Accessibility

Visitors observe a park paleontologist explaining her process at an excavation site.
Dinosaur National Monument staff are committed to making ranger programs accessible to as many people as we can. If there's something we could do to improve your experience, please let us know.

NPS / Jake McFee

Information about specific facilities and services provided below may help you better plan your visit. If you still have questions, comments, or requests regarding Access Passes, the physical accessibility of sites or facilities, service animals, assistive items available to borrow, or special accommodations for the programs and services we provide, please speak to a ranger during your visit or feel free to contact us. Don't forget to check out the accessibility photo gallery to view pictures of sites and facilities if doing so would help you plan.
 
The front of the Interagency Access pass, featuring a Great Gray Owl.
The America the Beautiful Interagency Access Pass is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have a permanent disability. Click the card to learn more.

USGS Store

America the Beautiful Access Pass

U.S. citizens and permanent residents with one or more permanent disabilities may be eligible for the America the Beautiful Interagency Access Pass to Federal Lands. The pass provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee or standard amenity fee. At Dinosaur National Monument, a valid Interagency Access Pass waives the park entrance fee for the passholder and all the occupants of their vehicle (one vehicle per pass).

Please visit our Fees and Passes webpage for more information about entrance fees and passes that we accept or offer at Dinosaur National Monument. Visit the USGS Store to purchase an America the Beautiful Interagency Pass online. There's also a list of places to get Interagency passes within the National Park Service.
 

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in National Parks. Please visit the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website to read the definition of a service animal and view frequently asked questions. Service animals that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines are permitted everywhere within Dinosaur National Monument. Animals who only provide comfort or emotional support are considered pets under the ADA, and are only allowed where pets can go.

While visiting Dinosaur National Monument, we recommend that service animal handlers identify working service dogs in some way, such as with a vest. Identification is not required, but it helps prevent unwarranted "dog on trail" complaints from other visitors. Trailheads don't provide plastic bags for cleaning up waste, so please bring your own. The desert can get hot. We strongly recommend that you bring a collapsible water bowl and water for your animal. Please visit our Service Animal webpage for more information.

Caution! The desert can be deadly for pets and service animals. It is against park rules to leave pets unattended or tied to an object. Car temperatures can rise quickly in the sun, even on cool days. Animals left in cars can easily die of heat exhaustion. We recommend that visitors don't leave animals in cars at all when the temperature outside exceeds 68°F (20°C), even with the windows cracked.
 

Physical Accessibility

The following locations meet the physical accessibility requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Click the drop down boxes for more detailed information about the physical accessibility of each location.
 

The Quarry Visitor Center is compliant with Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards. This is a 1-story building with no stairs. Restrooms (including a large, separate family restroom) are located in the entryway. The restrooms are only accessible when the building is open. 

Park Shuttle
There is a shuttle that operates seasonally, and runs between the Quarry Visitor Center and Quarry Exhibit Hall. The ride is about 5 minutes long, one way. The shuttle requires passengers to take a big step up to climb aboard. There is no wheelchair ramp or lift on the shuttle. It's also open-air and runs on diesel, which may be unpleasant for people with sensory conditions or those sensitive to air quality. Service dogs who are too big to ride in their handler's lap likely won't fit between the narrow seats. If any of the above situations apply to you, we recommend that you drive a personal vehicle between the two locations. If you're worried that you (or someone in your group) cannot ride the shuttle comfortably for any reason and you would prefer to drive yourself, let a ranger know so they can give you directions.
 

The Quarry Exhibit Hall is home to the famous Wall of Bones. This is a 2-story building with Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) compliant ramps connecting the top and bottom floors. There are no elevators or escalators. Restrooms are located outside the building and remain open even when the Quarry is closed.

Park Shuttle
There is a shuttle that operates seasonally, and runs between the Quarry Visitor Center and Quarry Exhibit Hall. The ride is about 5 minutes long, one way. The shuttle requires passengers to take a big step up to climb aboard. There is no wheelchair ramp or lift on the shuttle. It's also open-air and runs on diesel, which may be unpleasant for people with sensory conditions or those sensitive to air quality. Service dogs who are too big to ride in their handler's lap likely won't fit between the narrow seats. If any of the above situations apply to you, we recommend that you drive a personal vehicle between the two locations. If you're worried that you (or someone in your group) cannot ride the shuttle comfortably for any reason and you would prefer to drive yourself, let a ranger know so they can give you directions.
 

