Desert Voices – Dinosaur National Monument

The Desert Voices Trail at Dinosaur National Monument

The Desert Voices Trail in Dinosaur National Monument is a wonderful nature trail through some amazing scenery. It also includes a series of informational graphics to allow you to learn more about the unique climate, flora, fauna and other facts about the surrounding area.

Getting Started

The Desert Voices Trail starts near the boat launch and access to the Green River that runs through Dinosaur National Monument. If you have a moment to head down to the river, I highly recommend it as the river is really beautiful.

The trailhead is across from the parking lot closer to where you pulled in. It can be a little tricky to find but obvious once you find it! From there it is a short loop that takes you through the painted hills and away from the water.

The Info Graphics

One thing that I really liked about the Desert Voices trail, and what makes it work well for families with kids, are the info graphics. Throughout the trail there are several of the graphics that explain the climate, animals you are likely to find and much more. I really enjoy being able to learn about the area while I am on a hike, especially a shorter nature walk style hike. I have a couple of the images in the gallery but for the full experience you should really try the hike!

Painted Hills

When it comes to the hike, there really isn’t anything to technical to deal with. The trail leads into a small wooded area into a wide open bowl with hills on either side. The lower hills are shaded red and white with small juniper trees pocking the landscape. The higher levels are white rock that stood out against the blue sky on a warm summer afternoon.

The path heads up a gradual hill that leads to a junction trail with the Sounds of Silence trail before making a loop turn around some large, stacked rocks to the back side of the little valley. This whole section of the loop is only about 1 mile in length and contains all of the elevation before heading to the backside and a much flatter section of trail that meanders its way back.

The Big Finish

What I call the backside, or southern edge of the loop, looks like a completely different trail. Large rocks form a border and the trees look smaller on this side. The trail is also more bland, with most of the color of the sand being replaced with a more uniformed light colored dirt. It may have just been me but this side also felt a little warmer. I still enjoyed it but it definitely felt like a desert hike.

This last for about another mile and stays at a higher elevation that first part of the hike on the valley floor. Eventually you will make a turn to the north and head back to the bowl and be able to enjoy the views of the painted hills again. One feature that mesmerized me on this whole section of the trial was the enormous gray mountain of a rock that held guard to the entrance of the hike. This rock felt out of place but at the same time like a beacon reminded me of where I was headed.

The last two-tenths of a mile hike was nice and downhill. Connecting at the bottom of the hill to the loop that you began two miles earlier. From there, there is finally a bit of shade as you make your way back to the trailhead. This hike felt like it had more personality than my earlier hike at Dinosaur. It was almost like two hikes in one and both were extremely enjoyable!

Video of the Desert Voices Trail at Dinosaur National Park

I have put this time-lapse video together of hiking the Desert Voices trail so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

f you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 2.3 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 272 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 5,077 feet. I was also moving for a total of 56 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The Desert Voices Trail isn’t really that hard. It meanders through some open and hilly terrain in the desert. The distance and elevation aren’t very challenging. However, I am going to rate this as a moderate hike because of the exposure to the sun and heat that can be very challenging. I hiked in June and it was scorching, so if you aren’t prepared, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. It could be very dangerous for anyone not hydrated or prepared for desert hiking. For those reasons, I have marked this as a moderately challenging hike.

Terrain

The Desert Voices trail is mostly hard packed sand and dirt trails with some hills. the trail is mostly easy to follow, though it can blend into the surrounding dirt at times. Most concerning is the fact that Desert Voices is completely exposed to the sun, wind and heat. Make sure you are prepared for extreme desert conditions.

Access to the Desert Voices Hike in Dinosaur National Monument

The Sound of Silence Trail is part of Dinosaur National Monument. A day pass costs $15-25 or you can use an America the Beautiful Pass. The parking area is near the boat launch and campground and there is room for about 20 cars. There is a pit toilet near the trailhead.

Wrapping up the Desert Voices Hike in Dinosaur National Monument

I really enjoyed the Desert Voices hike in Dinosaur National Monument. The hike is really pretty, which is always helpful. I also really love when there are info graphics that explain about the area. I am kind of geek and really like to know about places I visit. Desert hiking isn’t for everyone but I enjoy the small junipers and sun scorched hills. Overall, I just really liked everything about the hike!

One word of caution, while this hike doesn’t seem far or challenging, the heat in the summer can be really serious. Make sure that you have sun protection and plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. This hike might not be great for elderly or small children, especially in the heat of a June day. If you are prepared and take your time, it may be a hike that you really enjoy!

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Desert Voices Hike in Dinosaur National Monument

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