Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border between Utah and Colorado where the Green and Yampa Rivers meet. Declared a national monument in 1915, the area contains more than 800 dinosaur fossil sites. The fossils are embedded in sandstone and river sediment dating back 150 million years ago.

The dinosaurs were carried by the river and then their remains were embedded in the river sediment. The sediment later turned into rock, but the rocks were eroded thus exposing the layers of fossils.

Discovered in 1909 by Earl Douglass, the dinosaur fossil beds are also known as bone beds. There are also petroglyphs in this area.

Arches National Park Zion National Park Monument Valley Great Salt Lake Canyonlands National Park Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Homestead Crater Bear Lake Capitol Reef National Park Bryce Canyon National Park Mount Timpanogos Goosenecks State Park Grand Canyon North Rim Mesa Verde National Park Cedar Breaks National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument Heber City - Heber Valley Historic Railroad Dinosaur National Monument Dead Horse Point Golden Spike National Historic Site Timpanogos Cave National Monument Hovenweep National Monument Flaming Gorge Dixie National Forest Paria Canyon, Utah

Explore more: Utah > Places to Visit in Utah

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Go to travel reservations.