Check out a national monument with both dinosaurs and petroglyphs, and some nice views. So much awesome in one place.
Dinosaur National Monument overlaps the Colorado-Utah border. The Utah side of the park is famous for its dinosaur fossils, while the Colorado side is famous for its trails and views. I explored mostly the Utah side, due to the Colorado side still being covered with snowpack (it’s much higher in elevation).
A ton of dinosaur fossils were discovered on the Utah side in 1909. Much of the early fossils excavated are now in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. President Woodrow Wilson declared the dinosaur beds as a national monument in 1915 to protect them. The monument was later expanded to include much more scenic land.
Many of the dinosaur fossils on display are still in situ, basically exactly where they were found, which is pretty awesome.
Just a giant wall of fossils. So cool!
It’s really cool to see the fossils in the original rock, just like a paleontologist sees it as its being discovered.
A giant jumble of dino bones.
Why so many bones? A big flood happened and entombed a ton of dinosaurs in mud, which later turned to stone.
Between the visitor center and the Exhibit Hall is the Fossil Discovery Trail.
Not just fossils on this trail. Petroglyph!!! I’m such a nerd.
A very hard to see fossil.
I headed down the scenic drive to see more pretty things. It was a rainy/winter in the southwest, leaving everything really green. It was lovely, especially after last year’s dry spring and summer.
More petroglyphs can be found at Swelter Shelter. These were created by the Fremont people. I go on and on about them in this post!
And this is why Ancient Aliens on the History channel (really can’t call them that anymore) are obsessed with the Fremont people. Aliens!!!
Such a pretty area.
The Green River. I was going to walk the trail along the river, but it was closed due to rockslide.
Found some more petroglyphs down the road.
The Fremont people truly left their mark on this landscape.
I was really digging the green. #southwestproblems
At the end of the scenic road is the Josie Morris Cabin. Josie was a single lady that ran a ranch in the area. Much of Dinosaur National Monument used to belong to ranchers. There is still one ranch surrounded by the park boundaries today.
Exploring the ruined cabin.
Josie had a lovely back yard.
I decided on the Box Canyon trail, which leads to a canyon shaped kind of like a box.
Now onto the Colorado side of the park. Only a few overlooks were open on the Harpers Corner Road.
Rain clouds rolling in over Plug Hat Butte.
Before I headed to the Colorado side (which was on my way back to Grand Junction), I made a quick stop in Vernal, Utah, for lunch, where I found some more dinosaurs.
The town sign is a giant pink dinosaur. I’m in love.
Rex was dressed up for Easter.
Dinosaur National Monument is a perfect place to visit if you are into natural history and dinosaurs. In the warmer months, it’s also a great place to go hiking. The Colorado side is full of trails, even some which are only accessible by 4x4s. I would love to visit again to explore more.
Check out my next update where I visit Colorado National Monument!
