Pro Tip: 15-minute-long geology talks take place at the Quarry Exhibit Hall each day at 10 a.m. throughout the summer months. I havent been to NM but I bet my family would like it! . It is a great group to join! Enjoy views of striped cliffs, a riverside trail and petroglyph panels lining the 10-mile Tilted Rocks Drive (Cub Creek Road) starting near the Quarry Visitor Center. The easy route, which is located along the Colorado side of Harpers Corner Road, follows a paved and accessible route to an overlook that features great views of the surrounding valley, as well as of the winding ribbon of the Harpers Corner Road. This is an easy 1 mile out and 1 mile back trail from the end of the 30 mile Harper's Corner Auto Tour at the Dinosaur side of Dinosaur National Monument. Some of the stops along the way are the Swelter Shelter, Split Mountain viewpoint, Green River, Turtle Rock, and the Josie Bassets Morris Homestead. Admission to Dinosaur National Monument is $20 per car (or is included in the America the Beautiful Pass). The Quarry Visitor Center is located on the Utah side, not far from the towns of Jensen and Vernal. Hours: 12.5. Located on the Utah side, the Quarry Exhibit Hall is probably the highlight of any visit to the Dinosaur National Monument. What to Expect While Visiting Dinosaur National Monument, Visiting Dinosaur National Park Visitor Centers, Dinosaur National Monument Hiking Box Canyon Trail, Visiting Dinosaur National Monument Gift Shop, Vernal, and Dinosaur, Colorado. It . According to the National Park Service (NPS) website, Box Canyon and Hog Canyon, both on the Utah side, are excellent hikes for young kids. 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. 7 Reasons Youll Fall In Love With This Less Expensive Region Of Italy, Korakia Pensione Resort Review Palm Springs, California, 10 Key Things To Know If Youre Visiting Yosemite In 2023, 10 Delicious Restaurants To Experience In Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 10 Copper Mountain Vacation Rentals Steps From The Slopes, 13 Best Things To See And Do In Glenwood Springs, Colorado, 15 Fantastic Things To Do During A Long Weekend In Glenwood Springs, Colorado, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, Best Experiences At Devils Postpile National Monument, How To Spend A Perfect Day At Colorado National Monument, How To Spend A Day At Montezuma National Monument. It's not open for winter from October 10 to April 30. For more information on day hikes in the monument, see ourHiking Guide. . Thanks for the great info! 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. Paleontologists, who've been coming here for over 100 years, continue to make new discoveries at active quarries . As with most national parks and monuments, visitor centers should be the first stop for visitors. Parks: 8. Dinosaur National Monument is a very unique park and relatively unknown to travelers since it is far from the routes of classic Southwest itineraries.In fact, the park is located exactly on the border between Colorado and Utah, so you may consider visiting this area if you are planning an itinerary through Colorado and the other states in the Great American West or to Yellowstone. Hikes such as theFossil Discovery Trail, Sound of Silence Trail,and theDesert Voices Trailoffer an intimate look at the amazing geology of Dinosaur National Monument. Thanks for the detailed descriptions, hike recommendations, and thorough post! The paved route makes for an easy and spectacular introduction to the terrain of the Utah side of the Dinosaur National Monument. It sure looks like a great family place to visit. A great trip for the entire family! Denver, CO 80202. The Quarry Visitor Center is located right as you enter the monument site on the Utah side. Are you looking for the best ski-in-ski-out resort in the USA? Visitors can also drive their vehicles to the Exhibit Hall, but parking can get crowded there during busy times. Split Mountain Campground is the hub of the parks night sky events with programs led by rangers and astronomy volunteers such as 1-2 mile hikes under a full moon and new-moon stargazing with telescopes and the naked eye. Although, you will still have to plan to drive another 30 miles to reach the dinosaur quarry which is located on the Utah side. There are no services on this road. . Here are three trails, from easy to moderate to difficult, that are worth checking out. Pro Tip: The expansive Dinosaur National Monument has other remote and rugged scenic drives as well, including the 18-mile unpaved Island Park Road, and the 18-mile unpaved Yampa Bench Road. This area is also a great place to plan a. The Quarry Exhibit Hall allows visitors to view the wall of approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones. Dinosaur National Monument's two visitor centers are great places to stop for information, souvenirs, and restroom breaks. