I’ve
seen many pictographs and petroglyphs, which are very
interesting, but nothing prepared me for the view of the
dinosaur quarry. Housed in a modern looking building, it is
somewhat disconcerting to walk in and see these bones of
creatures that roamed the earth millions of years ago.
Upon the discovery of the Douglass quarry the area was
swarmed with amateur paleontologist’s. President Woodrow
Wilson set aside the area as a National Monument in 1915. The
site was covered by a corrugated building in 1950, the present
building was finished in 1954.
What appears to be merely a futuristic building built into the
side of a hill is actually the site of an ongoing quarry. The
Western side of the building is composed of the hillside itself.
This hillside is the home of actual dinosaur bones, the rock has
been excavated and the bones left in place. This shows itself as
a surreal vision of sandstone and dinosaur bones in relief.
These creatures washed up on a prehistoric sandbar and remain
there for our viewing pleasure. Children will love this feature
of the park, dinosaur’s seem to be a fantasy creature that
enthrall their senses. Seeing the actual bones and exhibits had
our child squealing in delight. There aren’t too many places
you can actually touch the bones of dinosaurs.
Flora and Fauna
Dinosaur National Monument is full of animals you won’t
find in the city. Keep your eyes open and you will see many
species. Prairie dog’s can be seen from the road, these little
rodents will be apparent standing upright keeping guard for the
colony. Mule deer can be seen grazing in the meadows in the
evenings. We were fortunate enough to see a Golden Eagle prey on
a kangaroo rat, watching this magnificent bird carry off his
prey was like seeing the discovery channel in real life.
The desert comes alive in the springtime, many flowers bloom and
wither with the spring rains. The river bottoms provide a lush
green landscape to contrast the red rock. Later in the year, the
dull grey color of the sage plant dominates the ecosystem.
Camping
There are several campgrounds located in the Monument, although
most are closed in the off-season. Split Mountain Campground is
open year round and offers free camping in the fall through
spring. This campground is usually somewhat vacant in the
off-season. Offering great scenery and a location next to the
Green River this is my favorite campground in the park. Both the
Green River and Echo Park campgrounds are only available in the
summer.
For those who are allergic to camping, the nearby town of Vernal
offers a variety of hotels. This town also has supplies for
those who enjoy roughing it.
Overall
Like all parks on the Colorado Plateau this area is best visited
in the spring or fall. The summer temperatures can be unbearable
so take plenty of water when hiking. Dinosaur National
Monument is a less crowded version of Moab, the lack of
people in the more remote sections of the park make this a
magical place to visit.
An interesting place to visit is Josie Morris’s cabin, Josie
set up a homestead in 1914. She lived along the border of the
park until 1964, living off the land in a cabin without
electricity, phones, or any other modern convenience. Her
domicile stands to this day, covered by a roof placed by the
Park Service. Josie fenced off two box canyons creating natural
corrals for her livestock. Nowadays these provide interesting
hikes back in time both historically and geologically. Take Cub
Creek Road to its end and you will run into Josie’s homestead.
On
the way you'll travel by various petroglyphs, keep your eyes
open...
If you are just passing through the area be sure and stop at the
quarry. If you have the time explore the park a bit more you
won’t be disappointed.
Enjoy your time outdoors in Utah!
Additional
Resources
CAMPGROUNDS
Dinosaur
National Monument (Quarry)
11625 East 1500 South
Jensen, UT 84035
Phone: 970-374-3000
Visitor Info: 435-789-2115
Email: DINO_Superintendent@nps.gov
BOOKS
Utah's National Parks: Hiking, Camping, and Vacationing in Utah's Canyon Country: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands
Utah
Camping: The Complete Guide to more than 400 Campgrounds
(Foghorn Outdoors)
Camping Utah (Camping)
Utah Camping Guide : The essential handbook for
...
Return
to Camping Index
Camping:
6875 South Kiesta, West Jordan, UT 84084