One of America's most significant paleontological sites, Dinosaur National Monument preserves a wall of over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still in the rock where they were deposited 149 million years ago. The monument also features stunning canyons and petroglyphs.
Dinosaur National Monument, straddling the Colorado-Utah border in northwestern Colorado near the town of Dinosaur, preserves both a world-class paleontological site and an extensive landscape of canyons carved by the Green and Yampa Rivers. The monument's Utah portion contains the Carnegie Quarry, where the exposed face of a 149-million-year-old Morrison Formation sandstone ridge reveals over 1,500 dinosaur bones still embedded in the rock where they were deposited — one of the densest concentrations of dinosaur fossils ever discovered in a single location.
The Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall, built directly over the fossil-bearing rock face, allows visitors to view the embedded bones of Brachiosaurus, Camarasaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Diplodocus at close range. Paleontologists discovered the site in 1909 and removed thousands of specimens to museums worldwide before a decision was made in the 1950s to leave the remaining fossils in place for public interpretation. The result is an extraordinarily visceral experience: visitors stand within arm's reach of actual ancient bone in its original burial position.
A shuttle bus operates from the Quarry Visitor Center to the Exhibit Hall, as the road does not permit private vehicle access to the quarry area. The Utah Visitor Center includes exhibits on the Morrison Formation, dinosaur biology, and the history of excavation at the site.
The monument's Colorado portion encompasses the canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers, where multi-day whitewater rafting trips are among the premier wilderness river experiences in the American West. The Yampa is one of the last free-flowing undammed rivers in the Colorado River basin, and its canyon section through the monument contains spectacular scenery in the Lodore, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain canyon sequences. Echo Park, where the two rivers converge beneath the 800-foot Steamboat Rock, is a favored camping destination accessible via a gravel road from the Colorado visitor area.
Numerous prehistoric rock art panels, including the McKee Springs petroglyphs on the monument's northern edge, document human presence in the canyon country for thousands of years before Ancestral Puebloan settlement. The monument's roads cover large distances in remote terrain — visitors should fill fuel tanks in Dinosaur or Jensen before entering.
Good to know
- Hours
- Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall 9AM-5PM daily
- Best time
- Morning
- Best for
- families, dinosaur enthusiasts, geology lovers, road trip stops
Location
4545 E Hwy 40, Dinosaur, CO 81610
40.4390, -108.9799 View on map
Highlights
- Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall — over 1,500 dinosaur bones visible in the rock face where they were deposited 149 million years ago
- In-situ Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Diplodocus fossils within arm's reach at the exhibit hall
- Green and Yampa River multi-day whitewater rafting through Lodore, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain canyons
- Echo Park campsite at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers beneath 800-foot Steamboat Rock
- McKee Springs petroglyphs — one of the most elaborate prehistoric rock art panels in northwestern Colorado
Tips for visiting
- The Quarry Exhibit Hall is the star attraction - fossil wall is spectacular
- Junior Ranger program is excellent for kids
- Roads can be rough - check conditions before visiting remote sections
When to visit
May and September offer ideal conditions — mild temperatures, no summer thunderstorm risk, and smaller visitor numbers than July and August. The fossil exhibit hall is open year-round but the Colorado canyon roads can be inaccessible in winter due to snow and mud. Spring wildflowers along the canyon rims are a bonus in May and early June.
Accessibility
The Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall is accessible by the shuttle from the Quarry Visitor Center; a wheelchair-accessible van is available on request. The exhibit hall interior is fully accessible with ramp access to the fossil face viewing area. The Utah Visitor Center and the Colorado monument headquarters are both wheelchair accessible. Many backcountry roads in the Colorado portion are unpaved and unsuitable for low-clearance vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the main fossil exhibit, and do visitors need to drive to the Utah side?
The Carnegie Quarry Exhibit Hall is on the Utah side of the monument, near Jensen, Utah. Visitors coming from Colorado enter via the monument headquarters near Dinosaur, Colorado, but the famous fossil wall requires traveling to the Utah entrance about 45 miles away. Both entrances are covered by the same $35 vehicle fee.
Is the fossil wall suitable for children?
Yes — the Quarry Exhibit Hall is consistently one of the most engaging fossil sites for children in the United States, because the bones are visible in actual rock at eye level rather than behind glass or in a museum case. The Junior Ranger program is available at the visitor center and provides structured activities for kids.
How long should visitors plan for a visit?
The Quarry Exhibit Hall and Utah Visitor Center require at least 2 hours. Adding the shuttle ride and a walk along the fossil preparatory lab area extends this to a half day. Visiting the Colorado side's canyon overlooks and river viewpoints on the same trip extends to a full day. River trips are multi-day experiences requiring advance booking through licensed outfitters.