A wall of real dinosaur bones — and deep river canyons across two states.
Photo: MJPlante1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Dinosaur National Monument is really two parks in one, straddling the Utah–Colorado line. On the Utah side, near Jensen, the Quarry Exhibit Hall is built right over a tilted rock face studded with about 1,500 real, late-Jurassic dinosaur bones — Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus — still embedded in the cliff, some close enough to touch. On the Colorado side, near the town of Dinosaur, there are no fossils at all: instead, the Harpers Corner road climbs to dizzying overlooks of the Green and Yampa River canyons.
That split is the single most important thing to know. The fossils are in Utah; the dramatic canyons are in Colorado; and the two sides are far enough apart — and their interior roads dead-end — that you realistically plan a day for each and choose based on what you came for. Beyond the headliners there's Fremont petroglyph rock art (easy to reach along Cub Creek), the river canyons at Echo Park and Split Mountain, and world-class whitewater rafting on the Green and Yampa.
It's high desert at about 5,000 feet — hot summers, cold winters, big day-night swings, and very little shade — so spring and fall are ideal and you carry water year-round. There's no lodge and no gas inside; fuel up and stay in Vernal, Utah (the practical base for the fossils) or Dinosaur, Colorado for an early canyon start.
The signature stop — a glass building over a cliff face holding ~1,500 real Jurassic dinosaur bones still in the rock, some you can touch.
Insider tipAll the fossils are on the Utah side (near Jensen). In summer a free shuttle runs up from the visitor center; go early to beat heat and crowds.
Plan a trip to this spot →A ~31-mile paved drive along the canyon rim to overlooks of the Green and Yampa River canyons — all scenery, no fossils.
Insider tipAllow a half-day round trip and fuel up first; the short Harpers Corner Trail at the end leads to a dramatic point above the rivers.
Plan a trip to this spot →The spectacular confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers beneath towering Steamboat Rock, down a rough dirt road off Harpers Corner.
Insider tipHigh-clearance recommended; the road is impassable when wet — check conditions and never go in when rain threatens.
Plan a trip to this spot →Where the Green River saws through Split Mountain — a riverside campground, boat launch/takeout, and easy nearby trails.
Insider tipA good family base near the Quarry, with river access and the Sound of Silence and Desert Voices trails close by.
Plan a trip to this spot →Ancient Fremont rock-art panels along the Cub Creek road past the Quarry, plus the historic Josie Morris homestead cabin.
Insider tipCub Creek is the easy way to see rock art; bring binoculars to spot the high panels.
Plan a trip to this spot →A dramatic canyon mouth where the Green River plunges into the Canyon of Lodore — a trailhead, campground, and classic rafting put-in.
Insider tipVery remote, with a long backroad approach — mainly for rafters and solitude-seekers.
Plan a trip to this spot →High desert at about 5,000 feet: hot summers (July highs near 90°F), cold winters, and a big daily swing (often 35°F+) with very little rain (~9 inches a year). There's little shade, so carry water — and bring a layer even in summer for the cold mornings. Spring and fall are the most comfortable; winter closes the canyon-side back roads.
Two entrances in two states — pick by fossils vs. canyons; they don't connect quickly.
Off US-40 at Jensen, UT (~20 min from Vernal) via UT-149 to the Quarry Visitor Center — the Quarry Hall, Cub Creek petroglyphs, and Split Mountain.
Near Dinosaur, CO off US-40 — headquarters and the Harpers Corner scenic drive. No fossils here, and it's a long way around from the Utah side.
No lodge inside — campgrounds in the park, hotels in the gateway towns.
Green River and Split Mountain (Utah side, near the Quarry) plus remote Echo Park and Gates of Lodore — reservable in season on Recreation.gov, some first-come.
Booking tipGreen River is the easy family/RV pick by the river.
About 20–30 minutes from the Quarry, with the most lodging, dining, and services — and dinosaur museums.
Booking tipThe best base for the fossil side.
A very small town at the Colorado entrance — limited services, convenient only for an early Harpers Corner start.
Booking tipLarger options are in Rangely or Craig, CO.
How much is the entrance fee?
$25 per private vehicle for 7 days ($20 motorcycle, $15 per person; under 16 free). A $45 park annual pass or the America the Beautiful pass also work, and it covers both sides.
Which side has the dinosaurs?
The Utah side. All the fossils — including the Quarry Exhibit Hall — are near Jensen, UT. The Colorado side (near Dinosaur, CO) is canyon-and-river scenery only, no fossils, and it's far enough that you plan roughly a day per side.
How do I see the Quarry?
Start at the Quarry Visitor Center on the Utah side. In summer a free, first-come shuttle runs up to the Exhibit Hall; in the off-season you can drive your own car up. Confirm current details with the park.
When should I go?
Spring and fall for mild weather. Summer is hot but the enclosed Quarry and the rivers help; winter is cold with reduced services and the canyon-side roads closed.
Do I need a permit to raft?
Yes — private trips on the Green and Yampa require a competitive lottery permit through Recreation.gov, booked far ahead. The easier route is a licensed commercial outfitter, who handles the permit.
Are there services inside?
No gas, food, or stores inside the monument. Fuel up and stock water in Vernal, UT or on the Colorado side before you go; cell service is spotty and gone on the back roads.
Pick your vehicle, line up the stops on the way in and out, and carry the whole route in your pocket.
