Now that fall is nearly here, it's time for me to try to catch up on all of my summer activities, starting with a short visit to Dinosaur National Monument. Straddling northern Utah and Colorado, and encompassing the Green and Yampa Rivers, this 200,000 acre monument is a relatively quiet part of the National Park Service system. Best known, naturally, for its rich deposits of fossilized dinosaur bones,
it also offers dramatic hiking trails,
and stunning scenery.
We spent a morning hiking the Desert Voices and Sounds of Silence Trails.
They pack all kinds of natural wonders into a relatively short distance, from enormous eolian sandstones,
to otherworldly plants,
and a maze of trails winding through low hills. Fortunately the trails are well marked.
Upper slopes offer wide views,
while stream beds with enormous old trees provide shady resting spots.
Later in the day we drove to the end of Harpers Corner Road, then walked one and a half miles to the end of Harpers Corner Trail to take in this grand view of the Green River,
and hurried back to avoid getting caught in the storm that was headed our way.
On our final day, as we were on our way north to Jackson Hole, we took the time to drive around to the north side of the monument. With a name like "The Gates of Lodore," we guessed that it must be a special place. It didn't disappoint, though we were sorry not to be getting into rafts for a long expedition on the river.
If you are planning to spend a night or two in the area, you might might think that Dinosaur, Colorado, is the place to stay. After all, it has its own U.S. Post Office,
and a restaurant that stills serves meals.
Sadly, most of the town is closed up for good.
For more options, drive 40 miles west to Vernal, where you will find fully operational hotels and restaurants and be greeted by all manner of dinosaur.
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| Morrison Formation (Jurassic Era) |
it also offers dramatic hiking trails,
 |
| Green River Canyon |
We spent a morning hiking the Desert Voices and Sounds of Silence Trails.
They pack all kinds of natural wonders into a relatively short distance, from enormous eolian sandstones,
to otherworldly plants,
and a maze of trails winding through low hills. Fortunately the trails are well marked.
Upper slopes offer wide views,
while stream beds with enormous old trees provide shady resting spots.
Later in the day we drove to the end of Harpers Corner Road, then walked one and a half miles to the end of Harpers Corner Trail to take in this grand view of the Green River,
and hurried back to avoid getting caught in the storm that was headed our way.
On our final day, as we were on our way north to Jackson Hole, we took the time to drive around to the north side of the monument. With a name like "The Gates of Lodore," we guessed that it must be a special place. It didn't disappoint, though we were sorry not to be getting into rafts for a long expedition on the river.
If you are planning to spend a night or two in the area, you might might think that Dinosaur, Colorado, is the place to stay. After all, it has its own U.S. Post Office,
and a restaurant that stills serves meals.
Sadly, most of the town is closed up for good.
For more options, drive 40 miles west to Vernal, where you will find fully operational hotels and restaurants and be greeted by all manner of dinosaur.
