Dinosaurs went extinct around 65 million years ago, likely from the impact of an asteroid and the climate change that ensued. Yet, even to this day, they've been a subject of fascination among paleontologists, archaeologists, and geologists, as well as enthusiasts of all ages.
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While dinosaur bones have been uncovered in travel destinations around the world, there are also many U.S. states with dinosaur-related discoveries, from Virginia to Massachusetts and Texas. One of them, Dinosaur National Monument, is located on the border between Utah and Colorado, at the confluence of the Yampa and Green rivers.
It not only houses fascinating fossils and petroglyphs, but it also offers various recreational activities. Here's all this scenic open-air museum entails.
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Dinosaur National Monument At A Glance
Admire incredible dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs, and pictographs between Utah and Colorado
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Stretching across Moffat County, CO and a small part of Uintah County, UT, Dinosaur National Monument is located in an area that was the dwelling of the Fremont people, a pre-Columbian culture. They were hunter-gatherers who mostly found shelter in small groups and consumed berries, corn, bighorn sheep, and squash.
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This monument is one of the best places to see fossils in the U.S. It boasts 800 paleontological sites and more than 1,500 fossils of various dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic period, such as the Allosaurus, Camarasaurus, and Deinonychus. The skull of an Abydosaurus, a never-before-identified herbivore species from 100 million years ago, is considered one of the most shocking discoveries made in a Utah national park. It was found in 2010 in the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation.
Visitors can actually touch 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils in the comfort of the Quarry Exhibit Hall, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Before visiting, check the National Weather Service forecast for the area in question: Quarry Visitor Center (UT) or Canyon Visitor Center (CO) .
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Closest City
Vernal, UT
Area
210,844 acres
Established
1915
Hours of Operation
24/7
Standard Pass
$15-$25
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The Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Dinosaur National Monument
Wolfe Ranch, Horseshoe Canyon, and Dinosaur National Monument are among several ancient petroglyph sites in national parks worth visiting. Dinosaur National Monument includes petroglyphs and a few pictographs -- some more pigmented and discernible than others -- likely etched by the Fremont people.
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They probably had a ceremonial purpose or may have been related to hunting activities. As for the patterns, they spanned abstract, geometric, animal, and humanoid figures, from bighorn sheep to snakes, circles, spirals, and armless bodies.
Period
200 to 1,300 A.D.
Where to See Them
Swelter Shelter, Cub Creek, Deluge Shelter, McKee Spring, Pool Creek
A petroglyph is an image scratched or carved into stone, while a pictograph is painted on stone using natural pigments.
Trails In Dinosaur National Monument
The site also offers 24 trails for walking, hiking, and birding
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Dinosaur National Monument combines paleontology and ancient art with a plethora of activities, like camping, stargazing, picnicking, biking, horseback riding, and hiking. The trails range from three to 6,240 feet in elevation gain and cater to all skill levels.
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For instance, the easy, 1.8-mile-long, out-and-back Fossil Discovery Trail can be visited year-round. It features fossilized remains of dinosaurs and marine species, and it can be completed in about 43 minutes.
Despite a few steep drop-offs, the 2.1-mile Harpers Corner Trail is another easy route. It takes less than an hour to complete, offering panoramic views of the Green and Yampa rivers and Echo Canyon, as well as sightings of elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep.
As for the moderate, 0.3-mile Cub Creek Road Petroglyphs Trail, it can be explored in around 15 minutes. Keep your eyes peeled for stunning rock formations and Fremont petroglyph panels featuring lizards.
Dogs aren't allowed on those three trails.
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Water Activities In Dinosaur National Monument
It's also a fishing and river rafting destination
Split Mountain and Green River in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah
With its dramatic canyons, beautiful rock formations, and scenic rivers, Dinosaur National Monument is a leisurely paradise. More than 50 types of fish can be caught by anglers, including 14 native species, but only the hook and line are permitted. They're perfectly adapted to those water temperatures, which are practically freezing in winter and barely reach 70°F in summer.
The Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail are endangered fish and should therefore be released if caught.
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As for lovers of boating and river rafting, they'll enjoy braving the rapids of Warm Springs and Hells Half Mile, as well as unwinding on the tranquil beach of Rippling Brook. They can either attempt the challenge privately or via a guided commercial trip. One-day trips begin from the Rainbow Park area and go through the Split Mountain Canyon, while multi-day expeditions start at the Gates of Lodore along the Green River and Deerlodge Park along the Yampa River.
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Stretching across two states, Dinosaur National Monument is definitely worth exploring, not only for its fascinating fossils, petroglyphs, pictographs, and rock formations, but also for all the exciting adventures it offers.
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