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Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument is an American national monument located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers. Although most of the monument area is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is located in Utah, north of the town of Jensen, Utah. The nearest Colorado town is Dinosaur while the nearest city is Vernal, Utah. Originally preserved in 1915 to protect its famous Dinosaur Quarry, the monument was greatly expanded in 1938 to include its wealth of natural history. The park's wild landscapes, topography, geology, paleontology, and history make it a unique resource for both science and recreation. The park contains over 800 paleontological sites and has fossils of dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Deinonychus, Abydosaurus, and various sauropods. The Abydosaurus consists of a nearly complete skull, the lower jaw, and first four neck vertebrae. The specimen was found at the base of the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation and is the holotype for the species. Paleontologist Earl Douglass of the Carnegie Museum discovered eight vertebrae of an Apatosaurus on August 17, 1909, which became the first dinosaur skeleton discovered and excavated at the new Carnegie Quarry. The area around the quarry was declared a national monument on October 4, 1915. The International Dark-Sky Association designated Dinosaur National Monument an International Dark Sky Park in April 2019.
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WBP almanac
From Wikipedia
1,821 words · source ↗WBP editorial
Field‑work in the quarry
Beyond the visitor centre, the real draw for the curious is the chance to walk the same limestone ledges where paleontologists first exposed a 75‑million‑year‑old thalattosaur. The quarry is fenced, but a short, well‑marked trail lets you glimpse the exposed bones still embedded in the rock. Bring a sturdy pair of boots and a pocket guide to Triassic reptiles; many knowledgeable volunteers will point out the subtle stratigraphic layers that tell the story of ancient riverbeds. Early mornings are quiet, the light glinting off the river that once carried the sediment, and you’ll avoid the crowds that gather for the midday briefing sessions.
Rivers as travel arteries
The confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers does more than define the monument’s borders; it offers a natural corridor for both water‑craft and wildlife. Kayakers often launch from the modest launch ramp near the visitor centre, paddling downstream to experience the same currents that carved the canyon walls. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep on the riverbanks and for the occasional osprey nesting on the cliffs. The river’s seasonal flow also shapes the timing of the autumn colour change on the surrounding sagebrush, making late September a particularly photogenic period.
Beyond the fossils – a cultural landscape
While the dinosaur bones dominate headlines, the monument’s broader landscape is a tapestry of human history. The Ute and Shoshone peoples traversed these valleys long before the park’s designation, leaving behind faint trail markings and petroglyphs that can be spotted on the less‑trodden side loops. A short drive to the nearby town of Jensen reveals a modest museum that tells the story of early 20th‑century homesteaders who attempted to farm the arid foothills. Pair a hike on the Fossil Creek Trail with a stop at the local café for a piece of regional apple pie – a reminder that the site’s appeal lies as much in its living heritage as its ancient remains.