Dinosaur National Park
Dinosaur National Park
Off the Beaten Path in Colorado
There are no large airports nearby and the nearest large city is over 300 miles away, but if you want to see the massive excavation of dinosaur bones, Colorado’s Dinosaur National Park is a must visit. Rent a car in Grand Junction, return the same day and enjoy the beauty of the drive.
Nestled in the northwest corner of the state, the first question you will ask once you see the remains of several different species is: What happened here? The bones are exposed in the side of a hill and the reason so many are in one place remains a mystery. Was it the blast of a killer asteroid hitting the gulf of Mexico that shoved the remains to the same place, could it have been a flood or were they deposited over time by the nearby rivers?
It was Paleontologist Earl Douglass who first discovered the immense deposit of dinosaur bones in 1909. In 1957, a visitor’s center was constructed providing an excellent view of the excavation site. However, the ground has mysteriously moved and the center had to be closed for safety reasons. Working hard to reopen it, the park still offers hiking trails as well as bus rides to other areas where bones are being discovered.
But that is not all visitors see when they come to Colorado’s Dinosaur National Park. The Native American petroglyphs (Indian Rock Art) can be seen on many of the hiking trails which include the Connector Trail, Sound of Silence Trail,
Geology Trail, River Trail, Cold Desert Trail, Plug Hat Trail,
Harpers Corner Trail, Gates of Lodore Trail, and more. Also, the boat dock offers access to white river rafting in the Green and Yampa Rivers.
Some will find the homestead sites more interesting. One of the homesteads is rumored to be a hiding place used by two of the old west’s notorious criminals – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Colorado’s Dinosaur National Park offers self guided or guided tours. Visit their website for more details
by Marti Talbott
