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Dinosaur National Monument

Designation: National Monument

Location: Colorado, Utah

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park 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.

🌤 Weather Information

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.

🚗 Directions

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.

Images

the fossilized skull of camarasaurus dinosaur

Over 1500 fossilized bones of various dinosaurs are still embedded in the cliff face including a skull and several neck vertebrae of a camarasaurus

Credit: NPS Photo / Dan Johnson

A large sandstone canyon with golden grasses and green trees growing inside.

The Jones Hole Trail offers remote solitude in the wilderness of the monument.

Credit: NPS Photo/Conrad Provan

the rocky pinnacle of Steamboat Rock rises over the Green River

Steamboat Rock rises above the Green River in Echo Park

Credit: NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank

Ancestral Native American rock art at McKee Springs

The ancestral indigenous peoples left petroglyphs on many of the rock cliffs within Dinosaur National Monument including those at McKee Springs

Credit: NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank

A small waterfall in a fast flowing creek, moving through a green forest.

Jones Hole Creek flows year round, providing nourishment for vibrant, green forests.

Credit: NPS Photo/Conrad Provan

Large bones resembling legs, ribs and the vertebrae of a neck embed grayish brown rock.

Fossils from a camarasaurus dinosaur display the well articulated specimens still found in the rock in the Quarry Exhibit Hall.

Credit: NPS

view of a river flowing through a deep canyon

Hikers arriving at the end of the Harpers Corner Trail are rewarded with a view of the Mitten Park Fault, Green River and the Yampa River Canyons

Credit: NPS Photo / Dan Johnson

the star filled sky above a tent

Dinosaur's dark skies provides dramatic views of the Milky Way Galaxy

Credit: NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank

A bighorn sheep lamb stands in front of a bighorn ewe.

Visitors to Dinosaur may also see its diversity of wildlife including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

Credit: NPS/Jacob W. Frank

A green rubber raft floats over a rapid on a brown colored river in front of multi-colored mountains

Rapids like those in Split Mountain Canyon challenge and thrill rafters on the Green River.

Credit: NPS/Jacob W. Frank

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all its occupants. Admission is good for seven consecutive days. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
$25.00
Entrance - Motorcycle
Admits all riders on a private, non-commercial motorcycle. Admission is good for seven consecutive days. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
$20.00
Entrance - Per Person
Admits one individual with no car. Typically used for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians. Youth 15 and under are admitted free. Admission is good for seven consecutive days. You can come and go any time with your seven-day pass.
$15.00
Commercial Entrance - Van
Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
$50.00
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
$60.00
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
$150.00
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
Non-commercial group fees (per vehicle): Vehicle capacity of 15 or less: $25 Vehicle capacity of 16-25: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $60. Vehicle capacity of 26+: $15 per person age 16 and older, not to exceed $150. You may use Annual and Lifetime passes. A pass will cover the pass holder and up to three people traveling with the group. Pass is valid for reentry for 7 days.
$25.00
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other bona fide national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees, provided that the visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities the group proposes to use support those purposes. Fee waivers must be obtained in advance and cannot be issued at the entrance station or visitor center.
$0.00
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Fees for commercial tours are based upon the total capacity of vehicle regardless of actual number of passengers.
$25.00
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
Pass is valid for the day of purchase and the next six days for a vehicle carrying the same group of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. (minimum required fee is $25 commercial fee plus the per-person entrance fee for each passenger not to exceed $50.00)
$15.00

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park
Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one (1) private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder to Dinosaur National Monument.
$45.00

3-Day Weather Forecast

Wednesday, May 6

Patchy rain nearby

Patchy rain nearby

High: 44.8°F | Low: 26.7°F

Humidity: 53%

Wind: 17.9 mph

Rain Chance: 75%

UV Index: 7.8

Sunrise: 06:08 AM

Sunset: 08:16 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (84%)

Visibility: 5 mi

Dew Point: 27.4°F

Cloud Cover: 75%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Thursday, May 7

Sunny

Sunny

High: 61.1°F | Low: 40.2°F

Humidity: 36%

Wind: 17.2 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 7.7

Sunrise: 06:07 AM

Sunset: 08:17 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (77%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 37.9°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Friday, May 8

Sunny

Sunny

High: 65.1°F | Low: 48.2°F

Humidity: 36%

Wind: 7.6 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 0

Sunrise: 06:06 AM

Sunset: 08:18 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (68%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 44.7°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Weather Alerts (5)

⚠️ Winter Weather Advisory (Moderate)
▼

Winter Weather Advisory issued May 5 at 11:11AM MDT until May 6 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Effective: May 5, 2026 1:11pm
Expires: May 6, 2026 6:00am

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 10
inches, with locally higher amounts above timberline. Winds
gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Elkhead and Park Mountains and Gore and Elk
Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys.

* WHEN...Until noon MDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions
could impact the Wednesday morning commute.

⚠️ Freeze Watch (Severe)
▼

Freeze Watch issued May 5 at 11:00AM MDT until May 7 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Effective: May 5, 2026 1:00pm
Expires: May 6, 2026 6:00am

* WHAT...For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as
25 expected. For the Freeze Watch, sub-freezing temperatures as
low as 20 possible.

* WHERE...Central Yampa River Basin and Lower Yampa River Basin.

* WHEN...For the Freeze Warning, from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT
Wednesday. For the Freeze Watch, from late Wednesday night through
Thursday morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

⚠️ Freeze Warning (Moderate)
▼

Freeze Warning issued May 5 at 11:00AM MDT until May 6 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Effective: May 5, 2026 1:00pm
Expires: May 6, 2026 6:00am

* WHAT...For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as
25 expected. For the Freeze Watch, sub-freezing temperatures as
low as 20 possible.

* WHERE...Central Yampa River Basin and Lower Yampa River Basin.

* WHEN...For the Freeze Warning, from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT
Wednesday. For the Freeze Watch, from late Wednesday night through
Thursday morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

⚠️ Freeze Warning (Moderate)
▼

Freeze Warning issued May 5 at 10:47PM MDT until May 6 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Effective: May 6, 2026 12:47am
Expires: May 6, 2026 3:45pm

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures in the 20s.

* WHERE...Central Yampa River Basin and Lower Yampa River Basin.

* WHEN...For the first Freeze Warning, until 9 AM MDT Wednesday. For
the second Freeze Warning, from midnight Wednesday Night to 9 AM
MDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

⚠️ Freeze Warning (Moderate)
▼

Freeze Warning issued May 5 at 10:47PM MDT until May 7 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Effective: May 6, 2026 12:47am
Expires: May 6, 2026 3:45pm

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures in the 20s.

* WHERE...Central Yampa River Basin and Lower Yampa River Basin.

* WHEN...For the first Freeze Warning, until 9 AM MDT Wednesday. For
the second Freeze Warning, from midnight Wednesday Night to 9 AM
MDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
11625 E 1500 S
Jensen, UT 84035

🏤 Mailing Address:
4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610

📞 Voice Phone: 4357817700

📞 Fax Phone: 4357817735

✉️ Email: dino_information@nps.gov

Park Location

👏 Fun Fact
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