Dinosaur National Monument ⓘ

There are many petroglyph and pictograph sites within Dinosaur National Monument. Petroglyphs are images made by carving, chipping, drilling, or pecking into a rockface. They are often found etched into dark desert varnish, a natural stain of iron and manganese oxides created by runoff and snowmelt on the sandstone cliffs. Pictographs are paintings on rock created with pigments made from hematite, charcoal, and other color-rich materials. There are several pictograph sites inside Dinosaur National Monument, but they are less common as the paints are more easily weathered away by sunlight, wind, rain, and time. Many designs were originally created using a combination of etchings and paintings, as evidenced by petroglyphs that still show traces of pigment. Many of the petroglyph and pictograph sites in Dinosaur National Monument are credited to the Fremont peoples who lived in the area between 300 and 1300 CE. The style and content of Fremont designs vary throughout the region. The “Vernal Classic Style” is dominant in the monument and characterized by humanlike figures that have trapezoidal bodies with broad shoulders that taper down to thin waists and may or may not include arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The figures are adorned with designs that suggest headdresses, earrings, necklaces, shields, and other objects. This style also includes many animal-like figures as well as complex, abstract designs.The animal figures include bighorn sheep, elk, deer, dogs, birds, snakes, lizards, and more abstract animal-like shapes. Purely abstract or geometric designs are common, such as circles, spirals, and various combinations of lines. Why did the Fremont create these designs and what do they mean? The images may have been related to hunting, clan identification, territorial marking, ceremonial or religious purposes, maps or way finding, record keeping, or purely for leisure and artistic expression. While we may not know their exact intent, we can speak with modern Native American groups – such as the Ute and other descendants of the Fremont peoples – for further insight and understanding into their meaning and purpose. Many designs in the monument are easy to access and allow up-close viewing, but please do not touch them. Petroglyphs and pictographs are fragile, irreplaceable records of the past that many still hold sacred. Touching them can leave skin oils behind and tracings or rubbings can ruin the designs. Federal law protects all artifacts, including these sites. Do your part to respect and protect the past and report any vandalism you find. Learn more about the Fremont Culture .

Today, fur trappers and traders are legendary figures in the American West and are often referred to as mountain men. They blazed trails across uncharted territory, guided pioneers, and were some of the first Europeans to interact with indigenous cultures. Their names stir up images of individuality, ruggedness and conjure a picture of one person alone against wilderness. The reality is a little different than the legend. While there were free trappers, the typical mountain man generally worked for a company and it was these companies that recorded routes through the west. Additionally, most mountain men worked together as a team to collect as many pelts as possible, so while they did explore vast areas of wilderness, they were almost never alone. However, their adventures were every bit as amazing as they sound and in many ways are even more compelling than the legend that grew around them.

Some of the first European visitors to the area that is now called Dinosaur National Monument and the Uinta Basin were trappers working for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. This company was created by William H. Ashley and Andrew Henry in St Louis and was often referred to as Ashley's Hundred, as they intended to recruit one hundred young men for the venture. Through the company's years of operations its ranks included many now famous individuals such as Hugh Glass, Jedediah Smith, Kit Carson and Jim Bridger. In May of 1825, they set out from what is now the town of Green River, WY in search of beaver pelts. The journey took them through what is now Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Browns Park and they were about to be the first known travelers to float the Green River in Dinosaur, an adventure that many park visitors enjoy today.

Most visitors today travel down the river in inflatable rafts, which are especially useful when negotiating rapids. Ashley and his men didn't have this luxury and rode down the river in boats made from tree limbs and bison hide, often referred to as bull boats. When they came upon the rapids that John Wesley Powell would later name Disaster Falls, Ashley wrote in his journal, "Gloom spread over the countenances of my men; they seemed to anticipate (and not far distant too) a dreadful termination of our voyage." They were forced to portage around these rapids, and several others, as they continued downstream past Split Mountain. Along the way they may have been the first Europeans to see Echo Park, describe the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers, and to witness bison grazing in Island Park. Ashley's party traveled south along the Green River as far as Desolation Canyon, turned around, and made their way north over the Uinta Mountains. Various members of the company went on to explore the Wasatch Front and eventually made their way west to California.

