Dinosaur National Monument
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I had been interested in visiting this place as a preschooler, when I had a keen interest in dinosaurs. That didn't happen. Neither was it convenient when my daughter was young and with similar interests. However, we recently had a reason for a long weekend in Salt Lake City, so we opted to do a couple of days extra to extend the family trip to include Dinosaur National Monument. We rented a car north of SLC and drove about 3.5 hours to Vernal, where we got a room in a motel. Vernal is the logical spot to stay when visiting this place, unless you want to go the camping route. The last 2 hours of the drive is mostly desolate, with only a couple of towns and the occasional rest stop to break up the drive. Vernal is about 20 - 25 minutes from the park's western visitors' center. At the time we visited, they had road crews doing drainage repairs on the only road into the park, so there was a brief wait while flagmen coordinated 1-lane traffic. You need to stop at the ranger kiosk to either buy or show your pass to get in. The visitors' center itself is fairly standard. They have an informative film that runs every 20 minutes to give you some background on the park. Rangers are available to answer questions. They also have a gift shop and some exhibits. Every 15 - 20 minutes, a shuttle arrives to take passengers up to the quarry wall, the marquee feature of the park. There is also a trail that leads up there, but the ranger advised that it is easier to take the tram up and walk back, which is what we opted to do. The ride up the hill is less than 5 minutes. The quarry wall was quite interesting. This was originally an open air dig site for an archeologist funded by the Carnegie Foundation. They excavated about 2/3 of the site and sent dinosaur skeletons to a variety of natural history museums all over the world. However, they opted to retain the last 40% of the exposed wall as a permanent exhibit at the site. They later constructed a building around it, which has been repaired and remodeled. The tram lets you off at a ramp, where you walk up 1 floor to the entrance. Inside, you can relax in the air conditioning and check out the huge wall of exposed dinosaur bones. The site was basically created by a drought followed by a flash flood, such that it washed a number of live and dead dinosaur bodies into a 'logjam' at one spot. Even what is left now is quite impressive, though. The ranger here was very willing to answer questions and discuss things related to the site. You then descend to the ground floor where there are some additional exhibits and alternate views up at the quarry wall. When you exit the building, you can either wait for the shuttle again or descend via the 1.25 mile / 2 km trail. We opted for the walk, which wasn't bad. There were a lot of stairs cut into the trail. You may want to avoid this in extreme heat also. There were a few short side trails along the way with a few exposed fossils (clams, etc.). One thing to note - there is no cafeteria in this area of the park. If you want to eat, you'll have to bring your own food. We opted for a break to drive back to the Vernal area for lunch. If you do that, you should budget and hour for travel time + whatever time you need for eating. We returned to the park after our lunch and opted for the scenic drive. You can purchase a guide from the visitors center or from a set along the road. This is worthwhile as it will direct you to the various sites. I think there were about 15 in total. These ranged from scenic overlooks to a spot close to the river, to campgrounds, to several petroglyph sites. We all enjoyed this and thought it was worthwhile. The only caveat I'll offer is about stop #14. This is a longer and steeper hike associated with petroglyphs. If you stop here, take time to find the actual trail marker. It is not obvious, but the correct trail is much easier to get to the cliff face (about 150 feet up, at least) than the alternate trail. The sign is somewhat obscured by bushes so we initially missed it. There are other points of interest in the eastern side of Dinosaur National Monument, but we did not drive over to see them. This was a fun and worthwhile stop for me but it is not trivial. There is also some sort of regional air service to the Vernal airport, so you could eliminate 3+ hours of driving by just flying here, but I don't know what the cost is versus a rental car from the SLC area. I'm glad we went, though.
If you love dinosaurs and history, this is a must see. This was my second trip to Dinosaur National Monument and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Our shuttle driver was super kind and friendly and really added to the experience. The visitor center/store staff appeared to be a bit moody the day we were there, but we didn't let it spoil our visit. The restrooms are clean and there are places to refill your water bottles to stay hydrated in the heat. If the weather isn't too hot, I definitely recommend taking the hike down the mountain.
