Dinosaur National Monument
Whether you're on your way to the Rocky Mountain area or leaving, Dinosaur National Monument is a great place to stop and have a break. Dinosaur National Monument was designated in1915 to protect several hundred acres of a dinosaur fossil quarry, and was greatly expanded two decades later to include the awe inspiring canyons and plateaus that surround the site.
Dinosaur National Monument comprises 210,000 acres (325 square miles) of northwest Colorado and northeast Utah, straddling the border of these two states at the northeast extremity of the Great Basin Desert. About two-thirds of the park is in Colorado. The Monument is situated on a high plateau ranging in elevation from 4,500 to 7,000 feet. In 1938 the canyons of the Yampa and Green Rivers were added to the original 80 acres. These colorful canyons, carved into spectacular geological formations, expose much of the Earth's history and provide numerous activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including river rafting.
Dinosaur National Monument has some of the wildest and most spectacular scenery in the American Southwest. It includes a large stretch of the Yampa River, the last free-flowing river in the Colorado River System. The area is home to the imperiled peregrine falcon, bald eagle, and several endangered species.
In 1978, the National Park Service recommended more than 200,000 acres of the monument for protection as wilderness, based on the area's wild roadless nature.
Getting There
Monument Headquarters Visitor Center is one mile east of Dinosaur, Colorado, just off US 40. This is the center for information on the canyon country of the park. There are no dinosaur bones in this area.
Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah, on Utah State Highway 149. Many people miss the turn onto UT 149 in Jensen, from US 40, so be alert. This area of the park contains the only place where dinosaur bones can be observed.
For hours and details, visit the Dinosaur National Monument website.
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