The Canyon Visitor Center is located at the park's southern entrance, near Dinsoaur, Colorado. The building is 1-story and has no stairs. Restrooms are available just outside the Canyon Visitor Center. They are open when the Canyon Visitor Center is open. The building is compliant with Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards.
 

An accessible campsite and restroom are available at the Green River Campground. The whole campsite is not paved, but there is an accessible picnic table and paved path to the restroom. Accessible picnic sites are available at Plug Hat Butte, the Lower Canyon Overlook, and Harpers Corner. As for other campgrounds and picnic areas around the park, most have accessible picnic tables, but the ground is usually unpaved. 
 

All overlooks along the Harpers Corner Scenic Drive are paved and accessible for wheelchair users. Plug Hat Trail is also paved and accessible to wheelchairs (although some assistance may be required). Many places along the Plug Hat Trail are near drop-offs without fences or barriers, so be careful. Plug Hat Trail, Iron Springs Bench Overlook, and Echo Park Overlook also have benches to sit on and restrooms available nearby.
 

Accessible Items and Services

We may be able to provide some extra accommodations for your visit if you let us know in advance. Some locations in the park may also have accessible items available to borrow during your visit. You may be asked to sign a check-out form and provide a contact phone number when borrowing the item(s). To borrow an item, find out if one is available, or have someone assist you, simply ask a ranger. Use the drop-down list below to find out about what we may be able to provide.
 

What accessible items can I borrow at Dinosaur?

An introductory pamphlet in Braille or large print is available upon request at both park Visitor Centers. Simply ask a ranger for one when you arrive. You can also download the pamphlet in Braille Ready Format (BRF) prior to your visit. 

Assisted listening devices are available upon request for ranger programs. You can check one out at the Quarry Visitor Center in Utah. You may be asked to sign a check-out form and provide a contact phone number when borrowing the item(s). Be sure to give the microphone to the ranger before your program so that you will be able to hear them during the presentation. Please return all the assisted listening equipment to the ranger immediately following the program.

Upon request, we may be able to arrange an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for your visit. Out of respect for the interpreter's schedule, we request at least a month of advanced notice. To arrange an ASL interpreter for your visit, please email us or give us a call at 435-781-7700. 

We might be able to offer sensory items you can borrow during your visit, such as quiet headphones, fidget toys, or a non-verbal cue card. Ask about them at the Visitor Centers or the Quarry Exhibit Hall. You may be asked to sign a check-out form and provide a contact phone number when borrowing the item(s). Please return the items to the place you initially recieved them from when you are finished. If there's anything else we can do to make your experience better, please email us or give us a call at 435-781-7700.
 

Where can I find accessible items?

The following items may be available to borrow at the Quarry Visitor Center, upon request:
  • Large print introductory brochures
  • Introductory brochures in Braille
  • 3D tactile park map
  • Rangers may also be available to read written exhibits aloud to you upon request

The following items may be available to use or borrow at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, upon request:
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) compliant ramps between the top and bottom floors (no elevators)
  • 4 sitting benches on the top floor
  • 4 sitting benches on the bottom floor (2 of these benches have no backrest)
  • Real, touchable dinosaur fossils
  • 3D tactiles of sections of the Wall of Bones 
  • Sensory-protective headphones
  • Non-verbal cue card
  • Fidget toy (quiet silicone bubble popper)
  • Rangers may also be available to read written exhibits aloud to you upon request

The following items may be available to use or borrow at the Canyon Visitor Center, upon request:
  • Introductory brochures in large print
  • Rangers may also be available to read written exhibits aloud to you upon request
 
 

National Parks: Accessible to Everyone
National Parks: Accessible to Everyone is the National Park Service's website dedicated to showcasing trails, activities, and other features that are accessible at units of the National Park System nationwide.

Last updated: March 5, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610

Phone:

435 781-7700

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