What’s a six hour drive compared to viewing over 1,500 dinosaur fossils? Like, why complain about six hours of sweetass podcasts and roaddoggin’ when the outcome is touching dino bones 149 million years old? What we’re talking about is the Dinosaur National Monument located both in Dinosaur (CO) and Jensen, Utah.
Iffin you’re looking to bone-pet and connect with the late Jurassic era, you’re going to want to hit up the Quarry Exhibit Hall, 11625 E. 1500 S., Jensen, Utah. Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodicus, and Stegosaurus remains are on view and friendly rangers are around to chat about the dinosaurs on display. Be sure to budget a couple hours at the park so you have plenty of time for the indoor fossil exhibit and the easy-to-moderate hikes in the surrounding Canyonlands.
Bonus: If you go near evening, you’ll see the Milky Way galaxy in dramatic clarity. Dinosaur National Monument is one of the darkest places remaining in the United States due to the absence of light pollution. Check the park’s calendar for night sky programs near the Split Mountain Campground.
All this for a $20 car pass (up to 15 passengers) that lasts for a week.
For more info, hit up www.nps.gov/dino.
AND! If you haven’t already, give a gander to DGO’s interview with Dr. Jon Powell, Durango’s own dinosaur hunter.
Patty Templeton
