Explore the prehistoric wonders of Dinosaur National Monument and the rugged canyonlands that surround it. Far away from the crowds of Moab and the San Juans, the 324 mile Jurassic Discovery Trail is the perfect adventure to explore the Colorado plateau.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 324 miles, 4 - 7 days Season: Generally May thru October, but when traveling earlier or later in the season, always be sure to check on snowpack for higher elevation trails.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Alternative Routes
Camping Recommendations
Discovery Points
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
Route Details
Dinosaur National Monument is at the center of the Jurassic Discovery Trail. At over 200,000 acres, the park spans the northern borderlands of Utah and Colorado. Fossils were first discovered in Dinosaur National Monument in 1909. Six years later, in 1915, after additional discoveries, the area was declared a national monument, and in 2019, Dinosaur National Monument was designated an International Dark Sky Park.
Many of the park's incredible river canyons, like Echo Park, were nearly flooded in the name of the Colorado River Storage Project. After much debate and controversy, conservationists were able to protect the canyons along the Yampa River from the proposed Echo Park Dam. Sadly, other canyons, like Glen Canyon, succumbed to the project needed to support growing populations in the American Southwest.
The track begins and ends at the pavement of Highway 40, and while it's possible to explore the loop in either direction, this guide follows a counterclockwise orientation. Your adventure begins on a wide dirt road that eventually leads to Yampa Bench Road. For the most part, Yampa Bench Road is a wide dirt road with occasional bumps and washboards. As you make your way into the park, the rugged and deep canyons the Yampa River has carved out over the eons begin to come into view. Traveling west along the bench, overlooks like Wagon Wheel Point (discovery point) and Hoarding Hole feature incredible vistas of the Yampa River as it twists and turns through the canyons.
Yampa Bench Road eventually leads you to Echo Park Road, which descends to a campground of the same name. Before reaching the Green River, be sure to stop at the Historic Chew Ranch (discovery point). Jack Chew built his house and ranch here in 1910. In 1966, his son Rial Chew sold 1,900 acres of the ranch to the national monument, and the park has preserved many of the old ranch buildings and much of its farm equipment as well. Echo Park Road eventually leads to the Green River near its confluence with the Yampa River. Here, Steamboat Rock (discovery point) is the star of the show. Dispersed camping may not be permitted within the national monument, but impressive campgrounds like Echo Park take full advantage of nature's splendor.
Retrace your tracks back up the hill and then continue on through Sand Canyon (discovery point). Like many places along Colorado's Western Slope, the terrain here is filled with a variety of geological oddities and unique rock formations. The rocks of Sand Canyon are a pale khaki, unlike the red rocks that abound on the descent down to Echo Park. Next up, follow the pavement to the end of the road for a quick hike out to Harper's Corner (discovery point). Harper's Corner may feature the best view (at least one that's easily accessible) within the national monument. You'll get a totally different view of Steamboat Rock and Echo Park, which sit over 2,000 feet below.
From Harper's Corner, the track jumps onto one of the local favorites, the Josie Morris Trail. The dirt road climbs to the top of the Blue Mountain Plateau before it abruptly begins descending down the mountain. This is another moderate section of the track, with numerous opportunities to test your rig's hill climbing abilities upon reaching the red rock badlands near the bottom of the mountain. The track leads to Josie Morris' cabin (discovery point) and the Hog Canyon Trail. Josie was a legendary figure in the American West. Popular legend claims that she harbored well-known outlaws on the run at her remote cabin, which seems to be supported by her close ties to Butch Cassidy's gang. Just around the corner from Josie's cabin is the scenic Hog Canyon.
The trail from Josie Morris' cabin to the Quarry Exhibit Hall is a mixture of graded dirt, moderate trail, and then a short stint on pavement leads to the hall and park visitor center. The Quarry Exhibit Hall (discovery point) is easily one of the highlights of Dinosaur National Monument. With over 1,500 fossilized bones, there are eight species of known dinosaurs remaining in the quarry wall, dating back to 150 million years ago (Jurassic period). The Fossil Discovery Trail (discovery point) is a nice complement to the hall. The 1.2-mile trail passes through the Morrison Formation, which features an outcropping with small fossil fragments in addition to a few large remains of dinosaur bones.
The track continues north into the remote backroads and trails of the Uinta Mountains. Follow McKee Bench to the top of Diamond Mountain, which features fantastic views of the canyonlands within the national monument. The track follows the rim, eventually wrapping around to the rugged Sears Canyon (discovery point). This tight and narrow track crosses several streams and was once a mail route. Follow the route until crossing the Green River, which leads to John Jarvie Historic Ranch (discovery point). After visiting the ranch, continue east above the Green River below, but be sure to stop at the Swallow Canyon Overlook (discovery point). Just around the corner, you'll cross the Browns Park Swinging Bridge (discovery point). This one-lane suspension bridge, built in 1913, is a favorite point of interest, but keep in mind, your vehicle must be less than 8'6" in width to make it across the bridge (which shouldn't be a problem unless you own a behemoth of a rig!).
The remainder of the track follows a series of dirt and gravel county roads through the junipers of the high desert. A short out-and-back brings you to the Gates of Lodore Campground. You'll want to take the short 0.75-mile hike to get the best view of the Gates of Lodore (discovery point). Working your way towards the pavement, there is an option to drive up to Zenobia Peak lookout (discovery point), which is the highest point along the entire track at 8,993 feet. The final discovery point can be reached by driving to Deerlodge Park, and another short hike will take you to spectacular views of the Steps, Vale of Tears, and the Yampa River Canyon (discovery point). Follow the pavement of Dinosaur Park Service Road back to the highway, where the route officially concludes.
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