Dinosaur National Monument
Utah is known for the amazing public lands and national parks but one area that might be over shadowed by the big five is Dinosaur National Monument. Located on the northeastern border with Colorado, Dinosaur offers all sorts of outdoor recreation along with one of the best fossil collections around. Perfect for a day trip or even a multiday camping trip.
The Fossils
Obviously, the biggest draw of Dinosaur National Monument are the fossils. They have a ton of Fossils. According to their website, over 1500 all embedded into the cliff side. I’m not the biggest dinosaur fan so how cool could it be? I have to tell you, this was one of the coolest things I have seen on my travels! I have probably seen some fossils in museums but never have I seen a sight like this wall!
Everywhere I looked there seemed to be another look into history. Fossils both big and small were scattered throughout the entire wall. Some, just on their own, while others looked like almost complete sets. I was completely in awe at the two story display.
Educational Excitement For All Ages
While the fossil wall is pretty spectacular, there are plenty of parts that are great for the whole family at Dinosaur National Monument. There are full size and complete fossil recreations, a touchable fossil and a ton of information graphics that make the exhibit fun and entertaining.
While I was visiting, there were people of all ages enjoying the fossils and reading all of the information and just having a good time. From kids to retired, it seemed like all ages really enjoyed the time at Dinosaur National Monument. I know I was completely blown away by how many fossils were visible! I wasn’t sure I would like and turned out to love every minute I was there! Plus, it is nice and cool and a great place to get out of the hot summer sun!
The Hikes
There are several hikes that are available at Dinosaur National Monument. As a warning, the weather can be unforgiving and there is not much shade or water on the trails, so if you are going to hike, make sure that you are prepared with water, protection from the elements and are accustomed to desert hiking.
I wrote thorough reviews of a couple of the hikes in the park that I really enjoyed. The Sounds of Silence hike takes you through the center of the Utah side and through some of the hills and some of the wash areas. The Desert Voices trail leaves from the Green River by the campground and is full of informational graphics that let you know everything about the area’s flora and fauna. Follow the links for more information on these hikes.
More to Do.
Dinosaur National Monument isn’t just all about the fossils, there are plenty of other things to do around the park.
- The park has six different campgrounds and also allows for backcountry camping with a free permit.
- One of the best things to do is take a scenic drive through the miles of road in the park.
- Dinosaur National Monument is a Dark Sky site which makes it one of the best places to stargaze.
- There are river rafting and fishing opportunities in the park.
There are a lot of amazing things to do at Dinosaur National Monument and much more on their website that you can find here.
Finding Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument covers a ton of land that crosses over the Utah and Colorado Border. Everything I mentioned in this post is on the Utah Side. The Quarry Visitor center is located just north of US 40. This is the only spot to see the fossils as the Colorado visitor center has no fossils. The address for the Quarry Visitor Center is: 11625 E 1500 S Jensen, UT 84035.
A day pass costs $15-25 per car or you can use an America the Beautiful Pass. When I went, there was a free shuttle in from the Visitor Center up to the fossils and I would really suggest taking it. There is very limited parking at the fossils so take advantage of the shuttle and the great stories from the drivers!
