{"id":2471,"date":"2019-02-26T16:40:28","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T16:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/?p=2471"},"modified":"2021-07-21T01:35:25","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T01:35:25","slug":"dinosaur-national-monument-for-families-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/dinosaur-national-monument-for-families-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Things to do at Dinosaur National Monument (Utah)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is there to do at Dinosaur National Monument and is it worth the trip? This prehistoric adventure offers much more than dinosaur<\/g> bones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We took a family road trip out to the Colorado Utah Border to see this area in the beautiful fall weather. We camped in the park for 2 days, which we discovered could have easily been another day or two. There was so much to do and we had small children along with us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is based on our road trip to Dinosaur National Monument with a baby, toddler, 2 school-age kids, and our dog. <\/strong> (yep you can take your dog and it’s actually quite dog-friendly) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course there are dinosaur bones the world-famous Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry. Lot’s of them. In fact, you can see approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones in the quarry wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surprisingly, though, we found that the dinosaur bones and prehistoric tracks were not the most exciting things to do at Dinosaur National Monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is Dinosaur National Monument known for besides dinosaurs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, Dinosaur National Monument is also known for petroglyphs and pictographs, Josie Morris homestead, hiking trails and recreation on the Green and Yampa Rivers. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this location is named after dinosaurs that once roamed there, many generations of people including prehistoric people, nomadic native tribes, settlers, outlaws and modern families have enjoyed the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on our expereince<\/g> – Yes – it is worth the trip! We took the kids to see some dinosaur bones, but wow, there is so much more to see! <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Dinosaur National Monument<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dinosaur National Monument, located in both Colorado and Utah and is managed by the National Park Service, so our 4th grader got us in for free.  (The advantage of lots of kids close in age – you get years of National Parks for free).  Otherwise, there is a small $30 per vehicle National Park fee to get in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Park Service offers free Junior Ranger and Junior Paleontology <\/a>programs. Participants earn a free badge when they complete a booklet of activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can join the ranger program at either Colorado or the Utah side visitor center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Dinosaur<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Getting There :<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Due to the remote location, you will be driving a little ways. Most likely you will make a road trip to Dinosaur National Monument, whether thats the main stop of one along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nearest airport is Salt Lake City, 120 miles to the west. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Colorado side has access to the beautiful deep canyons of the Green and Yampa rivers.  <\/span>This side is known for its recreation and dramatic views. The main entrance to the Colorado side is the Canyon Visitor Center, open from spring through fall, is located just off U.S. Highway 40, two miles east of Dinosaur, CO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Utah side is known for the dinosaur fossils and petroglyphs that are easily accessible.  <\/span>Yes, an important fact to remember when planning your dinosaur adventure with kids!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn’t realize that our Dinosaur National Monument road trip would take us into Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main entrance at the Utah side is the Quarry Visitor Center on Utah Highway 149 north of Jensen Utah.  <\/span>This side leads to the famous Quarry Exhibit Hall. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quarry Visitor Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As to be expected from the National Parks Service, the welcome center is very educational and you can watch a movie about the history of Dinosaur National Monument<\/strong> and, of course, dinosaurs.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the visitors center, we took the shuttle up to the quarry.  <\/span>Which is a metal building covering one huge wall of dinosaur bones half excavated and still partially embedded in the rock face  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walkway up to the entrance was marked with educational signs of time periods.  I enjoyed reading the signs but the kids were too young to appreciate educational signs when there were REAL dinosaur bones only feet ahead!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dinosaur National Monument visitor center and quarry with kids \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Quarry Exhibit Hall<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Quarry Exhibit Hall is built over the world-famous Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry. In 1909, paleontologist<\/g> at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History,  Earl Douglass<\/a>, discovered the location and began excavating the fossils. More recently the National Park Service built the exhibit hall ove<\/g> the wall of bones for visitors to enjoy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entrance to the quarry building is on the second floor overlooking the whole excavated wall.  <\/span> We came in the cool fall weather, but I am sure in summer I would have appreciated the air <\/g><\/g>conditioning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was amazed at the size of the wall and the bones still embedded.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 5,000 fossils have been excavated from the quarry and an estimated 1,500 dinosaur bones remain in place. A variety of species like the Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodicus, Stegosaurus have been found here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Quarry Exhibit Hall at the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, I was disappointed that the kids were not that impressed<\/em> with just standing back while I pointed out fossils on the wall.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think older kids would be able to take in more the of<\/g> the information about the different species and appreciate the wall of bones. We were visiting with young children who are more tactile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first floor of the Quarry Exhibit Hall is where you can actually touch the bones and pretend to be a paleontologist. This was the highlight for both the kids and the adults at the quarry.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The closer you look at the wall, the more tiny fossils you can spot. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kids touching the bones at the Quarry Exhibit Hall \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Outside the Ranger gave an educational talk about the Geology of the area as we looked out over the beautiful Canyon.  <\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stayed for about 2.3 seconds because, although the information was interesting, it was geared towards adults, not young kids. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Petroglyphs and Pictographs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ironically, the best thing about Dinosaur National Monument with kids was the 1,000-year-old petroglyphs and pictographs. <\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

“Fremont designs include both petroglyphs (patterns chipped or carved into the rock) and pictographs (patterns painted on the rock).”<\/p>National Parks Service<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The ancient rock art has been well preserved and is in great shape compared to the terribly vandalized rock art<\/a> at Dominguez – Escalante in Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many petroglyphs and pictographs are visible right from the road on the Tour of the Tilted Rocks<\/strong>.  <\/span>This is a 10 mile (one-way) route on Cub Creek Road, starting at the Quarry Visitor Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We stopped at every pull out<\/g> to walk up to the ancient rock art left by the Fremont people about 1,000 years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cClassic Vernal Style\u201d of the Fremont people is characterized by humanlike figures, animal-like figures, and abstract designs. You can recognize bighorn sheep, birds, snakes, and lizards, as well as abstract or geometric designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Petroglyphs and pictographs at Dinosaur National Monument \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We all had so much fun to walking around, imagining why the ancient people were there and what the art represented. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kids would run up to the trail along the rock face, calling out – \u201coh, I found another one!\u201d  <\/strong>a<\/span>nd \u201c what do you think this one is?\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we had time, we would have explored the petroglyphs on the Colorado side too. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finding petroglyphs and pictographs at Dinosaur National Monument \n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The places to see petroglyphs and pictogra<\/g>phs in Dinosaur National Monument are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n