Dinosaur National Monument is a huge area with 2 visitor centers; the larger one is in Jensen, UT. I see that Yelp has a separate listing for the Quarry Exhibit Hall. For the overall monument, you should visit the Visitor Center first. Then take the van ride to the Quarry Exhibit Hall. You can then walk a scenic trail back that is all downhill and takes about 20 minutes. Then, get in your car and drive past the Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs, Turtle Rock, Cub Creek Petroglyphs, and other areas. At the end, park by the Josie Morris Cabin - see it - and take the half-mile out-and-back trail in Box Canyon. It'll take you about 2-3 hours for it all and you'll get the high points.
Really cool National Monument! Given the size you could easily mistake this for a park. If you are into dinosaurs/fossils, you've got to check it out. We visited in the winter so there were some trails that were closed due to weather, but the scenic drive and the Quarry Exhibit Hall on the Utah side were worth it by themselves! Highly recommend checking out if you are in the area or within a few hours drive.
Dinosaur is a must visit and be sure to get out and hike. Entering from the Utah side, the short fossil discovery trail is a nice introduction where you can see fossil bones in their natural state, then head to the quarry which is astonishing to believe that all of these bones would found exactly as you see them in the exhibit. Do the Tour of the Tilted Rocks driving tour (buy the $1 map or you will miss out!) to see the geology and nicely preserved petroglyphs at the east end of the drive. If it is not too hot hiking is a must. Towards the end of the Tilted Rocks tour is the relatively cool, creek side grassy Hog Canyon Trail which also has remnants of the Josie Morris homestead. For great geology, hike the sound of silence loop trail through the hog backs, a short mini maze like rock canyon, plus great views on the east side of the trail. If you have an extra half day, drive to the Colorado entrance and drive along the Harper;s corner road to see the Green River Canyon where rafters run their course. The 2 mile hike at the end of the road is a must do. Grab a $1 Harpers Corner Trail guide for excellent overview of the geology, fossils and history. You will walk on fossil encrusted slabs toward the end of the trail with a spectacular view down into the steep canyon.
Easily a five star national monument! There are so many recreational activities to do here that it could be a park, plus it houses the largest known fossil bed in the world! It's a fair drive from any major city but Vernal is a pretty big nearby town. You'll be able to hike dozens of trails, kayak and boat the river passing through, or just camp and enjoy nature. There are multiple entrances to this huge monument, but the main one is at the Quarry Visitor Center. From there you'll find petroglyphs, river access, trails, and the dinosaur excavation site within a few minutes drive. You must pay to enter the monument unless you have a park pass (or unless you buy one as you arrive). Check the weather before arriving because there's next to no cover. As of May 2024 the visitor center is under construction so there's a temporary one in the parking lot along with portable toilets.
The Quarry Wall embedded with dinosaurs bones is the highlight of Dinosaur National Monument near Jensen in northeastern Utah! It's incredible touching rocks and fossils that are millions of years old! Park and hike the mile long trail to the museum or take a shuttle with a running commentary. The entire countryside is amazing with rugged rocky hills on one side and the lush Green River valley on the other with a mesa in the background.
Dinosaur National Monument is a wonderful place! We visited both the Utah and Colorado sides and both are great in different ways. The fossils and petroglyphs are found on the Utah side, which is the larger and more developed side. There's a nice hike from the main Visitor Center to the fossil building and there's amazing petroglyphs to see along the way. There are so many fossils located in situ at this site and it's truly a wonder to behold. You can even touch a few dinosaur bones, which was a thrill! The Colorado side of Dinosaur is quite vast and mainly consists of vistas and overlooks that you can stop at and admire the view. There's definitely areas where you can go offroading too if you have the proper vehicle and permits. Dinosaur National Monument is 100% worth the drive and was one of our favorite places to see on our road trip to Colorado and Utah!
Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border of Utah and Colorado with 2 entrances (one on the Utah side and one on the Colorado side). My husband and I came to visit on a Monday afternoon around 1:40 pm. When we checked in with the friendly employee at the booth, my husband had asked if there were any tickets left for the dinosaur quarry. The employee told us yes she had tickets for us at 2 pm if we were interested. Please note that tickets are timed and can be reserved online (but I had no idea you could also get them at the entrance booth too). So, we drove right over to the visitor center to wait for the shuttle to take us to the quarry exhibit hall. At this visitor center, there are restrooms and a gift shop. There are also some information you can read about dinosaurs and the land that was here years and years ago while you wait for the shuttle. Although masks are not required at this national monument, there is a sign that says it is required while riding in the shuttle. But this shuttle is similar to those open air trams that you see at Disneyland. Anyways, it was a short drive up to the quarry. Here you get to see real fossils (and not replicas) that were found in Utah. The man who discovered these fossils was Earl Douglas, in 1909. He and his team were searching fossils for a museum. Because he had found a deposit of multiple prehistoric fossils, he decided to establish a quarry so that he could keep on searching. Surprisingly, he was able to find thousands of fossils! In 1915, former president Woodrow Wilson ended up making this area a national monument. Here at this quarry is a large wall of bones with over 1500 fossils on display. These fossils are still embedded into the wall. It is quite amazing how well preserved they are and how they had survived millions upon millions of years. These fossils were buried in an ancient river. But over time the sediments turned to rock, which ended up protecting the fossils, encompassing them in a stone like capsule. It was here that Earl Douglas and his team had discovered the Apatosaurus, which is an 8 tail vertebrae. And then eventually 10 more different species were discovered (barosaurus, dryosaurus, camarasaurus, diplodocus, camptosaurus, ceratosaurus, torvosaurus, stegosaurus and allosaurus). In addition to seeing numerous of fossils at the quarry, there are scenic back roads that you can take and view the rivers and canyons. There are also hiking trails throughout this national monument as well. But be careful. I ended up getting bitten by what I think was a fire ant on my calf. It was incredibly painful and burned. Even after icing the bite, it continued to burn and cause throbbing for 45 minutes (I'm okay now in case you were wondering). To visit this national monument, it cost $25 but if you plan on visiting other national monuments and also national parks, I highly recommend that you purchase an annual pass like the American the Beautiful pass that we purchased. It really does save you plenty of money and well worth spending $80 to get it.
As you plan your visit, read thru other reviews. Also use the Google Machine and University of YouTube to familiarize yourself with the Dinosaur National Monument Park. It is a National Park, so Active Duty & Veterans be sure to get your passes. As a retiree, I paid a $10 processing fee for a Lifetime Pass to all National Parks. Upon arrival at the gate you're $free.99. Put on your thinking caps as you explore the vast history. As a child you read books, see movies, and talk about the first creatures that roamed Earth. Now, you actually get an opportunity to see for yourself fossils from the Jurassic period. Initially, you'll drive thru the entrance to stop at a park ranger check-in. Once pleasantries and transactions are completed you'll hang a left to the visitors center. Park and make your way inside the visitors center. Talk to the park rangers to get guidance on how to navigate your visit. For kids, ask the counter for an activity booklet. Once completed at the end of your trip you'll turn it in for them to raise their right hand to oath to take care of the lands prior to receiving a cool little wood badge. We picked up our souvenirs at that time towards the end. We drove our vehicle up to the quarry that I mentioned before that is separate from the visitors center. Once up on the hill you'll park to foot it into the quarry building. I say building, because decades ago it was a tin shack housing the quarry fossils to protect the fossils from being weathered. Wow! Just WOW! The kids were fascinated as we saw actual dinosaurs fossils from the Jurassic period (see photos attached). After we footed it down into the trails, then after back up to our vehicle parked in the quarry parking lot. The advice we got from one of the rangers at the visitors center is; unless you're trying to just get exercise there isn't much to see if you walk up to the quarry from the visitors center. Don't forget to take the 10 mile self/road tour. Grab a booklet for $1 that will help explain the stops along the drive. At the end of the drive you'll see Josie Bassett Morris latest cabin that was built roughly in 1935. It is an actual cabin from her time that has been upkept and still sits there today. Use the Google Machine to look up Josie Bassett Morris. Happy Yelping!
