Dinosaur National Monument, National monument in Colorado and Utah, United States.
Description
Dinosaur National Monument is a protected area spanning Colorado and Utah that contains fossilized dinosaur bones embedded in sandstone cliffs. The landscape also features deep river canyons and desert rock formations with varied colors.
History
The area was designated in 1915 to protect fossils after paleontologist Earl Douglass discovered dinosaur skeletons there in 1909. It was one of the first protected areas in the United States created specifically to preserve fossil resources.
Culture
Ancient rock art created by the Fremont people appears throughout the monument, showing human figures and animal designs carved directly into stone faces. These images tell us how people lived and what mattered to them in this region centuries ago.
Practical
The Quarry Exhibit Hall displays over 1,500 fossils and is a good starting point for your visit. Hiking on various trails, camping at designated sites, and river trips on the Green and Yampa Rivers are all available activities.
Did you know?
The Wall of Bones displays actual dinosaur fossils that remain embedded in their original rock face, showing them exactly as they were found. This arrangement lets visitors study the fossils in their natural position, something rarely seen in museums.
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The western United States protects some of North America's most diverse natural landscapes. From the layered canyons of Canyonlands in Utah to the white gypsum dunes of White Sands in New Mexico, this region spans multiple climate zones and geological formations. Visitors find national parks, Pueblo...
Morrison Formation
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Josie Bassett Morris Ranch Complex
20.2 km
Quarry Visitor Center
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Quarry Exhibit Hall
28.8 km
Rial Chew Ranch Complex
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Upper Wade and Curtis Cabin
23.4 km
Earl Douglass Workshop-Laboratory
28.8 kmDinosaur National Monument--canyon Visitor Center
32.2 kmPoint of Pines Recreation Site
19.6 kmCrows Nest
9.8 kmSage Hill
8.3 kmCrouse Reservoir
27.2 kmDinosaur National Monument
18.1 kmHarding Hole Overlook
12.9 kmK Point
23 kmKatys Nipple
9.9 kmLazy Y Point
29.7 kmWarms Spring Cliff
4.6 kmWagon Wheel Point
14.2 kmWhirlpool Canyon
11.9 kmOffield Reservoir
14.2 kmBox Canyon
32.9 kmZenobia Peak Lookout
12.6 kmThe Steps
39.8 kmJosie Morris Cabin
20.2 kmHarding Hole Overlook
12.9 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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