National Monument · NPS · CO, UT
Dinosaur National Monument
Photo: NPS Photo / Dan Johnson, Camarasaurus Skull
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Echo Park Road and Campground Closure
Echo Park Road is temporarily closed to motorized vehicles from the junction with the Harpers Corner Road to Echo Park Campground due to significant storm damage. The Echo Park Campground is also temporarily closed to camping due to road damage.
Park Closure Rainbow Park Closure
The Rainbow Park Road, Rainbow Park Campground, and Rainbow Park Boat Ramp are closed as of September 25, 2026 due to significant storm damage until repairs are completed, likely through spring of 2027. The 3/4-mile Rainbow Park Road is closed to vehicles from the junction with the Island Park Road to the Rainbow Park Campground and boat ramp. The Island Park Road remains open to Ruple Ranch.
Overview
150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. Their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Today, mountains, desert, and rivers flowing in canyons support a variety of life. Petroglyphs reveal the lives and connections of Indigenous people to this land. Homesteaders and outlaws found refuge here. Whether your passion is science, adventure, history, or scenery, Dinosaur offers much to explore.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Whitewater Rafting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Dinosaur National Monument Hours: The outdoor areas in the monument is open 24 hours per day. Facilities such as visitor centers and the Quarry Exhibit Hall have specific hours of operation. Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons page for more information on facility hours. Some areas of the monument may close in the winter due to snow.
Fees and passes
- Entrance - Private Vehicle — $25.00
- Entrance - Motorcycle — $20.00
- Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
- Commercial Entrance - Van — $50.00
- Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $60.00
- Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $150.00
- Entrance - Non-commercial Groups — $25.00
- Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
- Commercial Entrance - Sedan — $25.00
- Commercial Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
- Annual Entrance - Park — $45.00
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.
Getting there
Dinosaur National Monument is located on the Colorado and Utah border with parts of the monument in both states. Dinosaur fossils are only visible in the Utah portion of the monument, not on the Colorado side. The Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall (where you see the dinosaur fossils) are located approximately 7 miles north of Jensen, Utah. The Canyon Visitor Center is located in Dinosaur, Colorado.
Visitor centers
Campgrounds
- Echo Park Campground (22 sites) — reserve
- Green River Campground (80 sites) — reserve
- Split Mountain Group Campground (4 sites) — reserve
- Rainbow Park Campground (4 sites)
- Deerlodge Park Campground (7 sites)
- Gates of Lodore Campground (19 sites)
Weather
Dinosaur's climate is semiarid with temperatures averaging between 0°F to 30°F in January and 50°F to 100°F in July. Extreme winter low temperatures may reach -40°F and summer highs can top 110°F. Elevations within the park vary between 4,700 and 9,000 feet. Winter snow may be heavy at higher elevations while only light to moderate snow is found at lower elevations. Summer thunderstorms may cause heavy downpours and localized flooding, but fail to dampen parched soils less than a mile away.
Phone: 4357817700
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area BLM · 12 miles
- Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 22 miles
- Ouray National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 43 miles
- Ashley Karst National Recreation and Geologic Area National Recreation Area USFS · 47 miles
- Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area USFS · 50 miles
- Ashley National Forest USFS · 59 miles