You'll need the national park pass or plan to pay the $25 entrance fee to get into the park. I like to give that heads up since I wasn't expecting that hefty price. That said, I was very happy with the experience. The gift shop is modest in size, but does have some neat items in it. There's a shuttle that will drive you up to the wall of bones, if that's what you're here for (which I was). The shuttle driver was friendly and welcoming. Aside from this area, there's a handful of hikes you can do while you're here. read more
Absolutely stunning! It's a 3.5 hr drive from Salt Lake City, so a bit out of the way, but WOW what a sight! The quarry visitor center is breathtaking. There are so many Dino bones in one spot and the history of the deposits are fascinating. You can even touch REAL dinosaur bones! These national park guide at the wall was so nice and answered all our questions. These Dino skeletons are all over natural history museums around the world, which is amazing. Recommend seeing the quarry visitor center, taking the shuttle to the dinosaur wall, and then doing the fossil hike back to the visitor center. read more
10 months ago
Awesome place to visit! Tons of dinosaur fossils still in the rocks! Modern visitor facilities. Well signed tour markers. A good place to see ancient petroglyphs. Awesome dark sky location for star watching! When clear, very little light pollution! Wonderful scenic park with varied geology! Vernal, UT is the closest civilization with hotels. read more
I had been interested in visiting this place as a preschooler, when I had a keen interest in dinosaurs. That didn't happen. Neither was it convenient when my daughter was young and with similar interests. However, we recently had a reason for a long weekend in Salt Lake City, so we opted to do a couple of days extra to extend the family trip to include Dinosaur National Monument. We rented a car north of SLC and drove about 3.5 hours to Vernal, where we got a room in a motel. Vernal is the logical spot to stay when visiting this place, unless you want to go the camping route. The last 2 hours of the drive is mostly desolate, with only a couple of towns and the occasional rest stop to break up the drive. Vernal is about 20 - 25 minutes from the park's western visitors' center. At the time we visited, they had road crews doing drainage repairs on the only road into the park, so there was a brief wait while flagmen coordinated 1-lane traffic. You need to stop at the ranger kiosk to either buy or show your pass to get in. The visitors' center itself is fairly standard. They have an informative film that runs every 20 minutes to give you some background on the park. Rangers are available to answer questions. They also have a gift shop and some exhibits. Every 15 - 20 minutes, a shuttle arrives to take passengers up to the quarry wall, the marquee feature of the park. There is also a trail that leads up there, but the ranger advised that it is easier to take the tram up and walk back, which is what we opted to do. The ride up the hill is less than 5 minutes. The quarry wall was quite interesting. This was originally an open air dig site for an archeologist funded by the Carnegie Foundation. They excavated about 2/3 of the site and sent dinosaur skeletons to a variety of natural history museums all over the world. However, they opted to retain the last 40% of the exposed wall as a permanent exhibit at the site. They later constructed a building around it, which has been repaired and remodeled. The tram lets you off at a ramp, where you walk up 1 floor to the entrance. Inside, you can relax in the air conditioning and check out the huge wall of exposed dinosaur bones. The site was basically created by a drought followed by a flash flood, such that it washed a number of live and dead dinosaur bodies into a 'logjam' at one spot. Even what is left now is quite impressive, though. The ranger here was very willing to answer questions and discuss things related to the site. You then descend to the ground floor where there are some additional exhibits and alternate views up at the quarry wall. When you exit the building, you can either wait for the shuttle again or descend via the 1.25 mile / 2 km trail. We opted for the walk, which wasn't bad. There were a lot of stairs cut into the trail. You may want to avoid this in extreme heat also. There were a few short side trails along the way with a few exposed fossils (clams, etc.). One thing to note - there is no cafeteria in this area of the park. If you want to eat, you'll have to bring your own food. We opted for a break to drive back to the Vernal area for lunch. If you do that, you should budget and hour for travel time + whatever time you need for eating. We returned to the park after our lunch and opted for the scenic drive. You can purchase a guide from the visitors center or from a set along the road. This is worthwhile as it will direct you to the various sites. I think there were about 15 in total. These ranged from scenic overlooks to a spot close to the river, to campgrounds, to several petroglyph sites. We all enjoyed this and thought it was worthwhile. The only caveat I'll offer is about stop #14. This is a longer and steeper hike associated with petroglyphs. If you stop here, take time to find the actual trail marker. It is not obvious, but the correct trail is much easier to get to the cliff face (about 150 feet up, at least) than the alternate trail. The sign is somewhat obscured by bushes so we initially missed it. There are other points of interest in the eastern side of Dinosaur National Monument, but we did not drive over to see them. This was a fun and worthwhile stop for me but it is not trivial. There is also some sort of regional air service to the Vernal airport, so you could eliminate 3+ hours of driving by just flying here, but I don't know what the cost is versus a rental car from the SLC area. I'm glad we went, though. read more
