Planning a trip to Dinosaur National Monument? If anyone in your family loves dinosaurs, then this is a great choice.
It's also a great destination if you love hiking, river rafting, camping, history, or beautiful scenery… without the crowds.
I have been to Dinosaur National Monument a few times. My family's most recent stop was in July 2021, on our way home from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This article includes photos from our trips in 2015 and 2021.
The bottom line is that there is a lot more to do at Dinosaur National Monument than just seeing the wall of bones. Here are a list of fun things to do on your trip.
Visitor Centers
There are two visitor's centers at Dinosaur National Monument, the Quarry Visitor Center in Utah and the Canyon Visitor Center near Dinosaur, Colorado. The Quarry Visitor Center has been recently re-built and it offers some informative exhibits, films and a gift shop. If you are visiting between May and September, plan to take a tram from the Quarry Visitor Center to the Quarry Exhibit Hall.
Don't forget to pick up free Junior Ranger Booklets for kids ages 5-12 at the Ranger Desk before you board! If your children complete the activities in the booklet and return them to a ranger at the Visitor Center, they will be sworn in as Junior Rangers and be given free souvenir Junior Ranger badges.
We have not visited the Canyon Visitor Center in Colorado. There are no fossils near this visitor center and it is only open during peak season.
The Wall of Bones
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is the main reason most people visit Dinosaur National Monument. I think it's worth the trip. Where else can you see more than 1,500 dinosaur fossils, preserved in the same piece of rock for 149 million years?
The quarry is not an active paleontology site, but has been preserved as a historic site.
The wall of bones is big, the fossils are easy to see, and everyone in the family is likely to be impressed. On the lower level of the hall, there is a section of the wall where visitors can touch the fossils. The bones are large and clear and low to the ground.
Rangers are usually on hand to answer questions about the quarry. There are also several museum and interactive exhibits to help visitors learn more about the fossils at this site.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is located a quarter-mile from the Quarry Visitor Center, and due to limits on parking space, most visitors will be required to take an open-air tram from the visitor center to the quarry during peak season (May-September). There was no wait for the tram on our most recent visit, which was on a peak summer weekend.
On our most recent visit to Dinosaur National Monument, we ONLY visited the wall of bones and the entire side trip from the highway only took about an hour.
Scenic Drives
After visiting the Wall of Bones, take the self-guided auto Tour of Tilted Rocks that starts at the Quarry Visitor Center. Printed guides are available for a small fee at the visitor center or at a self-service post near the park entrance. I recommend purchasing the guide.
The guide will inform you about wildlife, unique rock formations, petroglyphs and historic sites along the road. There will be many opportunities to get out of your car and take short walks to get a closer look at the points of interest. Keep an eye out for wildlife! On a trip here with my husband 10 years ago, we stopped to read the map guide about prairie dogs. On cue, an adorable prairie dog popped out of the ground next to our car and posed for photos!
There are several other auto tours through the park. Learn more about them at the Dinosaur National Monument website.
Josie's Cabin
Josie's Cabin is located at the end of the Tour of Tilted Rocks, and it is worth a visit. Josie Bassett Morris lived on her own in this cabin from 1914 until her death in 1964. Her homestead became part of Dinosaur National Monument soon afterward.
Josie was a colorful character, and her story is told at the Quarry Visitor Center and in signs at the cabin. You can wander through the cabin, which never had electricity or running water. It isn't much to look at today, but it's easy enough to believe that it was once a cozy home in what is still a beautiful place.
Josie's Cabin is a good place to bring a picnic. The Box Canyon Trail starts at Josie's Cabin, and it's a good short hike for families. It is a flat, shaded, one-mile round trip trail to the scenic box canyon where Josie kept her livestock.
Petroglyphs
Look for ancient petroglyphs and pictographs throughout Dinosaur National Monument. Do you know the difference? Petroglyphs have been pecked or chipped into the rock, while pictographs are painted. If it has been scratched into the rock, instead of pecked, it is probably a fake.
There are a few petroglyphs located along the Tour of Tilted Rocks, and the printed guide will tell you where to look. The most impressive petroglyphs we saw were part of our rafting trip. On the drive to the put in, our guides led a short hike past several large 1200-year old petroglyphs.
River Rafting
In addition to the historic quarry, Dinosaur National Monument also protects the ecosystem and unique geology of the Green and Yampa Rivers. The best way to see the river and the beautiful scenery that surrounds it is by taking a commercial rafting trip. We took a one-day trip with Adrift Adventures, that was fun for families with kids ages 6 and up. Read more about rafting in Dinosaur National Monument here.
A pass to Dinosaur National Monument was included in the fee for our rafting trip. If you will be rafting, check to see if this is the case for your trip and plan your visit to the Quarry Exhibit Hall and other attractions for after your rafting trip to avoid paying the park fee twice.
Good to Know
Where: On the Utah/Colorado border, just off of Highway 40. Vernal, Utah is a good base for visiting the monument.
When: Open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Access to some roads may be limited during the winter. Peak season is May-September.
How Much: $25 per vehicle
How Long: 1 hour to 2-3 days
Amenities: visitor center, gift shop, restrooms, picnic areas, campground
Website: www.nps.gov/dino
Megan
My park pass was good for 10 days the last time I went. 🙂
Allison
Woo hoo!!
Norman
It costs $20 per car to go to Dinosaur National Monument now, but you get a 7 day pass to take all the time you need to check things out. I went two days ago. 06/25/2016.
Allison
Thanks for the update! I’ll fix that information in the post.
Krislyn
my kids are 3 and 5, what would be the minimum age you would recommend to visit Dinosaur NM?
Allison
I think 3 and 5 are great ages to visit Dinosaur National Monument. The wall of bones and visitor center are good for any age, and the bones are the highlight of the trip. There are a number of places to get out and explore along the scenic drive. If you’re hoping for more rugged hiking or river rafting, you’d probably want to wait a few more years.
Linda
Does the park accept Golden Age passports?
Allison
Yes. Dinosaur National Monument should accept all national parks annual passports.
Melisa
Hey, there! We are planning a trip to the monument and I’m wondering if you have any insight on staying in Vernal vs staying in Dinosaur, Colorado?
Allison
Hi! I have visited Vernal a few times, but I have not visited Dinosaur, Colorado. I believe that you’ll find more activities and services in Vernal. Vernal has a population of about 10,000, while the population of Dinosaur is 400. Salt Lake City is closer to Dinosaur than Denver, and you’ll drive through Vernal on your way. When I look up hotels in Dinosaur on TripAdvisor, most on the list are located in Vernal.
It looks like Dinosaur will put you closer to the Canyon Visitor Center, and a road that will take you into the Monument. I’m guessing that it’s less crowded than the main road from Jensen, Utah a few miles away. You’ll likely see a part of the park that other people miss. Plus, you’re still a short drive from the Jensen entrance and the park’s other popular features, like the wall of bones. Hope that helps! If you decide to spend time in Dinosaur, please let me know what you think. 🙂