"Twisted Rock under a summer sky." by NPS/Michael Thomas , public domain
![]() | DinosaurHiking Trails |
covered parks
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Dinosaur National Monument
Hiking Trails
Overlooking the maze-like terrain along the Yampa River Canyon
Hiking is a great way to appreciate the monument’s intriguing history
and rugged scenery. Elevations range from 5,000 feet at river level to
over 8,000 feet. Before you begin any hike, be prepared for changing
conditions in this desert environment. Most trails are exposed to full
sun. In the summer, bring at least one liter of water per person for
each hour hiking. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended on all trails.
For overnight or extended backpacking trips, stop by any monument
visitor center for a free permit. Maps and trail guides are available for
purchase. Pets are only allowed on two designated trails and are not
allowed into the backcountry.
Quarry Visitor Center
& Cub Creek Road
(Utah)
Tilted layers of rock characterize this area
of the monument. This is also the only
area of the monument where you can see
dinosaur fossils. While the dinosaur fossils
Trail Name
Trailhead
may be the most popular hiking destination,
take time to discover Josie Morris’s cabin,
secluded box canyons, and numerous
petroglyphs and pictographs.
Distance
Difficulty
Highlights
(round trip)
A. Fossil
Discovery *
Quarry Visitor
Center or Exhibit
Hall
2.4 mi
3.2 km
moderate
tilted rock layers that
expose a variety of
geology and fossils,
including dinosaur bones
B. Sound of
Silence *
Stop 2 along
Cub Creek Road
3.0 mi
4.8 km
moderatedifficult
interesting geology; joins
Desert Voices Trail via a
¼ mile connector trail
C. Desert
Voices **
Split Mountain
Boat Ramp
1.5 mi
2.4 km
moderate
Split Mountain views
and desert habitats; joins
Sound of Silence Trail via
a ¼ mile connector trail
D. River
Green River and
Split Mountain
Campgrounds
3.0 mi
4.8 km
easymoderate
trail follows the Green
River, connecting Green
River and Split Mountain
Campgrounds
E. Petroglyphs
Stop 14 along
Cub Creek Road
0.2 mi
0.4 km
moderate
(short but
steep)
numerous petroglyphs,
including several lizard
figures
F. Box Canyon
End of Cub
Creek Road
0.2 mi
0.4 km
easy
shady box canyon once
used as a natural animal
corral by Josie Morris
G. Hog Canyon
End of Cub
Creek Road
1.5 mi
2.4 km
easy
scenic, partly shaded
canyon with spring-fed
creek. Watch out for
poison ivy!
* = trail guide available
** = waysides along trail
Harpers Corner Road /
Canyon Visitor Center
Area (Colorado)
Harpers Corner Road is the gateway to
Dinosaur National Monument’s canyon
county. The trails in this area offer a look into
desert shrub communities and outstanding
Trail Name
Trailhead
views into the Uinta Basin and Green and
Yampa River canyons. While most parks do not
allow pets on trails or in the backcountry, pets
on leash are allowed on two trails here.
Distance
Difficulty
Highlights
(round trip)
H. Cold Desert
Canyon Visitor
Center
0.5 mi
0.8 km
easy
short trail that introduces
many common plants in the
desert shrub community;
pets on leash allowed
I. Plug Hat Butte **
Plug Hat pull-out
along Harpers
Corner Road
0.25 mi
0.4 km
easy
level paved trail through
pinyon/juniper forest,
affording excellent overlooks
of a colorful landscape;
pets on leash allowed
J. Ruple Point
Island Park
Overlook along
Harpers Corner
Road
9.2 mi
14.8 km
moderatedifficult
due to
length and
elevation
(7,700’)
rolling terrain of sagebrush
and juniper with a view into
Split Mountain Canyon
2.0 mi
3.2 km
easy
views into Green and Yampa
River canyons, Echo Park and
the Mitten Park Fault
K. Harpers Corner * End of Harpers
Corner Road
Other Areas
These areas of the monument are “off the
beaten path,” but the scenery rewards for the
distance you have to drive to reach them.
In addition to these trails, Dinosaur has a vast
backcountry for you to explore.
Trail Name
Trailhead
Distance
Difficulty
Highlights
L. Jones Hole
(Utah)
Jones Hole Fish
Hatchery
8.5 mi
13.6 km
moderate
shady hike along spring-fed
Jones Hole Creek; panel of
pictographs
M. Gates of Lodore *
(Colorado)
Lodore
Campground
0.2 mi
0.4 km
easy
scenic view of the entrance
to Lodore Canyon
N. Bull Canyon
(Colorado)
Yampa Bench
Road
3.0 mi
4.8 km
difficult
steep hike from the Yampa
Bench Road down to
Harding Hole on the Yampa
River
* = trail guide available
** = waysides along trail
UTAH
191
44
COLORADO
Trail Locator Map
L
Vernal
A
To
Salt Lake City
J
Visitor Center
M Gates
of Lodore
318
K
To
Craig
and
Denver
Dinosaur
National Monument
N
40
Maybell
B-G
Jensen
Elk Springs
40
H
I
Visitor Center
Dinosaur
64
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
Revised 2013