• Camarasaurus skull still embedded in the quarry face

    Dinosaur

    National Monument CO,UT

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  • 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 »

Island Park Trail

Rocky outrcrop with juniper trees.

The Island Park trail offers solitude and a good taste of Dinosaur's outstanding geology.

NPS PHOTO/Mike Weinstein

Length: 16 miles round trip. Not a loop.

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult.

Trailhead locations: 1) At Ruple Ranch, a 30-mile drive on paved and dirt roads north of the Quarry Visitor Center; 2) Trailhead location for Jones Hole Trail.

Brochure: None.

Description: This hike takes you through a diversity of scenery, including the multi-hued panaroma of Rainbow Park, sandstone knobs (pictured at left), the desert shrub community and sandstone canyons.

Special considerations: There is no shade except for the Ely Creek drainage. The trail is faint and hard to follow in places. Routefining skills and ability to use a map and compass are important if you plan to hike this trail. A detour down Sage Creek will take you to the dramatic upturned rock layers of the Island Park Fault. For maps, use the USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles for Island Park, Utah, and Jones Hole, Utah.

Did You Know?

Photo of tilted rock layers at sunrise.

Dinosaur National Monument's geology is a feast for the mind and the eye. The rock layers, which have been tilted by folding, expose a variety of colors and textures.