After Ashley, more mountain men would follow the streams and rivers of the Uinta Basin in search of furs. Fort Uintah/Fort Robidoux was established for just this purpose at the confluence of the Unita and Whiterocks rivers. Its owner, Antoine Robidoux, sent trappers from his fort throughout western Colorado and eastern Utah to find untapped regions. One of his employees, Dennis Julien, was particularly well traveled, leaving his initials and other carvings from southern Utah all the way up to Whirlpool Canyon in Dinosaur. Many other trappers probably made their way through Dinosaur, but did not leave any lasting record of their passing.

Most of their explorations came to an end by the late 1830s because the fur trade was drying up. The style of hats that required beaver pelts quickly fell out of favor for ones covered in silk, and the beavers themselves were getting scarce. Most of the mountain men and trappers found other jobs, setting up trading posts for pioneers coming west, guiding for the US Army, or in Ashley's case becoming a member of the US House of Representatives for the state of Missouri. The age of the mountain man had already begun passing into legend, but the routes they charted and the areas they explored allowed others to follow in their footsteps into the rugged wilds of what is now known as Dinosaur National Monument.

Earl Douglass was a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1909, he found eight dinosaur tailbones protruding from a sandstone hill in the Utah desert. This discovery was the beginning of a dinosaur quarry that achieved worldwide fame. In 1915, Dinosaur National Monument was established to protect and conserve that dinosaur quarry.

In the summer of 1909, Earl Douglass traveled to Utah to search for dinosaur skeletons. A few years earlier, the Carnegie Museum had collected a nearly complete Diplodocus skeleton in Wyoming. The huge skeleton had been mounted and displayed in the museum's new Dinosaur Hall and it enthralled the public. The Carnegie Museum was eager to find more dinosaur skeletons to populate their Dinosaur Hall.

Douglass-Early Life Earl Douglass was born in 1862 in Medford, Minnesota. Although Douglass did not begin collecting fossils in earnest until in his early 30s, his interest in the sciences, especially geology, dated to his boyhood. As a young man, he spent several years teaching at schools in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana. Between 1893 and 1902, he earned a bachelor's and master's degree and began work on a Ph.D. In 1902, Douglass joined the paleontology department at the Carnegie Museum.

Fossil Prospecting in Utah Douglass arrived in Utah in late July 1909 and began his fossil search along the Duchesne River. Less than two weeks later, he received a letter from W.J. Holland, director of the Carnegie Museum, instructing him to "dig up dinosaur bones east of Vernal."

The year before, while passing through the area east of Vernal, Douglass and Holland had found a Diplodocus femur. The fossil was too large and heavy for them to move, but it was promising. Holland described the find as "proof positive that in that general region search for dinosaurian remains would probably be successful."

Douglass began to excavate the bones. As he worked, he found fossils from other dinosaurs mixed with the Apatosaurus skeleton. This was the beginning of the Carnegie Quarry.

With the discovery of the Apatosaurus , Douglass was no longer on a brief summer-long fossil collecting expedition. The fossils he had found were now his full-time job and the Utah desert his new workplace. His wife, Pearl, and year-old son, Gawin, joined Douglass in Utah in September of 1909. The family eventually established a ranch not far from the quarry, where they lived until 1923.

After the Discovery Between 1909 and 1924, Douglass managed the work at the quarry. For 13 years, the Carnegie Museum funded the excavations and, as the ancient bones were unearthed, Douglass and his crew shipped them east to Pittsburgh. During that period, more than 350 tons of material was sent from Utah to Pittsburgh. I n 1922, the Carnegie Museum determined that it had obtained sufficient fossil material and relinquished its claim to operate the quarry.

