• Camarasaurus skull still embedded in the quarry face

    Dinosaur

    National Monument CO,UT

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • Ely Creek Backcountry Campsites Closed

    The Ely Creek backcountry campsites located along the Jones Hole Trail have been closed until further notice due to bear activity in the area. More »

  • Numerous Campsites Closed in the Green River Campground

    A recent tree assessment of the Green River Campground identified potential safety issues with numerous cottonwood trees, requiring us to close many of the campsites. Please plan ahead so that you are not disappointed if the campground is full. More »

Fossil Discovery Trail

Dinosaur leg bone on Fossil Discovery Trail
A fossilized leg bone of a sauropod dinosaur (on right side of image) exposed along the Fossil Discovery Trail.
NPS
 
Length
1.2 miles, one-way, from either the visitor center or the Quarry Exhibit Hall
Level of Difficulty
Moderate, some steep, uneven sections and rocky areas. Trail is extremely slippery when it is wet
Trailhead Location
You can access the Fossil Discovery Trail from either the Quarry Visitor Center or the Quarry Exhibit Hall. (Please note: The road to the Quarry Exhibit Hall is gated at 5:00 pm each evening.)
Your Safety
Be prepared for desert hiking: Take a hat, sunscreen, and water
Let someone know where you are going and when you are due back.
Wear comfortable shoes, such as hiking boots or athletic shoes. Open-toed shoes are not recommended
There is no shade on this trail
Trail can be extremely slippery when wet
Rules and Regulations
Pets are not allowed on this trail or in the monument's backcountry
Carry out all trash
Collecting artifacts, fossils, plants, or other objects is prohibited
Do not feed or approach wildlife
Trail Brochures
A trail brochure is available that provides a general overview of three of the significant rock layers along the trail. During the summer, rangers provided daily guided walks on the trail. See our ranger program schedule for more details. More indepth brochures are also available online for those interested in fossils or geology. Fossil enthusiasts brochure with more in depth descriptions of fossils found in rock layers available here. Geology enthusiasts brochure with more in depth descriptions of the geology of each rock formation available here. (Note: Only the general brochure is available at the Quarry Visitor Center. The Fossil and Geology enthusiast brochures are only available online).
Description
The trail cuts through several tilted rock layers which expose a variety of rocks and three fossil areas. The Morrison Formation stop features an outcropping of several small fossil fragments and a few large pieces of dinosaur bones in their natural state, just as Earl Douglass found them in 1909. The National Geographic Trails Illustrated map of Dinosaur National Monument is available from the park bookstore.
 
Along the trail in the Morrison Formation, numerous small dinosaur fossil bones and bone fragments can be discovered eroding from the cliff face.
Along the trail in the Morrison Formation, numerous small dinosaur fossil bones and bone fragments can be discovered eroding out of the rock.
NPS
 
Hikers on the Fossil Discovery Trail
A group hikes through the exposed rock layers on the Fossil Discovery Trail
NPS

Did You Know?

A section of the painting showing stegosaurus.

How does an artist recreate a scene from the Jurassic era? Watch this video to see the development of scientific artist Liz Bradford’s painting-from sketches to completion-showing Dinosaur National Monument as it might have looked 150 million years ago. More...