Dinosaur National Monument, United States

Dinosaur National Monument Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park • Locality

Facts and practical information

Dinosaur National Monument, located in Jensen, Colorado, is a captivating and awe-inspiring destination for nature and history enthusiasts alike. This national monument is renowned for its wealth of dinosaur fossils, stunning landscapes, and outdoor recreational activities.

One of the main highlights of Dinosaur National Monument is the Quarry Visitor Center, which houses one of the world's most extensive displays of dinosaur fossils. Visitors can marvel at the well-preserved remains of dinosaurs that roamed the area millions of years ago. The Quarry Exhibit Hall, located within the visitor center, allows visitors to get up close to the fossils and even touch some of them, providing a truly immersive experience.

Beyond its dinosaur fossils, Dinosaur National Monument offers breathtaking natural landscapes. The park is nestled in the picturesque canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers, providing visitors with a magnificent backdrop for outdoor adventures. Hiking trails wind through the rugged terrain, offering opportunities to explore the park's stunning vistas and unique geological formations.

For those seeking water-based activities, the Green and Yampa Rivers offer excellent opportunities for rafting and kayaking. The rivers wind through deep canyons, creating thrilling rapids and serene stretches for paddlers of all skill levels. Fishing enthusiasts will also find ample opportunities to cast their lines and try their luck in the pristine waters.

Camping is a popular option for visitors who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of Dinosaur National Monument. The park offers several campgrounds with varying amenities, allowing visitors to choose their preferred level of comfort. Falling asleep under a star-studded sky and waking up to the sound of nature is an experience not to be missed.

In addition to its natural wonders, Dinosaur National Monument is also steeped in Native American history and culture. Petroglyphs and pictographs can be found throughout the park, providing a glimpse into the lives of the indigenous peoples who once called this area home.

Alternative names: Visitors per year: 304.5 thous.Elevation: 5495 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 40°30'33"N, 108°58'59"W

Location

ColoradoUnited States

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Dinosaur National Monument Top Attractions

Dinosaur National Monument Attractions - What to See and Explore

Dinosaur National Monument offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Quarry Visitor Center, Gates of Lodore, Zenobia Peak, Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Museum
Quarry Visitor Center
Quarry Visitor Center, in Dinosaur National Monument in Utah was built as part of the National Park Service's Mission 66 program of modern architectural design in the US national parks. This visitor center exemplifies the philosophy of locating visitor facilities immediately at the resource being interpreted.
Nature • Natural attraction • Canyon
Gates of Lodore
The Gates of Lodore is the scenic entrance to the Canyon of Lodore, a canyon on the Green River in northwestern Colorado, United States. The name Gates of Lodore has become synonymous with the canyon itself and the two names are used interchangeably.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Zenobia Peak
Zenobia Peak, elevation 9,022 ft, is the highest summit in Dinosaur National Monument of Moffat County, Colorado.

40°26'17"N • 109°18'25"W
Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center
Museum • National park
40°26'26"N • 109°18'4"W
Earl Douglass Workshop-Laboratory
The Earl Douglass Workshop-Laboratory was used by Earl Douglass, the discoverer of the dinosaur bone deposits at the dinosaur quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, to preserve, study and prepare fossil specimens.
Archaeological site
Mantle's Cave
Mantle's Cave is a cliff alcove in Dinosaur National Monument in Moffat County, Colorado. Located in the Castle Park region of the park, it is the largest rock shelter in the area. It was discovered before 1921 by local ranchers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mantle. Mrs.
Neighbourhood
Josie Bassett Morris Ranch Complex
The Josie Bassett Morris Ranch Complex comprises a small complex of buildings in what is now Dinosaur National Monument in northeastern Uintah County, Utah, United States.
Neighbourhood
Rial Chew Ranch Complex
The Rial Chew Ranch Historic District comprises a ranching operation in what is now Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado, that existed from 1900 to 1949.
40°43'38"N • 108°52'34"W
Upper Wade and Curtis Cabin
The Upper Wade and Curtis Cabin was built in 1933 by John Grounds in Dinosaur National Monument. The rustic building served as a guest lodge and ranger station, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest remaining guest accommodation in the park.
40°32'43"N • 109°0'54"W
Denis Julien Inscription
The Denis Julien Inscription was left on a rock face in 1838 along the Green River in Moffat County, Colorado by Denis Julien, a French-American trapper who was one of the few Europeans in the area in the 1830s.
Arch
Echo Park Dam
Echo Park Dam was proposed in the 1950s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as a central feature of the Colorado River Storage Project.

Day trips

Dinosaur National Monument – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Dinosaur National Monument, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum (Vernal), Vernal Utah Temple (Vernal), Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge.

28 milesW
Museum, Natural history museum
Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, Vernal
The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is a museum in Vernal, Utah, United States.
29 milesW
Temple, Vernacular architecture
Vernal Utah Temple, Vernal
The Vernal Utah Temple is the fifty-first temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Vernal it is the tenth LDS temple built in the state of Utah.
21 milesN
National park
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge is a 13,450-acre U.S. National Wildlife Refuge located in northwestern Colorado. It is located in Moffat County in the extreme northwestern corner of the state, in an isolated mountain valley of Browns Park on both sides of the Green River, approximately 25 miles below Flaming Gorge Dam.
36 milesNW
Dam, Vernacular architecture
Flaming Gorge Dam, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Flaming Gorge Dam is a concrete thin-arch dam on the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, in northern Utah in the United States.
29 milesW
Church, Gothic Revival architecture
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Vernal
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Lodge are a pair of historic church buildings at 226 W. Main Street in Vernal, Utah. Built in 1901, the church is the second oldest religious structure still standing in the Uintah Basin. St.