection, and to touch real dinosaur fossils. read more

We decided to detour out of our way back to Cali from Yellowstone and make the kid (and me) happy with some dinosaurs. It was really, really a disappointment. The Quarry Visitor Center although new is small - I was ready to drop some cash on lots of dinosaur related souvenirs and there wasn't much of selection. We shuttled to Carnegie Quarry/Exhibit Hall (basically a cliff with dinosaur fossils) and although its a very beautiful, modern building and the limited number of fossils there were interesting, it is just too small. Lot's of "coming soon" exhibits-even if they get them all put together, its still small. You see a lot more dinosaurs at just about any city museum. I was pretty cranky to drive all the way out there (it was an extra day onto our intinerary) for what it ended up to be. I will say though that the park rangers here were top notch, the one we spoke to knew her stuff and taught us all a lot of interesting facts about dinosaurs and the bones that were in the wall. read more