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history or scenery . The dinosaur quarry located on the Utah side is a site that your whole family will love. Josie married five times, and then struck it out on her own until she died at age 90. Private Black Hills Monument Full Day Tour. More real fossils and footprints are available for viewing at The Quarry Exhibit Hall. We have a mini-van and it was able to handle the off-road adventure. The findings created a great . Want to visit Legoland California Carlsbad? If you are only planning on seeing the dinosaur quarry then you could be done in 2 hours. Tour of the Tilted Rocks. Read more. For a reliable trip date, visitors should take a commercial rafting trip where the logistics and equipment are handled by professional, authorized concessionaires. I love the idea that the wall of the building is actually the quarry wall! Thanks for visiting! See all 15 photos. 7. Calories. During the spring season, from May 1 to May 27, it's open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm only on Saturday and Sunday. While the monument headquarters are located in the town of Dinosaur, Colorado, the actual dinosaur fossils are located in Utah. As with most national parks and monuments, visitor centers should be the first stop for visitors. Ill have to add it to my places to visit! My kids would love to see Dinosaur National Monument. The monument is divided into two districts, the Canyon Area on the east side and the Dinosaur Quarry on the west side. Stop at the interpretive signs scattered along the trail, including those made by children for children. Dinosaur National Monument Scenic Drive. . I have a very irrational fear of dinosaurs, but my son would love this and Im always looking for road trip spots! I travel Utah frequently but have not been here! The answer is that paleontologists discovered the bones just where you see them today. The tour leaves the visitor center and leads to ancient rock art, hiking trails, rock formations, excellent views of the Green River, and theJosie Bassett cabinbuilt by one of the areas most notorious cowgirls. Weather permitting, camping is one of the best ways to experience Dinosaur National Monument. 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. Hiking is a great way to appreciate Dinosaur's scenery and rugged landscape. Copyright 2023 Utah Office of Tourism. 5280 Publishing, Inc. Please visit the National Parks Page for complete and current hours. This trail enters the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and summits to the top of Eagle Mountain, MN's highest point. per group (up to 4) The area. Tip: The most spectacularly large and vibrant petroglyphs are at McKee Springs on unpaved Island Park Road. Visit Dinosaur National Monuments officialriver rafting pagefor more information on rafting companies. Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. 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. Vernal is a prime destination for relaxation or adventure. Moab Dinosaur Discoveries. Is the Colorado side of Dinosaur National Monument worth seeing? 10.4 Cub Creek. The Quarry Exhibit Hall is built over the world-famous Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry. Its more than a fun dinosaur parkits a piece of prehistory! The easiest way to take a river trip is to go with alicensed outfitter. Below is a 48 hour itinerary to help get you pointed in the right direction. Dinosaurs once roamed here. Hiking Oberg Mountain. Summers are hot but pleasant with June and August posting average highs in the 80-degree range and reaching 90 degrees in July. Dinosaur fossils are not found near this visitor center. Awesome, you will love the SeaWorld experience! Location: Dinosaur National Monument is located in northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado. Dinosaur National Monument offers two scenic drives. Be prepared for towingfees of $1,000 or more. Deer and other animals can often be seen here. You can also buy an inexpensive guide to the Quarry Exhibit Hall, and it has similar peak-season and off-season hours as the Quarry Visitor Center. There are so many fun things to do in SeaWorld San Diego. The nearby Canyon Visitor Center provides more information to help you fully experience Dinosaur National Monument. The monument was created in 1915 to protect an extensive deposit of fossilized dinosaur skeletons as well as pictographs dating back 10,000 years. Have a 4-wheel-drive high-axel vehicle? Map from Dinosaur National Monument to SK-4 The night sky views in Dinosaur Monument are breathtaking. I really hope we make it there. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. Her blog, NearandFarAZ gives readers an insider's view of the wonders of the U.S. Southwest, and a traveler's take on far-off locales from Panama to Hong Kong to the Czech Republic. Next summer I have got to knock this off my to-do list! Here, what you need to know to make the trek to the original Jurassic Park. Dinosaur National Monument is located in both Utah and Colorado. On the Utah side of the monument, visitors can interact with a deposit of real dinosaur fossils called the Wall of Bones. 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. Dinosaur Park. But dont think that youll be missing out with a one-day rafting trip. That is one of the beauties of the sprawling Dinosaur National Monument that straddles the border of Utah and Colorado. So fun! We recommend booking Dinosaur National Monument tours ahead of time to secure your spot. 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