Douglass, however, remained at the quarry and in the employ of the Carnegie Museum. In 1923 and 1924, he worked with the National Museum-part of the Smithsonian Institution-and with the University of Utah in their quests to obtain dinosaur fossils at the famous quarry.

In 1924, all excavation at the quarry ended and Douglass resigned from the Carnegie Museum. He joined the staff of the University of Utah where he spent two years preparing fossils from the quarry for mounting. His final years were spent as a geologist, specializing in the Uintah Basin.

Earl Douglass, who died in 1931, played a central role in one of the most important fossil finds in North America. The "beautiful sight" Douglass saw on August 17, 1909, turned out to be one of the most productive Jurassic era quarries ever found.

Dinosaur National Monument is home to a vast and rich cultural history. Since time immemorial, people have lived and migrated through here, drawn by the natural riches of the area. Proximity to the Green and Yampa rivers provided a reliable water source, while the natural alcoves and canyons offered cool shade and respite from the desert sun. An abundance of archeological evidence, including stone tools, granaries, and homes reveal that people have lived in the area for at least 10,000 years. The presence of petroglyphs (etchings) and pictographs (paintings) on the rockfaces throughout the monument show us that life was comfortable and allowed people to devote a substantial amount of time to the creation of these images. Many of the petroglyphs and pictographs found within Dinosaur National Monument are attributed to the Fremont peoples, whose descendants still reside in this area today. New Arrivals

In the 1700s, Spanish explorers arrived in the region. Descriptions of the area, like those provided in the journal from the Dominguez and Escalante Expedition , helped open the door for others from Europe and the eastern United States. Some of the first European visitors to this area were trappers and traders for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In May 1825, a small group of these trappers set out from Green River, Wyoming in search of beaver pelts. They became some of the first to float the Green River through what became Dinosaur National Monument (they got as far as the rapids at Disaster Falls). Settlers also came to the area throughout the 1800s. Those who had access to the rivers left their mark on the landscape with homesteads. Others dried up with drought and moved away. Today, the remains of many homesteads are found alongside petroglyphs and pictographs. Families of successful homesteaders continue to live in the area. John Wesley Powell

One of the most notable characters to ever pass through what became Dinosaur National Monument was John Wesley Powell . Even before his historic whitewater run through the Grand Canyon, the famous one-armed Civil War veteran led a company of men down the Green and Colorado rivers in 1869. While the company was not the first to explore these river canyons, they were the first to float them in their entirety. Twice. Though the hard-sided wooden boats have largely been replaced with inflatable rafts and kayaks, boating in the monument remains one of the most popular activities in Dinosaur. Today, visitors can float through many areas that still bear names originally given by Powell and his crew, including Gates of Lodore, Winnie’s Grotto, Whirlpool Canyon, Disaster Falls, Rainbow Park, and Split Mountain. Dinosaur National Monument

History was made again in 1909, when a paleontologist named Earl Douglass arrived on a mission from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His task was to find intact dinosaur bones and send them back to the museum for display. After searching for many weeks, his team found the first bones of what would soon become the Carnegie Quarry in Jensen, Utah. This small section of the Morrison rock formation would go on to yield over 350 tons of fossils and become one of the most significant paleontological finds of the 20 th Century. On October 4, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson established the 80 acres around the Carnegie Quarry as Dinosaur National Monument to protect the enormous find. On July 14, 1938, the park was expanded another 200,000 acres by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was in effort to protect the Green and Yampa rivers, and the ecosystems that depend upon them. The Echo Park Dam Controversy

These rugged river corridors, as well as the ecosystems and vast cultural history they preserve, were threatened by the proposal of the Echo Park Dam in 1949. The years following World War II had ushered in a period of economic growth for states in the upper Colorado River basin. As a result, the Bureau of Reclamation released its plans for a series of large dams along the upper section of the Colorado and its tributaries. The dams would have provided hydroelectric power, water for irrigation and recreation, and helped secure the region’s share of the Colorado River from states downstream. However, one of the dam sites proposed was Echo Park, located squarely in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument, at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers. A Legacy of Conservation