If you love dinosaurs and history, this is a must see. This was my second trip to Dinosaur National Monument and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Our shuttle driver was super kind and friendly and really added to the experience. The visitor center/store staff appeared to be a bit moody the day we were there, but we didn't let it spoil our visit. The restrooms are clean and there are places to refill your water bottles to stay hydrated in the heat. If the weather isn't too hot, I definitely recommend taking the hike down the mountain. read more
Dinosaur National Monument is a huge area with 2 visitor centers; the larger one is in Jensen, UT. I see that Yelp has a separate listing for the Quarry Exhibit Hall. For the overall monument, you should visit the Visitor Center first. Then take the van ride to the Quarry Exhibit Hall. You can then walk a scenic trail back that is all downhill and takes about 20 minutes. Then, get in your car and drive past the Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs, Turtle Rock, Cub Creek Petroglyphs, and other areas. At the end, park by the Josie Morris Cabin - see it - and take the half-mile out-and-back trail in Box Canyon. It'll take you about 2-3 hours for it all and you'll get the high points. read more
Really cool National Monument! Given the size you could easily mistake this for a park. If you are into dinosaurs/fossils, you've got to check it out. We visited in the winter so there were some trails that were closed due to weather, but the scenic drive and the Quarry Exhibit Hall on the Utah side were worth it by themselves! Highly recommend checking out if you are in the area or within a few hours drive. read more
Dinosaur is a must visit and be sure to get out and hike. Entering from the Utah side, the short fossil discovery trail is a nice introduction where you can see fossil bones in their natural state, then head to the quarry which is astonishing to believe that all of these bones would found exactly as you see them in the exhibit. Do the Tour of the Tilted Rocks driving tour (buy the $1 map or you will miss out!) to see the geology and nicely preserved petroglyphs at the east end of the drive. If it is not too hot hiking is a must. Towards the end of the Tilted Rocks tour is the relatively cool, creek side grassy Hog Canyon Trail which also has remnants of the Josie Morris homestead. For great geology, hike the sound of silence loop trail through the hog backs, a short mini maze like rock canyon, plus great views on the east side of the trail. If you have an extra half day, drive to the Colorado entrance and drive along the Harper;s corner road to see the Green River Canyon where rafters run their course. The 2 mile hike at the end of the road is a must do. Grab a $1 Harpers Corner Trail guide for excellent overview of the geology, fossils and history. You will walk on fossil encrusted slabs toward the end of the trail with a spectacular view down into the steep canyon. read more
2 years ago
Easily a five star national monument! There are so many recreational activities to do here that it could be a park, plus it houses the largest known fossil bed in the world! It's a fair drive from any major city but Vernal is a pretty big nearby town. You'll be able to hike dozens of trails, kayak and boat the river passing through, or just camp and enjoy nature. There are multiple entrances to this huge monument, but the main one is at the Quarry Visitor Center. From there you'll find petroglyphs, river access, trails, and the dinosaur excavation site within a few minutes drive. You must pay to enter the monument unless you have a park pass (or unless you buy one as you arrive). Check the weather before arriving because there's next to no cover. As of May 2024 the visitor center is under construction so there's a temporary one in the parking lot along with portable toilets. read more
11 months ago
The Quarry Wall embedded with dinosaurs bones is the highlight of Dinosaur National Monument near Jensen in northeastern Utah! It's incredible touching rocks and fossils that are millions of years old! Park and hike the mile long trail to the museum or take a shuttle with a running commentary. The entire countryside is amazing with rugged rocky hills on one side and the lush Green River valley on the other with a mesa in the background. read more
Dinosaur National Monument is a wonderful place! We visited both the Utah and Colorado sides and both are great in different ways. The fossils and petroglyphs are found on the Utah side, which is the larger and more developed side. There's a nice hike from the main Visitor Center to the fossil building and there's amazing petroglyphs to see along the way. There are so many fossils located in situ at this site and it's truly a wonder to behold. You can even touch a few dinosaur bones, which was a thrill! The Colorado side of Dinosaur is quite vast and mainly consists of vistas and overlooks that you can stop at and admire the view. There's definitely areas where you can go offroading too if you have the proper vehicle and permits. Dinosaur National Monument is 100% worth the drive and was one of our favorite places to see on our road trip to Colorado and Utah! read more
