Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge is a National Natural Landmark near Morrison, Colorado, where you can see real dinosaur tracks and fossil bones in the rock of the Dakota Hogback.
Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, CO
Just over the hill from Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Dakota Hogback holds one of the best-known dinosaur sites in the country, and you can see most of it for free. A paved trail of about two miles climbs along the ridge past interpretive stops where the rock face is covered in hundreds of footprints from duck-billed iguanodontids and meat-eating theropods. They were pressed into the muddy shoreline of an ancient sea roughly 100 million years ago and then tilted on edge when the Rockies rose. Higher on the ridge, fossil bones still sit in the sandstone. The Main Visitor Center adds an Exhibit Hall of real and replica fossils, dig pits for kids and 45-minute guided bus tours that take you right to the track sites.
In 1877 the geologist and schoolteacher Arthur Lakes found giant bones near Morrison. They led to some of the first described specimens of Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus and helped kick off the Bone Wars between paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. The track site on the east side of the ridge was uncovered in 1937 during construction of what is now Alameda Parkway. The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973, and the nonprofit Friends of Dinosaur Ridge has run education programs on the site since 1989.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 26 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 21 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 22 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 5 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 8 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Sauropod dinosaur footprint in sandstone (Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, western side of Dinosaur Ridge, Colorado, USA) 16 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic; Dinosaur Ridge, west of Denver, Colorado, USA) 27 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Sauropod dinosaur footprint in sandstone (Morrison Formation, Upper Jurassic, western side of Dinosaur Ridge, Colorado, USA) 20 by James St. John (CC BY 2.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
See upcoming programs and walking tour dates on the Plan Your Visit page for Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, CO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Dinosaur Ridge?
- Dinosaur Ridge Trail: Walk the free paved trail past dinosaur tracks, fossil bones and geology stops, open sunrise to sunset.
- Guided bus tour: Take a 45-minute guided bus tour of the track and bone sites, with Exhibit Hall entry included.
- Exhibit Hall: See real and replica fossils, including bones of giant long-necked dinosaurs.
- Kids’ dig areas: Dig for fossils in the Backyard Bones pit and sift for shark teeth in the seaway sandbox.
- Weekend walking tours: Book a guided walking tour on Saturdays and Sundays.
What is nearby Dinosaur Ridge?
- Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre: The famous concert venue and park sits just west of the ridge.
- Morrison: A small town of restaurants, bars and shops at the mouth of Bear Creek Canyon.
- Matthews/Winters Park: Open-space trails with views of the hogback and Red Rocks.
- Bear Creek Lake Park: A Lakewood park with trails, paddling and a reservoir.
- Golden: A historic foothills town known for Clear Creek and its brewery.
When was Dinosaur Ridge established?
Arthur Lakes discovered dinosaur bones near Morrison in 1877, which led to early Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus specimens. The track site was exposed in 1937 during road construction. The area became a National Natural Landmark in 1973, and Friends of Dinosaur Ridge formed in 1989 to protect and interpret the site.
When is Dinosaur Ridge open?
From March 15 through October 31, the Main Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with guided bus tours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From November 1 through March 14, they are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with tours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The trail is free from sunrise to sunset. Bus tours cost $21 for ages 13 and up and $15 for children, and ages 2 and under ride free. Exhibit Hall-only admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children.
Are there any tips for visiting Dinosaur Ridge?
The trail has no shade and no water, and the pavement gets very hot in summer. Go early in the morning or in spring and fall, and bring sunscreen and water. The tracks show up best in low-angle morning or late-afternoon light. Dogs are allowed on the trail but not indoors or on the buses. The parking lot closes when the visitor center closes.
Dinosaur Ridge’s Main Visitor Center is located at 16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465. Call (303) 697-3466 or visit dinoridge.org for tours.