Dinosaur National Monument
Exceptional natural features include deep, narrow gorges with strangely carved and delicately tinted sheer sandstone cliffs along the Green and Yampa rivers. The Canyon of Lodore, cut by the Green River, ranges from 1,000 to 3,300 feet deep.
More than 1,500 fossilized bones are on display at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, just north of Jensen; shuttles to the cliff face run from the Quarry Visitor Center. Located a half a mile away from the quarry, the visitor center has exhibits as well as information about recreational activities and ranger-led interpretive programs. A mostly paved 10-mile road that begins nearby leads to petroglyph panels, overlooks and a historic cabin. Several marked hiking trails, including Sound of Silence, Desert Voices and Hog Canyon, can be accessed from this road.
From the Canyon Area Visitor Center in Dinosaur, Colo., a 31-mile paved road leads north into the heart of the canyon country. There are no fossil bones in this section, but scenic overlooks and a 2-mile-long trail at Harpers Corner provide spectacular views of the Green and Yampa rivers and their confluence at Steamboat Rock, 2,500 feet below.
One- to 5-day river trips can be arranged from mid-May to mid-September by contacting private companies. Other activities include camping and fishing.
Admission is $25 (per private vehicle); $20 (per person on a motorcycle); $15 (per person arriving by other means); free (ages 0-15). Camping fees are $6-$40 (free from late fall to early spring). Backcountry camping is free with a permit. For further information contact the Superintendent, Dinosaur National Monument; phone (435) 781-7700.