Vernal, UT – Straddling the Colorado/Utah border, Dinosaur National Monument has dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs, and wilderness. Vernal Utah is the closest town and gateway for visiting the monument. We visited Dinosaur National Monument in June 2013 from Vernal KOA and more recently in July 2017 with Mike’s parents. Jane Gildart’s “A Falcon Guide to Dinosaur National Park” was extremely useful in planning our trips as it contains information about hiking, camping, rafting, and all of the monument roads. In 2017, we combined our trip to Dinosaur NM with a visit to the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, located about 25 miles north of Vernal.
The Yampa River Valley in Dinosaur National Monument
Stop by the Visitor Center for displays, an informative video, and an overview of the monument. The centerpiece of Dinosaur National Monument is the Quarry Exhibit Hall. The park service has enclosed the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry. In 1923, Earl Douglass, the paleontologist who established the dinosaur quarry while looking for fossils for the Carnegie Museum, suggested that the government “leave the bones and skeletons in relief and house them.” Douglass believed that doing so would create “one of the most astounding and instructive sights imaginable.” It took more than 30 years for his vision to become a reality, but Douglass’s assertion was correct.
Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall
Inside the hall you can gaze upon the remains of numerous different species of dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodicus, and Stegosaurus along with several others. Exhibits, including an 80-foot long mural, reveal the story of these animals and many others that lived in the Morrison environment during the late Jurassic period. There are even several places where you can touch real 149 million year old dinosaur fossils!
Fossils in situ on display in the Quarry Exhibit Hall
More fossils on display
During our 2013 trip, we hiked the Fossil Discovery Trail, a moderate 1.2 mile one way trail that travels between the Quarry Exhibit Hall and the Visitor Center. Along the Fossil Discovery Trail are areas where you can find fossils! We hiked the trail as a Ranger led hike. The Ranger was very informative and taught participants where/how to look for fossils. She did an excellent job explaining the Morrison Formation and the geological history of the region. We recommend the Ranger led hike.
A fossil spotted on the Fossil Discovery Trail (spine vertebrae)
For water adventurers, the Green and Yampa Rivers offer excellent rafting and boating. From the NPS website: “From origins high in the Rocky Mountains, the Green and Yampa Rivers wind their way across sagebrush covered plains before entering this outstretched arm of the Unita Mountains. The mountains force the rivers into tight channels surrounded by towering cliffs. Drops and obstructions in the rivers create rapids. The thundering fury of Warm Springs, Hells Half Mile and other rapids can challenge even the most experienced boatman. Other locations such as Rippling Brook or Island Park allow you to sit on a quiet beach and escape the pressures of everyday life.”
The Yampa River at Echo Park
For those wanting to explore more of the monument, with a high clearance vehicle you can drive the Echo Park and Yampa Bench Roads. There are petroglyphs, a small cave, and spectacular scenery along the route.
Petroglyphs in Dinosaur National Monument
Another petroglyph from Dinosaur NM
The Echo Park Road is a fourteen mile (one way) unpaved road that takes drivers from the Harpers Corner Road to the banks of the Green River at Echo Park. While much of this road is graded and covered with gravel, several dry wash crossings and a steep descent down a series of switchbacks known as the dugway over the first two miles, makes the use of a high clearance vehicle strongly advised. Due to the clay soil, the dugway is not passable when wet. Always check the weather before heading down the Echo Park Road.
The 18-mile Yampa Bench Road connects the Echo Park Road with the monument’s southeast boundary. From there, several Moffat County dirt roads lead to US Highway 40. The Yampa Bench Road runs along a large “bench” or flat area above the Yampa River. Several viewpoints, trails and historic sites (homesteading remnants) provide access to the area’s dramatic scenery and history. Wildlife such as mule deer, elk, pronghorn may be occasionally seen.
The Yampa Valley with the Yampa Bench Road in the foreground
View of the Yampa River from Yampa Bench Road
Yampa River and the canyon it has carved
Horseshoe bend in the Yampa River from an overlook on the Yampa Bench Road
From the NPS website: “The road is winding with some narrow and short steep sections. A few small stream crossings may hold water and mud for extended periods. Several areas of the road also cross soft sand deposits. Under favorable weather conditions, the Yampa Bench Road is considered relatively easy for high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles. Extreme caution is required for both vehicles and bikes during periods of inclement weather. Areas of sand and mud may be impassable when wet. All vehicles and bikes must remain on roads. ATVs and non-street legal dirt bikes are not permitted on the Yampa Bench Road. High clearance vehicles are highly recommended. Camping is not permitted along the Yampa Bench Road.”
