Entrance Fee
$25.00
/ Entrance - Private Vehicle
Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the lives and connections of Indigenous people to this land. Homesteaders and outlaws found refuge here. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history, or scenery, Dinosaur offers much to explore.
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What to See & Do
Hike the Jones Hole Trail
8.5 miles (13.6 km) round trip, out and back trail. Jones Hole Trail is a popular hike along a babbling brook near the northwest corner of Dinosaur National Monument. The creek offers good trout fishing. A Utah State fishing license is required. Backcountry camping requires a permit. Camping at Ely Creek requires advanced reservations. No pets allowed.
Be a Dinosaur Junior Ranger
Junior Rangers help to "Explore, Learn, and Protect" our national parks. Anyone can be a Junior Ranger! Once you learn about the monument and the amazing resources found here, you will be able to share your knowledge with friends and family!
Hike the Confluence Trail
1.25 miles (2 km) round trip, out and back trail. Easy. The Confluence Trail provides a short and easy walk to the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers at Echo Park. No pets allowed.
Hike to the Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs
400 feet (122 m) out and back trail. Easy. This short hike to Swelter Shelter offers visitors an opportunity to view a variety of petroglyphs and pictographs very close to the road. Petroglyphs and pictographs are fragile, irreplaceable records of the past that many still hold sacred. Don't touch, trace, or take rubbings of them as it ruins the designs. This site is protected by federal law. Leashed pets are allowed.
Picnicking in Dinosaur
The Plug Hat Butte picnic area is located along Harpers Corner Road on the Colorado side of the monument.
Hike the Gates of Lodore Trail
1 mile (1.6 km) round trip, out and back trail. Easy. The Gates of Lodore Trail is a short but scenic walk to a view of the Green River as it enters the Canyon of Lodore. A trail booklet is available at the Visitor Centers. No pets allowed.
Self-Guided Tours
Harpers Corner Driving Tour
Despite the name, there is more to the monument than dinosaurs. The Harpers Corner Road will introduce you to an area that features rolling sagebrush covered slopes and the canyon country of the Green and Yampa rivers.
Harpers Corner Trail: Tour of the Canyons
Welcome to the Canyon Country of Dinosaur National Monument. This guide is numbered to the points of interest along the Harpers Corner Trail, which leads to sweeping views of the canyons.
Fossil Discovery Trail: A Journey Through Time
Hike through millions of years of geologic time on the Fossil Discovery Trail. Each rocker layer shows evidence of former ecosystems and extinct plant and animals that lived in landscapes quite different from what we see today. Long ago, dynamic forces pushed and tilted these layers upward. Then erosion exposed the layers as colorful mounds and ridges, full of signs of ancient life.
Visitor Centers
Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado
Located near Dinosaur, Colorado, at the base of the Harpers Corner Road, the Canyon Visitor Center is the gateway to the monument's mountains and river canyons. This building is open in summer and closed during the winter. Exhibits and a park film orient visitors to resources, and staff are available to answer questions. A bookstore sells items that can further enhance your experience. Restrooms and water are available seasonally. There are no dinosaur fossil sites on this side of the park.
Quarry Visitor Center - Utah
Located 7 miles (11 km) north of Jensen, Utah, off Highway 149, the Quarry Visitor Center is the gateway to the Quarry Exhibit Hall and the wall of dinosaur bones. This facility features a staffed information desk, gift shop, and theater with a 12-minute park film. Exhibits introduce a variety of resources and places to explore within the monument. During summer, shuttle buses depart from here for the Quarry Exhibit Hall. This building is open year-round, except on certain holidays. Hours change seasonally.
Quarry Exhibit Hall - Utah
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is where you can see a wall of approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones. This includes the remains of numerous species, such as Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. Exhibits, including an 80 foot (24 m) long mural, reveal the story of the many animals that lived in the Morrison environment during the Late Jurassic. This building is open year-round, except on certain holidays. Hours change seasonally.
Where to Stay
Split Mountain Group Campground
The Split Mountain Group Campground is located along the banks of the Green River at an elevation of 4800 feet (1463 m) near the foot of Split Mountain. The campground is 5 miles (8 km) from the dinosaur quarry, where you can see 150 million year old dinosaur bones encased in the rock. Beside the campground is the Split Mountain Boat Ramp where rafters and boaters come off the Green River. During the off season, when the Green River Campground is closed, the Split Mountain Campground is open to all campers.
Rainbow Park Campground
Rainbow Park Campground is closed due to significant storm damage until repairs are completed, likely through spring of 2027. It is 28 miles (45 km) from the Quarry Visitor Center in the Utah portion of the monument. It is located on a dirt road that is impassable when wet. The campground sits beside the Green River near the Rainbow Park Boat Ramp at the head of Split Mountain Canyon. Rainbow Park Campground is typically open year-round, but there is no winter maintenance on the unpaved road.
