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Embark on a prehistoric ‘dino-themed’ road trip around Colorado

By January 25, 2021 | updated 5 years ago

1. Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver)To begin this prehistoric road trip through Colorado, start with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to see a wide variety of the Front Range dino-discoveries. A number of remains have been discovered along this Colorado mountain range, including those of the Tyrannosaurus rex, the first Triceratops discovery, Ornithomimus, Torosaurus, and more. Get an up-close look and a taste of Colorado’s dino culture by stopping at this museum first.Photo Credit: sporst (Flickr).

Colorado boasts many prehistoric sites where evidence can be seen of the ancient plant and animal life that existed long before humans roamed the Centennial State. Here are 12 stops to make along this prehistoric dinosaur-themed road trip through Colorado

1. Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver)To begin this prehistoric road trip through Colorado, start with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to see a wide variety of the Front Range dino-discoveries. A number of remains have been discovered along this Colorado mountain range, including those of the Tyrannosaurus rex, the first Triceratops discovery, Ornithomimus, Torosaurus, and more. Get an up-close look and a taste of Colorado’s dino culture by stopping at this museum first.Photo Credit: sporst (Flickr).
1. Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver)To begin this prehistoric road trip through Colorado, start with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to see a wide variety of the Front Range dino-discoveries. A number of remains have been discovered along this Colorado mountain range, including those of the Tyrannosaurus rex, the first Triceratops discovery, Ornithomimus, Torosaurus, and more. Get an up-close look and a taste of Colorado’s dino culture by stopping at this museum first.Photo Credit: sporst (Flickr).
2. Dinosaur Ridge (Morrison)About a half-hour drive from Denver, visit Morrison to see some of the first-discovered dinosaur fossils, such as those of the Stegosaurus. These fossils were discovered at Dinosaur Ridge, which offers more than a dozen interpretive sites along the 1.5-mile Dinosaur Ridge Trail and six interpretive sites along Triceratops Trail.Photo Credit: James St. John (Flickr).
2. Dinosaur Ridge (Morrison)About a half-hour drive from Denver, visit Morrison to see some of the first-discovered dinosaur fossils, such as those of the Stegosaurus. These fossils were discovered at Dinosaur Ridge, which offers more than a dozen interpretive sites along the 1.5-mile Dinosaur Ridge Trail and six interpretive sites along Triceratops Trail.Photo Credit: James St. John (Flickr).
3. Dotsero Crater SiteSplit up the four-hour drive from Morrison to the next stop on this road trip by swinging the Dotsero Crater site. This is where Colorado’s only active volcano is found. It most recently erupted several thousand years ago, making it one of the youngest eruptions in the continental United States.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
3. Dotsero Crater SiteSplit up the four-hour drive from Morrison to the next stop on this road trip by swinging the Dotsero Crater site. This is where Colorado’s only active volcano is found. It most recently erupted several thousand years ago, making it one of the youngest eruptions in the continental United States.Photo Credit: Christian Murdock, The Gazette.
4. Dinosaur National Monument (CO/UT)In the northwest corner of the state, explorers can find Dinosaur National Monument. This prehistoric site boasts an amazing collection of fossils along the Colorado-Utah border. More than 1,500 fossils embedded into rocks can be viewed, as well as an 80-foot long mural that visually tells the story of the late Jurassic period.Photo Credit: RuggyBearLA Photography (Flickr).
4. Dinosaur National Monument (CO/UT)In the northwest corner of the state, explorers can find Dinosaur National Monument. This prehistoric site boasts an amazing collection of fossils along the Colorado-Utah border. More than 1,500 fossils embedded into rocks can be viewed, as well as an 80-foot long mural that visually tells the story of the late Jurassic period.Photo Credit: RuggyBearLA Photography (Flickr).
5. Rabbit Valley Mesa County (Grand Junction)Directly south from Dinosaur National Monument is Rabbit Valley in Grand Junction. The area features paleontological resources at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry. Fossil seekers can trek along the Trail Through Time, a 1.5-mile interpretive loop that features 140-million-year-old dinosaur fossils.Photo credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM (flickr).
5. Rabbit Valley Mesa County (Grand Junction)Directly south from Dinosaur National Monument is Rabbit Valley in Grand Junction. The area features paleontological resources at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry. Fossil seekers can trek along the Trail Through Time, a 1.5-mile interpretive loop that features 140-million-year-old dinosaur fossils.Photo credit: TRAILSOURCE.COM (flickr).
6. Dinosaur Journey Museum (Fruita)Just a 30-minute drive west from Rabbit Valley is the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. This museum features Colorado's most popular robotic dinosaurs. Examine real dinosaur fossils, dig into hands-on exhibits, experience a simulated earthquake, and see a working paleontology laboratory at this museum in Fruita.Photo Credit: Sharon Hahn Darlin (flickr).
6. Dinosaur Journey Museum (Fruita)Just a 30-minute drive west from Rabbit Valley is the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. This museum features Colorado’s most popular robotic dinosaurs. Examine real dinosaur fossils, dig into hands-on exhibits, experience a simulated earthquake, and see a working paleontology laboratory at this museum in Fruita.Photo Credit: Sharon Hahn Darlin (flickr).
8. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkDuring the Jurassic period, Colorado’s landscape looked quite different than it does today. The climate was moist and teeming with vegetation, possibly like today's Amazon Valley. At the downstream end of the Black Canyon, you might see a thin strip of pink or yellow rock on the northern side. This is Entrada Sandstone, which formed when a massive stack of sand dunes covered much of this region.Photo Credit: MichaelJust (iStock).
8. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkDuring the Jurassic period, Colorado’s landscape looked quite different than it does today. The climate was moist and teeming with vegetation, possibly like today’s Amazon Valley. At the downstream end of the Black Canyon, you might see a thin strip of pink or yellow rock on the northern side. This is Entrada Sandstone, which formed when a massive stack of sand dunes covered much of this region.Photo Credit: MichaelJust (iStock).
9. Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience (Cañon City)Discover prehistoric displays as well as modern adventures at Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience in Cañon City. The attraction features dinosaur models, real fossils, a multi-story ropes course, animatronic dinosaur exhibits, and more.Photo Credit: Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette.
9. Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience (Cañon City)Discover prehistoric displays as well as modern adventures at Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience in Cañon City. The attraction features dinosaur models, real fossils, a multi-story ropes course, animatronic dinosaur exhibits, and more.Photo Credit: Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette.
10. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant)The Pikes Peak region is home to one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world, found at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Features here include petrified Redwood stumps that reach 14-feet-wide and thousands of insect and plant fossils that provide a glimpse into what prehistoric Colorado looked like.Photo credit: daveynin (flickr).
10. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Florissant)The Pikes Peak region is home to one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world, found at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Features here include petrified Redwood stumps that reach 14-feet-wide and thousands of insect and plant fossils that provide a glimpse into what prehistoric Colorado looked like.Photo credit: daveynin (flickr).
11. Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (Woodland Park)Back in the Front Range, find some of the rarest fossils of prehistoric life at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. The displays here feature discoveries made in locations around the world, such as the 66-million-year-old Triceratops skull.Photo Credit: Näystin (flickr).
11. Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (Woodland Park)Back in the Front Range, find some of the rarest fossils of prehistoric life at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. The displays here feature discoveries made in locations around the world, such as the 66-million-year-old Triceratops skull.Photo Credit: Näystin (flickr).
12. Picket Wire Canyonlands/Purgatoire River track site (La Junta)Continue east from the Royal Gorge Region to the plains and valleys of eastern Colorado.The primitive canyons and valleys of Comanche National Grasslands near La Junta are home to North America’s largest dinosaur track sites. The Picketwire Canyonlands, also known as the Purgatoire River tracksite, features more than 1,900 prints along a quarter-mile of the Purgatoire River. Be warned – getting to these prints requires a strenuous 16.7 mile round-trip hike in hot temperatures with little shade. It’s not a trek to be underestimated.Photo Credit: milehightraveler (iStock).
12. Picket Wire Canyonlands/Purgatoire River track site (La Junta)Continue east from the Royal Gorge Region to the plains and valleys of eastern Colorado.The primitive canyons and valleys of Comanche National Grasslands near La Junta are home to North America’s largest dinosaur track sites. The Picketwire Canyonlands, also known as the Purgatoire River tracksite, features more than 1,900 prints along a quarter-mile of the Purgatoire River. Be warned – getting to these prints requires a strenuous 16.7 mile round-trip hike in hot temperatures with little shade. It’s not a trek to be underestimated.Photo Credit: milehightraveler (iStock).
Colorado’s mountains, canyons, plains, and valleys all hold insights to what prehistoric days looked like in the region. Current research in the state continues to reveal new discoveries, such as a 2019 discovery in Colorado Springs when researchers from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science unearthed the cranium of the carsioptychus, a pig-like creature, at Corral Bluffs. The scientists believe the findings are a window into the beginning of our modern era and it’s likely that many more dinosaur discoveries in Colorado are waiting to be uncovered.Pictured: A collection of four mammal skulls collected from Corral Bluffs.Photo Credit: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.
Colorado’s mountains, canyons, plains, and valleys all hold insights to what prehistoric days looked like in the region. Current research in the state continues to reveal new discoveries, such as a 2019 discovery in Colorado Springs when researchers from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science unearthed the cranium of the carsioptychus, a pig-like creature, at Corral Bluffs. The scientists believe the findings are a window into the beginning of our modern era and it’s likely that many more dinosaur discoveries in Colorado are waiting to be uncovered.Pictured: A collection of four mammal skulls collected from Corral Bluffs.Photo Credit: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.
Here's a look at the route this prehistoric-themed road trip takes through Colorado. This trip takes an estimated 18 hours and 34 minutes, traveling 928 miles.Map Credit: @2021 Google Maps.
Here’s a look at the route this prehistoric-themed road trip takes through Colorado. This trip takes an estimated 18 hours and 34 minutes, traveling 928 miles.Map Credit: @2021 Google Maps.
7. Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry Paleontological SiteAbout aa 1-hour, 45-minute drive southwest from Fruita, stop by Dry Mesa Quarry. This paleontological area is a 55-acre site located within the Jurassic Morrison formation and contains fossils with a geologic age of approximately 150 million years. The quarry is located 26 miles southwest of Delta on the Uncompahgre Plateau.Photo Credit: Dean R Richmond, (Wikipedia Creative Commons).
7. Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry Paleontological SiteAbout aa 1-hour, 45-minute drive southwest from Fruita, stop by Dry Mesa Quarry. This paleontological area is a 55-acre site located within the Jurassic Morrison formation and contains fossils with a geologic age of approximately 150 million years. The quarry is located 26 miles southwest of Delta on the Uncompahgre Plateau.Photo Credit: Dean R Richmond, (Wikipedia Creative Commons).
Leslie James

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