ユインタ郡の天然記念物・トップ14

At the Swelter Shelter site, you can explore a large number of different petroglyphs (carvings) and pictograms (paintings) on the surrounding rock walls. The hike to the site is just a 400 feet roundtrip from Cub Creek Road. The rock art was created by the ancestral indigenous people of the region, but the Swelter Shelter has been used by older cultures dating to as early as 7000 BCE.

Split Mountain Campground is one of two established campground on the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument. It is located at the shore of the Green River and sites are equipped with picnic benches and fire pits. At the northern side of the campground, you will find the trailhead for the Desert Voices Trail that loops into the backcountry with great views of geological features and Split Mountain.

The 0.25-mile (out and back) Box Canyon Trail leads into a shady box canyon that's great for exploring with the kids, especially on hot summer days. Here you'll find great views of the rugged Weber Sandstone of Split Mountain. Josie Morris, whose cabin is located at the trailhead, used to herd her cattle in Box Canyon. Remember to stay on the trails at all times as there is poison ivy in the canyon.

The lizard petroglyph is one of the most prominent relics of rock art in Dinosaur National Monument. It was carved by the Fremont people who lived in the Cub Creek area about 1,000 years ago. The true meaning of the animal-shaped carvings is not known.

The Desert Voices Trail is a 1.7-mile roundtrip that takes you into the backcountry of Dinosaur National Monument. It provides you with stunning views of Split Mountain and geological features. Along the way, you will find signs with information about the geology and ecology of the area. If you like, you can extend your hike by taking the connector trail to the Sound of Silence Trail.

The Fossil Discovery Trail starts at the Quarry Exhibit and ends down at the Quarry Visitor Center. Over 1.2 miles (one way) it takes you to different formations that are exposed in rock layers where you can find dinosaur bones and other fossils from the Jurassic to Cretaceous era. To get to this trailhead, you can take the shuttle from the Visitor Center instead of hiking both directions.

The Quarry Exhibit is without a question THE place to visit when you are in Dinosaur National Monument. Not only will you find a lot of interesting information, you will also discover a huge rock wall containing approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones! There are different species from the Late Jurassic period like Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus. You are even allowed to touch some of the real 150 million year old dinosaur bones. To get to the Quarry Exhibit, you can either take the shuttle from the Visitor Center that leaves on a regular basis or hike the Fossil Discovery Trail. I recommend taking the shuttle up and hiking down the trail.

The Morrison Formation is part of the Fossil Discovery Trail and probably the most special one: walk up the rocky stairs and examine the cliff wall next to you. Look closely to find some petrified dinosaur bones, big and small. About ten feet above you, you can see eight vertebrae. The cliff is estimated to be about 151 million years old! More than ten species of dinosaurs have been found in the Morrison Formation.