1 year ago
As a full time rver, we've been a lot of places. This is absolutely well worth the time to get here. To see so many dinosaur bones as they naturally rest is incredible to see! This is a highly suggested must-do ans in my top 5 places I've visited! read more
10 months ago
11 months ago
Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border of Utah and Colorado with 2 entrances (one on the Utah side and one on the Colorado side). My husband and I came to visit on a Monday afternoon around 1:40 pm. When we checked in with the friendly employee at the booth, my husband had asked if there were any tickets left for the dinosaur quarry. The employee told us yes she had tickets for us at 2 pm if we were interested. Please note that tickets are timed and can be reserved online (but I had no idea you could also get them at the entrance booth too). So, we drove right over to the visitor center to wait for the shuttle to take us to the quarry exhibit hall. At this visitor center, there are restrooms and a gift shop. There are also some information you can read about dinosaurs and the land that was here years and years ago while you wait for the shuttle. Although masks are not required at this national monument, there is a sign that says it is required while riding in the shuttle. But this shuttle is similar to those open air trams that you see at Disneyland. Anyways, it was a short drive up to the quarry. Here you get to see real fossils (and not replicas) that were found in Utah. The man who discovered these fossils was Earl Douglas, in 1909. He and his team were searching fossils for a museum. Because he had found a deposit of multiple prehistoric fossils, he decided to establish a quarry so that he could keep on searching. Surprisingly, he was able to find thousands of fossils! In 1915, former president Woodrow Wilson ended up making this area a national monument. Here at this quarry is a large wall of bones with over 1500 fossils on display. These fossils are still embedded into the wall. It is quite amazing how well preserved they are and how they had survived millions upon millions of years. These fossils were buried in an ancient river. But over time the sediments turned to rock, which ended up protecting the fossils, encompassing them in a stone like capsule. It was here that Earl Douglas and his team had discovered the Apatosaurus, which is an 8 tail vertebrae. And then eventually 10 more different species were discovered (barosaurus, dryosaurus, camarasaurus, diplodocus, camptosaurus, ceratosaurus, torvosaurus, stegosaurus and allosaurus). In addition to seeing numerous of fossils at the quarry, there are scenic back roads that you can take and view the rivers and canyons. There are also hiking trails throughout this national monument as well. But be careful. I ended up getting bitten by what I think was a fire ant on my calf. It was incredibly painful and burned. Even after icing the bite, it continued to burn and cause throbbing for 45 minutes (I'm okay now in case you were wondering). To visit this national monument, it cost $25 but if you plan on visiting other national monuments and also national parks, I highly recommend that you purchase an annual pass like the American the Beautiful pass that we purchased. It really does save you plenty of money and well worth spending $80 to get it. read more
As you plan your visit, read thru other reviews. Also use the Google Machine and University of YouTube to familiarize yourself with the Dinosaur National Monument Park. It is a National Park, so Active Duty & Veterans be sure to get your passes. As a retiree, I paid a $10 processing fee for a Lifetime Pass to all National Parks. Upon arrival at the gate you're $free.99. Put on your thinking caps as you explore the vast history. As a child you read books, see movies, and talk about the first creatures that roamed Earth. Now, you actually get an opportunity to see for yourself fossils from the Jurassic period. Initially, you'll drive thru the entrance to stop at a park ranger check-in. Once pleasantries and transactions are completed you'll hang a left to the visitors center. Park and make your way inside the visitors center. Talk to the park rangers to get guidance on how to navigate your visit. For kids, ask the counter for an activity booklet. Once completed at the end of your trip you'll turn it in for them to raise their right hand to oath to take care of the lands prior to receiving a cool little wood badge. We picked up our souvenirs at that time towards the end. We drove our vehicle up to the quarry that I mentioned before that is separate from the visitors center. Once up on the hill you'll park to foot it into the quarry building. I say building, because decades ago it was a tin shack housing the quarry fossils to protect the fossils from being weathered. Wow! Just WOW! The kids were fascinated as we saw actual dinosaurs fossils from the Jurassic period (see photos attached). After we footed it down into the trails, then after back up to our vehicle parked in the quarry parking lot. The advice we got from one of the rangers at the visitors center is; unless you're trying to just get exercise there isn't much to see if you walk up to the quarry from the visitors center. Don't forget to take the 10 mile self/road tour. Grab a booklet for $1 that will help explain the stops along the drive. At the end of the drive you'll see Josie Bassett Morris latest cabin that was built roughly in 1935. It is an actual cabin from her time that has been upkept and still sits there today. Use the Google Machine to look up Josie Bassett Morris. Happy Yelping! read more
