Dinosaur National Monument

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-25 to 2026-12-19; community-mapped.

About

This park's official page lists: Pet-friendly (leashed).

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

Official facts

Public access: Open access.

Protected area: 150,671 acres (60,974 ha).

Designation: National Monument. Listed as "Dinosaur National Monument" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category V.

Established: 1915.

Managed by: NPS.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1

At the park

• Exhibits exhibit
• Camping activity
• Wildlife & bird watching scenic feature
• Hiking trails trail
• Whitewater rafting water

Before you go

Lockers

1 locker location inside the park. Availability and fees can change — confirm on arrival.

Mobility

Available in the park: mobility & stroller rentals. Confirm rental availability and pricing with the park.

Limits

Yes, pets are allowed in the monument

⚠ Park closure: Rainbow Park Closure

The Rainbow Park Road, Rainbow Park Campground, and Rainbow Park Boat Ramp are closed as of September 25, 2026 due to significant storm damage until repairs are completed, likely through spring of 2027. The 3/4-mile Rainbow Park Road is closed to vehicles from the junction with the Island Park Road to the Rainbow Park Campground and boat ramp. The Island Park Road remains open to Ruple Ranch.

⚠ Park closure: Echo Park Road and Campground Closure

Echo Park Road is temporarily closed to motorized vehicles from the junction with the Harpers Corner Road to Echo Park Campground due to significant storm damage. The Echo Park Campground is also temporarily closed to camping due to road damage.

Getting there

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.

Weather & when to go

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.

Visitor center

Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado

Visitor center

Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado

Visitor center

Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado

Visitor center

Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado

Visitor center

Canyon Visitor Center - Colorado — The Canyon Visitor Center is open daily during the summer season. This typically lasts from mid-May to late September. Depending on staffing, the visitor center may be open on Saturdays and Sundays either before or after the main season. This visitor center is closed in winter. — Located on US Hwy 40, two miles east of Dinosaur, CO.

Visitor center

Echo Park Road

Visitor center

Harpers Corner Road

Visitor center

Harpers Corner Road

Visitor center

Pets in Dinosaur

Visitor center

Quarry Entrance Station

Visitor center

Quarry Exhibit Hall - Utah

Visitor center

Quarry Exhibit Hall - Utah

Facilities on the park map

3 bench, 1 changing table, 3 defibrillator, 1 locker, 2 mobility rental, 9 picnic area, 28 restroom, 20 visitor information, 3 water fountain.

Where to stay

• Echo Park Campground Echo Park Campground is temporarily not accessible by motorized vehicles due to recent storm damage. The last 5 miles of the Echo Park Rd are closed to motorized vehicles from the junction of the Yampa Bench Rd to the campground. The campground is located along the Green River, 38 miles (61 km) north of the Canyon Visitor Center. Bighorn sheep and mule deer frequently roam through the area. Unimpr · 22 campsites · Accessibility: Echo Park Campground has one designated accessible site.
• Rainbow Park Campground Rainbow Park Campground is closed due to significant storm damage until repairs are completed, likely through spring of 2027. It is 28 miles (45 km) from the Quarry Visitor Center in the Utah portion of the monument. It is located on a dirt road that is impassable when wet. The campground sits beside the Green River near the Rainbow Park Boat Ramp at the head of Split Mountain Canyon. Rainbow Park · 4 campsites · Accessibility: Rainbow Park Campground does not have any designated accessible sites. However, most sites are level with relatively easy access from the gravel road and…
• Gates of Lodore Campground Gates of Lodore Campground is located on the Green River at the boat ramp at the head of Lodore Canyon. The campground is popular with river rafters who often stay here before launching on the Green River. There are 19 sites, some with shade. The sites have tables and fire pits or grills. During the summer, there is running water and vault toilets, but no showers. The campsites can accommodate ten · 19 campsites · Accessibility: Sites are level and consist of compacted gravel or dirt. One site is designated for accessible use. Vault toilets are wheelchair accessible.
• Green River Campground The Green River Campground is located along the banks of the Green River in a grove of cottonwood trees at an elevation of 4795 (4162 feet). The highly eroded Split Mountain towers to the north of the campground. The famous dinosaur quarry, where you can see 150 million year old dinosaur bones still encased in rock is approximately 5 miles (8 km) from the campground. Nearby is the Split Mountain B · 80 campsites · Accessibility: Site 41 in the Green River Campground is accessible. The adjacent bathroom has been renovated to accommodate wheelchair users.
• Split Mountain Group Campground The Split Mountain Group Campground is located along the banks of the Green River at an elevation of 4800 feet (1463 m) near the foot of Split Mountain. The campground is 5 miles (8 km) from the dinosaur quarry, where you can see 150 million year old dinosaur bones encased in the rock. Beside the campground is the Split Mountain Boat Ramp where rafters and boaters come off the Green River. During · 4 campsites · Accessibility: The campground is mostly flat. Wheelchair users may require some assistance moving around the sites.
• Deerlodge Park Campground Deerlodge Park Campground is located 51 miles (82 km) east of the Canyon Visitor Center. It is located on the Yampa River at the boat ramp at the head of Yampa Canyon. It has seven shady sites suitable for tents. The sites have tables and fire pits. There is drinking water and vault toilets available seasonally, but no showers. Deerlodge Park Campground is open year-round, but winter access can be · 7 campsites · Accessibility: Campsites are located in a large flat open area. No campsites are designated as accessible for wheelchair users. The vault toilet for the campground is…