Garden Park Fossil Area

Garden Park Fossil Area is a paleontological site near Canon City, Colorado, spanning thousands of acres of land containing fossils from millions of years ago. The location displays layered geological formations from different time periods that visitors can view from roadside pull-outs and interpretive stops.

The area gained fame in the 1870s when scientists first discovered large reptile bones that taught the world about our planet's past. These early findings made the region important for science and attracted many researchers in the decades that followed.

Fossils from this site are displayed in major museums worldwide, from Washington to Denver, where they help millions of people learn how dinosaurs looked and lived.

The area is best reached via Shelf Road from Canon City, which has several pull-outs with information signs along the way. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the routes are easily accessible and you can view the formations and educational displays without difficulty.

The site is known for several complete skeletons of a distinctive spiked-back dinosaur found here that helped researchers worldwide understand this animal type better. No other place on Earth has produced so many well-preserved examples of this species in one location.

Location: Fremont County

GPS coordinates: 38.53287,-105.21915

Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:09