2 years ago
This place is awesome. I wouldn't suggest the hikes if it is super windy. Hikes are safe and fun for kids. read more
2 years ago
I told a ranger I would give them a 5 star review on yelp. So here it is. I agreed because I'm a fan of the national parks new social media manager and the rangers here were phenomenal. We visited to get some stamps in our local summer activity passports. In order to get our stamp, we had to ride on the shuttle from the visitor center to the monument... I've typically just driven to the monument rather than taking the shuttle and I'm new to the strolled gang so I'm still making rookie mistakes. One of those rookie mistakes was getting on the shuttle with a supersaurus jogger. Fortunately, the bus driver and rangers got a good laugh at me and offered to help. One ranger held the supersaurus on his lap on the shuttle ride up to help save me some embarrassment... by the end of that ride I was grateful for the helpful ranger, but would've loved to be one with the dinosaurs on the wall by that point. 10/10 recommend a really tiny stroller if you're going to shuttle up or you can just make the drive in your own car haha! Also, if you get bored in the main parking lot count how many Subaru outbacks you see read more
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5 years ago
First things first - there is so much more to this park than the Quarry Exhibit Hall - petroglyphs, riverside trails, unique rock formation, colorful ash, stark canyons, high plateaus....you name it. Of course, the thing that makes this place truly unique is its Dinosaur-infused history and story. This is a park you can easily spend a full day in, especially since there are several different entrances and roads to explore, all spread apart based on accessibility. This is an exciting park with something for everyone - we came in the Fall and enjoyed moderate temperatures with gorgeous skies. read more
I visited the Dinosaur National Monument last year and unfortunately the dinosaur quarry was closed to visitors so we were only able to do the hiking trail. We did the fossil discovery trail and it was moderate and we were able to pinpoint a few fossil bones and fragments. It was a bit of a workout walking the trail because of the landscape and it being very hot outside with no shade on the trail. I would definitely bring water to stay hydrated because this area is no joke with the heat. Overall, this is a great place for hiking trails, just come prepared. read more
This park and museum is a long ways from anywhere but worth the drive - especially with kids. The way the park is laid out really lends itself to an easy tour in about 4 hours. There is a campground on the park grounds, but it lacks a shower or electricity. If you are okay with that, the park is really clean and convenient to the monument. I recommend arriving early and touring the visitor center, taking a team ride to the museum quarry. At 10am there is a ranger guided hike back to the visitor center which is only about 1.4 miles and takes a bit more than an hour fifteen minutes. Unless you really like back country hikes, you can make the drive down the main road on an auto tour using the pamphlets found in the visitor center and then call it a day. Total time about 4 hours, 3 in a pinch. Dont let this park fool you - it was amazing to see real dinosaur fossils sticking out of the rock and learning about the petroglyphs from ancient civilizations. Really amazing experience read more
6 years ago
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4 years ago
Oh my goodness was this worth the stop! What an incredible place. We almost didn't stop in order to continue on our cross-country road trip but this was worth every minute, so if you're on the fence, DO IT! :-) Kids & adults will love it here!! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Outstanding park. The museum was exceptionally well done. We spent a good deal of time identifying the bones left in place. The rangers were so helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend. read more
6 years ago
5 years ago
6 years ago
Cool fossil displays, but not much more on the Utah side. There are some short hikes that are worthwhile. The Colorado side has no dinosaur fossils but is much larger in terms of public access to scenic lands and campgrounds. Driving the longish road up from the Colorado Visitor Center is nice, with several overlooks. In my mind, after spending 30 minutes at the fossil wall display building in Utah, the best parts of this monument are in Colorado. Bookmarked for future camping possibilities. read more
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