When the Park Service expressed concerns that the dam would flood the canyons, forever destroying their history and natural beauty, conservationists from across the country came to Dinosaur’s defense. Fearing that a dam in Echo Park would set a precedent for development in other National Parks, they fought to bring Echo Park to national attention through pictures, compelling essays, news features, and films. In 1956, the battle came to an end when legislation for the project was signed without a dam at Echo Park. Following the decision, conservationists capitalized on the public support they’d built to campaign for more wilderness protection. Today, many historians credit the Echo Park Dam controversy as a landmark event in US environmental history that foreshadowed other achievements, such as the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Perhaps most importantly, the decision on Echo Park displayed to lawmakers that many Americans did not want development in their National Parks and Monuments. Today, visitors to Dinosaur National Monument continue to enjoy, celebrate, and add to the long cultural history of this area. The National Park Service strives to preserve the natural wonders of this place, along with the stories of those who have lived here, for this and future generations.

The Fremont people lived in this area about 1,000 years ago and left evidence of their presence in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs. Several areas in the monument allow visitors to easily access these designs and ponder the mystery of why they were created.

Archaeologists first studied and named the Fremont culture along the Fremont River in south-central Utah and have since traced it through much of the Green and Colorado River drainages. The lifestyle of the Fremont people varied considerably throughout that area, reflecting the diverse environments that they inhabited. In general, they lived in small bands or family groups, grew crops to supplement native foods, and did not build large permanent dwellings.

In the Dinosaur National Monument area, archaeological evidence of the Fremont dates from about 200 A.D. to about 1300 A.D. While few actual houses remain, known dwelling places ranged from natural shelters (such as rock overhangs or shallow caves) to small “villages” in open areas. Archeological evidence suggests many dwelling sites were occupied only seasonally, as the people moved into and out of an area according to the availability of water and food.

The Fremont relied heavily on native plant foods, such as piñon nuts, berries, and cactus fruits, and on wild game, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, smaller mammals, and birds. However, they also grew corn, beans, and squash, sometimes using irrigation techniques. This gave them, at least seasonally, a more settled life than purely hunting-and-gathering would have, which in turn may have given them the time needed to create elaborate rock designs.

The fate of the Fremont culture is unclear. Recent theories suggest that the Fremont’s lifestyle may have changed due to drought or other climate factors, dwindling natural resources, or the influence of other neighboring cultures. Whatever the case, it is difficult to trace the Fremont as a distinct culture in the archaeological record after about 1200 A.D., but the Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs survive as a vivid reminder of these ancient people.

Find out where you can easily visit Fremont petroglyphs and pictographs in Dinosaur National Monument.

Approximately 650 species of vascular plants have been collected and identified at Dinosaur National Monument. Botanists anticipate that another 200 to 250 species might be located through more intensive surveys.

To download a species list for Dinosaur National Monument's plants, visit the Northern Colorado Plateau Network website .

Plant Communities The most common plant community types in the monument are big sagebrush/grassland and pinyon/juniper woodlands . Higher elevations and northern exposures are home to ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. Riparian plant communities are less common, but contribute significantly to biological diversity.

Human Impacts Over the last century, human activities throughout the monument have caused changes in the distribution and abundance of native vegetation and have contributed to conditions favoring the invasion of nonnative species.

Grazing by domestic livestock and suppression of natural fires have increased the frequency of big sagebrush, pinyon pine, and Utah juniper, and decreased the abundance of native grasses.

Current fire management practices are designed to restore a more natural fire regime through use of prescribed fire and associated fire effects monitoring.