Green River Campground
The Green River Campground is located along the banks of the Green River in a grove of cottonwood trees at an elevation of 4795 feet (1462 m). The highly eroded Split Mountain towers to the north of the campground. The famous dinosaur quarry, where you can see 150 million year old dinosaur bones still encased in rock is approximately 5 miles (8 km) from the campground. Nearby is the Split Mountain Boat Ramp where rafters come off the Green River after trips through Dinosaur National Monument's canyons.
Echo Park Campground
Echo Park Campground is temporarily closed to camping due to recent storm damage. The Echo Park Rd is closed to motorized vehicles from the junction with the Harpers Corner Rd to the campground. The campground is located along the Green River, 38 miles (61 km) north of the Canyon Visitor Center. Bighorn sheep and mule deer frequently roam through the area. Unimproved hiking trails lead to the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers or to views of the Mitten Park Fault.
Deerlodge Park Campground
Deerlodge Park Campground is located 51 miles (82 km) east of the Canyon Visitor Center. It is located on the Yampa River at the boat ramp at the head of Yampa Canyon. It has seven shady sites suitable for tents. The sites have tables and fire pits. There is drinking water and vault toilets available seasonally, but no showers. Deerlodge Park Campground is open year-round, but winter access can be very difficult due to snow. When the Yampa River exceeds an 18,000 cfs flow rate, the campground will flood.
Gates of Lodore Campground
Gates of Lodore Campground is located on the Green River at the boat ramp at the head of Lodore Canyon. The campground is popular with river rafters who often stay here before launching on the Green River. There are 19 sites, some with shade. The sites have tables and fire pits or grills. During the summer, there is running water and vault toilets, but no showers. The campsites can accommodate tents and RVs (but there are no hook-ups).
Parking & Access
Getting Here
Dinosaur National Monument is located on the Colorado and Utah border with parts of the monument in both states. Dinosaur fossils are only visible in the Utah portion of the monument, not on the Colorado side. The Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall (where you see the dinosaur fossils) are located approximately 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah. The Canyon Visitor Center is located in Dinosaur, Colorado.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Quarry Visitor Center Parking Lot
This is the public parking lot at the Quarry Visitor Center in the Utah portion of the monument. This parking lot has 105 spots for vehicles plus 6 spots for large RVs or vehicles pulling trailers, 5 accessible spots and 3 spots for carpools or low emission vehicles. 5 shade structures with picnic tables are located around the parking lot. Two of these are suitable for larger groups. Trash and recycling containers are also available. Overnight parking or camping is not permitted in this parking lot.
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Dinosaur National Monument is located on the Colorado and Utah border with parts of the monument in both states. Dinosaur fossils are only visible in the Utah portion of the monument, not on the Colorado side. The Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall (where you see the dinosaur fossils) are located approximately 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah. The Canyon Visitor Center is located in Dinosaur, Colorado.
Park Amenities
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25.00Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants. Admission is good for seven consecutive days. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$20.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. Admission is good for seven consecutive days. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
Commercial Entrance - Van
$50.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$60.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$150.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$25.00Non-commercial group fees (per vehicle): Vehicle capacity of 15 or less: $25 Vehicle capacity of 16-25: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $60. Vehicle capacity of 26+: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $150. You may use Annual and Lifetime passes. A pass will cover the pass holder and up to three people traveling with the group. Pass is valid for reentry for 7 days.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
$0.00National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other bona fide national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees, provided that the visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities the group proposes to use support those purposes. Fee waivers must be obtained in advance and cannot be issued at the entrance station or visitor center.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. (minimum required fee is $25 commercial fee plus the per-person entrance fee for each passenger not to exceed $50.00)
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$45.00Available to U.S. citizens and residents, only. Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Pass admits up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle or up to 2 motorcycles (including passengers), or passholder and 3 persons walking in.
Operating Hours
Dinosaur National Monument Hours
The outdoor areas in the monument is open 24 hours per day. Facilities such as visitor centers and the Quarry Exhibit Hall have specific hours of operation. Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons page for more information on facility hours. Some areas of the monument may close in the winter due to snow.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Current Air Quality
View from near Quarry Entrance, looking Southwest, Dinosaur National Monument
Split Mountain
This webcam is located on the Quarry Exhibit Hall, home of the wall of dinosaur bones. It is pointed toward the highly eroded Split Mountain. You can also see numerous rock layers that are exposed and tilted on their side. Frequent viewers might catch the sun or moon rise over Split Mountain or maybe even a summer thunderstorm as it rolls through.
Split Mountain Webcam
This webcam is located on the Quarry Exhibit Hall, home of the wall of dinosaur bones. It is pointed toward the highly eroded Split Mountain. You can also see numerous rock layers that are exposed and tilted on their side. Frequent viewers might catch the sun or moon rise over Split Mountain or maybe even a summer thunderstorm as it rolls through.
Photos
A large sandstone canyon with golden grasses and green trees growing inside.
the rocky pinnacle of Steamboat Rock rises over the Green River
Ancestral Native American rock art at McKee Springs
A small waterfall in a fast flowing creek, moving through a green forest.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Dinosaur National Monument
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