About Dinosaur
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.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southwest
- States
- Colorado and Utah
- Designation
- National Monument
- Entrance fee
- $25, private vehicle
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Dinosaur.
Entrance fees
- $25 Private Vehicle Admits 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.
- $20 Motorcycle
- $15 Per Person
- $25 Non-commercial Groups
- Free Education/Academic Groups
Passes
- $45 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Dinosaur National Monument Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
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.
Weather and when to go
Dinosaur's climate is semiarid with temperatures averaging between 0°F to 30°F in January and 50°F to 100°F in July. Extreme winter low temperatures may reach -40°F and summer highs can top 110°F. Elevations within the park vary between 4,700 and 9,000 feet. Winter snow may be heavy at higher elevations while only light to moderate snow is found at lower elevations. Summer thunderstorms may cause heavy downpours and localized flooding, but fail to dampen parched soils less than a mile away.
Getting there
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.
Contact the park
- Address
- 11625 E 1500 S, Jensen, UT 84035
- Phone
- (435) 781-7700
- Official site
- nps.gov/dino
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Dinosaur
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Things to do in Dinosaur
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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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 of…
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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 a…
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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 roa…
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Picnicking in Dinosaur
The Plug Hat Butte picnic area is located along Harpers Corner Road on the Colorado side of the monument.
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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…
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Hike the Harpers Corner Trail
2 miles (3.2 km) round trip, out and back trail. Moderate difficulty. The Harpers Corner Trail runs along a narrow ridge to a spectacular viewpoint with views of the rivers far be…
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Hike the Ruple Point Trail
9.2 miles (14.8 km) round trip, out and back trail. Moderate to difficult. For most of its length, Ruple Point Trail crosses a rolling terrain filled with sagebrush and juniper. N…
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Hike the Plug Hat Trail
0.25 miles (0.4 km) round trip loop trail. Easy. The Plug Hat Trail offers scenic views of Dinosaur's rugged landscape from atop a sandstone butte. This trail is paved and wheelch…
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Hike the Box Canyon Trail
0.25 miles (0.4 km) round trip, out and back trail. Easy. The Box Canyon Trail is a relatively level and shady walk into a dead-end canyon. The trailhead is located on the north s…
Campgrounds in Dinosaur
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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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 ca…
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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 Q…
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Echo Park Campground
Echo Park Campground is temporarily not accessible by motorized vehicles due to recent storm damage. The last 5 miles of the Echo Park Rd are closed to motoriz…
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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 erode…
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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…
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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…
What to pack for Dinosaur
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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