Dinosaur National Monument is a land of rivers and deserts, of mountains, woodlands, and canyons. On the sagebrush flats, white-tailed prairie dogs perch at the edge of their burrows on the lookout for hungry peregrine falcons. Bighorn sheep and mountain lions survey boaters from rugged river canyons while humpback chubs swim in the water beneath their paddles. During the day, side-blotched lizards sun themselves beneath 1,000 year old petroglyphs that capture their likeness. At night, Great Basin spadefoot toads emerge from soft sands to hunt for insects, the Milky Way reflected in their golden eyes. Nearly 400 different kinds of animal call this diverse landscape home, including 5 species of amphibians , over 200 birds , 40 kinds of fish , nearly 70 mammals , and 14 different reptiles . While most shy away from people, those who are patient and respectful of their space may be rewared with unforgettable sightings. For a complete list of animals found in Dinosaur National Monument, use the NPS Species tool below.

Dinosaur National Monument is home to 5 species of amphibians, including 4 members of the order Anura (frogs and toads) and 1 salamander.

Birds are the only members of the dinosaur lineage alive today. Over 200 species of birds have been confirmed in Dinosaur National Monument.

While Dinosaur National Monument is home to over 50 species of fish, only 14 of them are actually native to the Green and Yampa rivers.

Dinosaur is home to nearly 70 species of mammals, but most are scared of people. For their safety and yours, give wildlife plenty of space.

While Dinosaur is known mostly for its extinct reptiles, there are at least 14 confirmed species of reptiles still in the monument today.

Dinosaur National Monument is black bear country. Proper food storage is required at all monument campgrounds. Visit our page on camping in bear country for more information. Email us or call (435) 781-7700 if you have any other questions.

Group Camping The Split Mountain Campground has 4 sites that can be reserved through Recreation.gov for groups up to 25 people. Echo Park Campground has one group site that can accomodate groups up to 25 people. The Echo Park Campground group site can be also be reserved through Recreation.gov .

Backcountry Camping Feeling adventurous? Permits are required for all overnight stays in the monument's backcountry. Backcountry campers are responsible for planning their own routes and choosing campsites that meet their personal ability levels and follow all monument regulations. More information…

Enjoy the crackling of a campfire and sleep under a canopy of stars in Dinosaur National Monument. With six different campgrounds located around the monument and over 120 sites to choose from, options are plentiful. Three campgrounds are located on the Utah side of the monument (Green River Campground and the Split Mountain Group Campground are closest to the Dinosaur Quarry), while the other three are on the Colorado side. Prices for each campground vary with the seasons and availability of water. Check postings at each campground or contact the visitor center for more information. Generators may be run from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Check-out time is 12:00 pm. Please Note: Even if a campground is listed below as "Open" for the season, roads that access the campground may be impassable due to weather. Regardless of the season, unpaved roads may become impassable when wet with rain or snow. Some paved roads may be impassable in winter due to snow and ice. Please check the Current Conditions webpage for the most recent updates regarding road and campground accessibility.

Dinosaur National Monument offers a lifetime of places to explore. Like spokes on a bicycle wheel, roads penetrate the monument's interior. Some of these are paved while others require the use of a high-clearance vehicle or a four wheel-drive. Depending on your interest and time, you can discover dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs and pictographs , homesteader cabins, early 20 th century ranches, remote canyons, dramatic vistas, peaceful rivers, or windswept peaks. Some places are easily accessible from the monument's roads while others may require extended hikes or river trips . The Quarry Exhibit Hall on the Utah side of the monument is the place for getting up close to the huge dinosaur bones that are exposed in the rock. The historic fossil quarry is covered by a modern building, which provides visitors with a comfortable environment to experience the world famous fossils. Harpers Corner on the Colorado side of the monument provides dramatic vistas over the monument's canyon country. From the Harpers Corner Trail , you can watch the tiny dots of river rafts drift by over 2,000 feet below. If you want to get away from people and experience a wild western landscape, head to Rainbow Park and Island Park . Located on the northwestern corner of the monument, this less developed area provides thousands of acres of wide open space to roam. You can check out the Fremont petroglyphs at McKee Springs, watch for elk and mule deer, or wander around the remains of Ruple Ranch. Gates of Lodore serves as the starting point for those heading out to raft the Green River. Just south of the campground, the Green River slices into the mountains and enters the steep-walled Canyon of the Lodore. In addition to the campground and boat launch, a short trail provides a scenic view of the river as it enters the gates. Echo Park sits at the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. The Green River winds around the monolith known as Steamboat Rock. Sheer cliffs rise all around. Just upstream, the wild Yampa River joins the Green River. In addition to the peaceful campground , primitive trails take hearty hikers to Mitten Park, the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers, or into Sand Canyon .

