Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail
Moab, Utah
Walk past the fossilized remains of dinosaurs at this short path west of Arches National Park, where you’ll find evidence of allosaurus, stegosaurus, camarasaurus, and camptosaurus. Trail-side signs here describe the dinosaurs that once roamed this region, and how their bones and footprints came to be frozen into the Utah sandstone.
The entire Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail is 0.9 miles (1.4 kilometers), and passes a series of 15 informational sites. No admission is charged to access the site, and on the south side of the canyon, it’s possible to see remnants of a historic copper mill that operated in the 1800s. Just to the east of the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail are the ruins of the Halfway Stage Station, which served a passenger train line that linked Moab and Thompson in 1883.
- This is a great spot for families with kids. Even younger children can manage the mostly flat trail.
- Bring plenty of water, as there are no shops on-site.
- Due to uneven surfaces, the trail is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.
From Moab, follow US 191 north for 15 miles (24 kilometers), then turn left on a road just north of highway mile marker 141. Continue over the railroad tracks, and follow a dirt road 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) to a parking lot and trailhead. The dirt portion of the road may be impassible following rain.
The most popular times to visit Moab are March through May and September through October—when the weather is relatively warm and mild. Summer can be very hot, so it’s worth rising early during these months to walk during the coolest part of the day. In the winter, bundle up for chilly temperatures and you may have the trail to yourself.
While small, the Moab Museum is a wonderland for dinosaur fans, who will be delighted by the preserved dinosaur eggs, fossils, and full-scale cast of a skeleton of gastonia—a dinosaur that once lived in this region. Another favorite is Moab Giants, where a short walking trail passes a series of life-size dinosaur reproductions. Inside the interactive Tracks Museum at Moab Giants, visitors can learn all about dinosaur footprints.
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