Although it covers a large area, there are relatively few trails in Dinosaur National Monument because of the rugged terrain, and the limited number of access routes. The dozen or so shorter paths are found along the two main roads, to Dinosaur Quarry/Split Mountain/Cub Creek in the west, or Harpers Corner further east.
The Dinosaur National Monument map indicates the location of each trail.
|
Trail
(photo links) |
Length
(one way)
(miles) |
Elevation Change (feet) |
Trail Description |
Dinosaur Quarry/Split Mountain Area Trails
|
Box Canyon
The canyon |
0.4 |
level |
Two paths begin next to Josie Morris Cabin, a historic ranch at the end of Cub Creek Road, 9.5 miles east of the visitor center; the shortest winds through the lower end of Box Canyon, a sheer walled gorge once used as a corral for pigs. The canyon is cool, shady, moist, and quite overgrown, containing patches of trees, bushes, wildflowers and long grass; the floor stays level for 0.4 miles, as far as a steep rocky slope which marks the end of the trail. |
Desert Voices
The trail
Cottonwood Wash
Green River
|
1.5 (loop) |
160 |
The Desert Voices Trail starts along the short side road to Split Mountain campground/boat launch, beside the Green River; it follows a usually dry streambed (Cottonwood Wash), away from the river, climbing gently up to a viewpoint at the upper end of the ravine, then loops back along the south side. There are many interpretive notices along the way (produced by local children), which describe the wildlife and geology of the area, though the views are somewhat limited for much of the way and the immediate landscape is not so interesting - just bushes and sandy mounds. Rather better views can be obtained by climbing 200 feet to the top of the ridge on the north side, since this overlooks the Green River as it flows out of Split Mountain Canyon (see QTVR). |
Fossil Discovery
Upturned strata
Dinosaur bone
Ridges and ravines |
1.4 (loop) |
200 |
Starting next to the temporary Dinosaur National Monument visitor center, the Fossil Discovery Trail (also known as the Geology Trail) runs alongside the highway at the base of layered cliffs, passes an NPS employee residence/maintenance area then turns north, up a shallow ravine that cuts through jagged, colorful, upturned strata. A very short spur on the left leads to a viewpoint on top of one of the ridges, then soon after another path forks off on the right side towards several fossil sites - single, isolated dinosaur bones still securely embedded in the rock. The fossils are found on an extension of the same 67° cliff face (part of the grey/brown Morrison Formation) exposed in the dinosaur quarry, which is 600 feet west and a little higher up. Four bones are identified by white arrows painted onto the rocks; others (unmarked) can be seen by scrambling around beyond the end of the path, though a sign forbids any such exploration. Views to the south are impressive, looking out over quite a large expanse of jagged, eroded ridges and small ravines. A third side path soon reaches a not-so-interesting group of small shell fossils, while the main trail ends with a climb up a rocky gully to the quarry road, from where the start point is a 0.5 mile walk away downhill. |
Hog Canyon
The trail
The canyon |
0.8 |
40 |
Hog Canyon Trail is the longer of two easy paths leading from Josie Morris Cabin into narrow canyons at the edge of the Yampa Plateau. At first the route is quite shaded, passing trees and a small pond near the cabin, then it crosses a long grass meadow and enters another group of trees, site of an old corral. The path turns to the north, following a small trickling stream across an open area into the mouth of the canyon, where the cliffs close in and the surroundings become quite cool and sheltered. After about 0.3 miles the canyon floor starts to gain height steadily and the official path ends, though progressing further upstream is quite possible, by climbing up the steeply-slanting rocks. |
| River |
1.0 |
50 |
This mostly level trail runs across open hillsides along the west bank of the Green River, linking the two park campgrounds (Split Mountain and Green River). |
| Sound of Silence |
2.0 (loop) |
400 |
Exploring similar terrain to the nearby Desert Voices Trail (and linked to it by a 1/4 mile connecting path), the Sound of Silence Trail loops across ravines, slickrock, upturned strata and small earthen hills on the north side of the scenic drive (Tour of the Tilted Rocks) past the Dinosaur National Monument visitor center. In some places the path can be difficult to follow, but a brochure available at the trailhead has a route map and directions. The higher sections afford a fine view of Split Mountain just to the north. |
Canyon Area Trails
|
| Cold Desert |
0.5 (loop) |
level |
The family-friendly Cold Desert Trail loops around bushy land near the Canyon Area visitor center (by the junction of US 40 and Harpers Corner Drive), and has notices about the common plant types found in the region. |
| Gates of Lodore |
0.7 |
level |
The only trail in the north section of the national monument runs along the east bank of the Green River for a short distance, to the point where the enclosing walls become high and sheer, marking the start of the Canyon of Lodore. Noticeboards along the way give information about the plant life and geology of the area. |
Harpers Corner
Green River
Strata
Whirlpool Canyon |
2.0 |
200 |
The Harpers Corner Trail heads northeast from the parking area at the end of the park road, running on top of a narrow, steep-sided ridge far above Green River as it flows round a U-bend close to the Yampa River junction. The trail ends at an amazing viewpoint of the rivers, both enclosed in deep canyons cutting through twisted, eroded sedimentary rock; in the distance the convoluted, inaccessible country extends for many miles. |
| Jones Hole |
4.0 |
500 |
This trail follows Jones Creek along quite a deep canyon to a beach by the confluence with the Green River, en route passing many pools and small cascades. The stream flows year round so the path is quite shaded by bushes and cottonwood trees, and the downwards gradient remains gentle all the way. After 1.8 miles, just past a ranger station, the trail reaches a junction with a longer path from Ruple Ranch and Island Park. The trailhead for the hike is by the Jones Hole Fish Hatchery on the north side of the national monument, which needs quite a long drive to reach - 40 miles from the Dinosaur Quarry visitor center along the (paved) Jones Hole Road. |
Plug Hat
View northwest
View southeast |
0.3 |
level |
North of the Canyon Area visitor center, Harpers Corner Road crosses mostly flat land for 3 miles then climbs up to the top of a pinyon/juniper-covered plateau, passing the protruding summit of Plug Hat Butte. On one side of the road is a spacious, secluded picnic area, while on the far side, a short trail follows the plateau rim to a viewpoint above the highway, looking out over many square miles of desert land to the south. The path is paved, accessible to wheelchairs, and has various notices identifying the common trees and shrubs of this location - most prominent are pinyon pine and juniper. |
| Ruple Point |
8.0 |
200 |
The longest trail in the national monument begins at Island Park Overlook, 24.5 miles along the Harpers Corner Drive; from the short side road to the viewpoint, the path heads west across open, treeless ground (Ruple Ridge), mostly along the course of an old vehicle track. It descends a little near the edge of the ridge to Ruple Point where the cliffs fall away steeply, 2,400 feet above Split Mountain Canyon and the Green River. |