Places to Go: Visitor Centers Quarry Exhibit Hall Cub Creek Area Harpers Corner Area Echo Park Rainbow Park and Island Park Jones Hole Area Gates of Lodore

A hiker explores the colorful rock layers on the Utah side of the monument. NPS/Jacob W. Frank

Hiking in Dinosaur is an excellent way to appreciate the park's scenery and rugged landscape. The most popular trails are located near the visitor centers, and along the Cub Creek and Harpers Corner scenic drives. Other established trails can be found throughout the park. Unlike many other parks, off-trail hiking is also allowed in many parts of the monument. More information about various trails can be found below. Hiking Advisory: Remember that this is desert country! Bring plenty of water and sun protection. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you are due back, especially if you are hiking in a remote area. Due to safety concerns, pets and animals who provide only comfort or emotional support are prohibited on most trails and in the backcountry. Please review the monument's pet rules to learn where pets can go, and make appropriate arrangements for your animals before visiting. Keep in mind that all of Dinosaur is home to mountain lions and bears . We strongly advise brushing up on safety tips before hiking in the monument.

Utah Trails Trail Name Difficulty Distance (Round Trip) Elevation Change Location Pets Fossil Discovery Easy - Moderate 2.4 miles (3.9 km) 200 ft (61 m) Quarry Area No Swelter Shelter Easy 400 feet (122 m) Less than 15 feet (4.5 m) Cub Creek Road Yes Sound of Silence Moderate - Difficult 3.2 miles (5.1 km) 400 ft (122 m) Cub Creek Road No Desert Voices Moderate 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 300 ft (91 m) Cub Creek Road No River Easy - Moderate 3.0 miles (4.8 km) 500 ft (152 m) Cub Creek Road Yes Box Canyon Easy 0.25 miles (0.4 km) Less than 100 feet (30.4 m) Josie Cabin Area No Hog Canyon Easy 1.5 miles (2.4 km) 100 feet (30.4 m) Josie Cabin Area No Jones Hole Moderate 8.5 miles (13.6 km) 400 feet (122 m) Jones Hole No

Colorado Trails Trail Name Difficulty Distance (Round Trip) Elevation Change Location Pets Plug Hat Butte Easy 0.25 miles (0.4 km) None Harpers Corner Road Yes Ruple Point Moderate - Difficult 9.2 miles (14.8 km) 600 ft (183 m) Harpers Corner Road No Harpers Corner Easy - Moderate 2.0 miles (3.2 km) 100 ft (30.4 m) Harpers Corner Road No Confluence Easy 1.25 (2 km) None Echo Park No Gates of Lodore Easy 1 mile (1.6 km) 200 ft (61 m) Gates of Lodore No

Off-trail Hiking Unlike many national park areas, off trail hiking is permitted in Dinosaur National Monument. Off trail hiking is a great way to experience some of Dinosaur's most remote and spectacular scenery, but you need to have both the skills and equipment to do this safely. You should also practice Leave No Trace techniques to minimize your impact to the land when hiking off trail. More information…

Pets are welcome at Dinosaur National Monument, but you should know where they are allowed and where they are not.

Covering over 210,000 acres, Dinosaur National Monument offers a wealth of places to explore.