Sound of Silence Trail Stop 6

Many plants in Dinosaur has special adaptations to survive in the cold desert.

NPS Photo/Conrad Provan

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Scenic View/Photo Spot

Enjoy the view as you study the plants growing all around you. Does the pattern of their placement say anything to you? The bench of land you are on overlooks a riparian area, filled with Fremont Cottonwood trees growing where water is more plentiful and soil is deeper. On the rocky ledges above are junipers, which can survive on very little water. In between, where you are now, are shrubs like greasewood and sage. Many vegetation patterns occur throughout Dinosaur National Monument, influenced by elevation, amount of water, minerals in the soils, or sunlight. In turn, these zones provide a variety of unique habitats for wildlife.