Enjoy the views, travel through eons.
Dinosaurs : the countersign in itself sums up why people are disembowel to sprawling comeuppance and rocky landscape that might have prehistoric fossils , giant footsteps imprint into stone , or even just a ghostly landscape where large creature once roamed . Becausedinosaurs . Enough said .
Scattered across North America are a slew of opportunities to go not only through infinite but also time . Road trippingto the sites of various dinosaur get the picture give the opportunity to explore the name and address themselves and the routes to and between them , all while presenting a glimpse through the aeon . It ’s the next best matter to visiting Jurassic Park , with the add incentive that you are significantly less likely to be corrode .
To that end , we ’re taking a look at a few of the best dinosaur land and internal parks , monument , and other ossified travel chance . Most of them are within a day or two drive of each other in the central United States , though Canadian dinos are deserving a gander as well . Here ’s where to see those older bag o ’ finger cymbals .
We’ll all pretend to be dino experts here.|Dinosaur Provincial Park UNESCO World Heritage Site
How Dinosaurs Became Kings of the American Roadside
Dinosaurs still rule the Earth. But mostly near gas stations.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur , Colorado and Vernal , UtahLocated on the border between northern Colorado and Utah , Dinosaur National Monumentis one of the most impressive collections of dino bones you could find outside a museum , i.e. still set in stone . While it ’s technically not an actual home common , it ’s still position amidst a stunningly beautiful landscape painting jolly in between Yellowstone , Zion , Arches , and Rocky Mountain National Park , meaning that it ’s along the style to pretty much everywhere you require to go .
illustrious for its Quarry Visitor Center sport a paries boasting some 1,500 bones spanning well - known species like Stegosaurus , Diplodocus , Apatosaurus , Allosaurus , and more , it also host fogey from an array of other ancient animal and plant . Beyond the fair game , the park offers activity like raft , tramp , andstunningly scenic drives .
This Gorgeous Park Spans 2 States and a Whole Lot of Dino Bones
And you can hike, river-raft, and camp right next to ‘em.
Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark
Tumbler Ridge , British ColumbiaTucked way up in the northernmost reach of British Columbia , theTumbler Ridge Global Geoparkand itsTumbler Ridge Museum Foundationis a must for anyone who saw the T - Rex inJurassic Parkand thought “ I want to meet that dinosaur . ” This is one of the penny-pinching opportunities you ’re go to get . Here you ’ll find the upper jaw and tooth of a Tyrannosaurus , and — most telling — the first T - Rex rails ever discovered . Fun fact : it was here that we learned that tyrannosaurus hunted in packs . How terrifying !
While most of the dino stuff is housed in the museum , you’re able to hike the Flatbed Valley Geosites to see an regalia of dinosaur runway . you could also hike out to the Bergeron Cliffs , where some 300 bones from dinosaur and other flora have been ascertain .
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Glen Rose , TexasSmack in the center of Texas near the town of Glen Rose isDinosaur Valley State Park . Here you wo n’t happen bones , but you will find mind - blowingly decipherable trackways , otherwise known as dino footprints . Keep in brain that the park is intimately visit during summertime dry spells , as rain tends to obscure the tracks . Even then , you might want to pack water shoes , since you ’ll end up having to wade through some shallow water to see the most impressive specimen .
Throughout the park , you ’ll find opportunities for hike , kayaking , and even horseback riding . On hot day , take a dip in the Blue Hole , which is a pop place for both swimming and catfishing .
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Brooks , AlbertaA bedaze UNESCO World Heritage Site situate roughly two hours east of Calgary , Dinosaur Provincial Parkis illustrious for offer one of the high concentrations of dinosaur fossils anywhere in the macrocosm . With 58 dinosaur species as well as 500 other mintage spanning plants , fish , shark , rays , frogs , turtles , crocodile , and more , there is plenty to search .
Speaking of exploring , one of the best things about Dinosaur Provincial Park is the fact that you may in reality go on hikes to wander the landscape painting and rule dinosaur fossils that are still being excavated . Most other dinosaur ballpark involve seeing bone in the comfort and protection of visitant centers , so Provincial furnish the unique chance to palpate like a real palaeontologist for a day . The landscape painting is also incredibly gorgeous , so be ready to take photos .
A couple hours forth , you may also visit theRoyal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology , which is home plate to one of the creation ’s large dinosaur video display . In nearby Drumheller , you ’ll find the “ World ’s Largest Dinosaur . ” Spoiler alert : it ’s made of plastic . And it ’s very unearthly .
Fossil Butte National Monument
Kemmerer , WyomingRight off the bat , you should bed you wo n’t find any dinosaur here . But fear not , because this is still an stupefying fossil land site . experience as America ’s “ aquarium in stone,”Fossil Butte National Monumentis menage to one of the world ’s large collections of freshwater fogy . Located in the southwestern corner of Wyoming , it ’s just over three hours from the aforementioned Dinosaur National Monument , so you could easily pop over for a helping of “ terrible lizard ” there .
At theFossil Butte Visitor Center , you ’ll find over 80 casting of creatures like dragonflies , beetles , crickets , turtles , doll , fish , bats , and creatures calledPalaeosinopa didelphoides(say that three times fast ) , which are tiny , half - foot recollective , otter - corresponding carnivore . The surround landscape of theBadlandsalso provides some beautiful hiking trail . Be sure to impart sun blocker .
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Escalante , UtahAs one of the most remote regions in the continental United States , the Grand Staircase - Escalante realm was the last place in the country to be officially mapped out by the government . That being the case , it should number as no surprisal that most people did n’t realize there were dinosaur fossils there until comparatively of late .
We Have A Winner for Coolest-Named State Park
Utahraptor State Park will soon be open for hiking and dinosaur fans.
Scientists have found 25 unique species there , including a smattering of triceratops relative , duck’s egg - billed dinos , and big , scary carnivores like the Tyrannosaurus Rex . Many of the cadaver here are among the best - preserved ever find , including some startlingly unclouded skin imprint .
you may check out dodo excavated from Grand Staircase - Escalante at theGlen Canyon Conservancy , or boost along theTwenty Mile Wash Dinosaur Trackwayto literally walk in the stride of dinosaurs . It ’s an easy , family - friendly trek .
I hope I look that good when I’m that old.|Zack Frank/Shutterstock
This is definitely Indiana Jones.|Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark
You know what they say about big feet.|W. Scott McGill/Shutterstock
Even without the dinos, these are gorgeous landscapes to explore.|Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock
Fortunately (or unfortunately), this dino is still alive today.|William Cushman/Shutterstock
Maybe the dinosaurs came to the middle of nowhere to avoid everyone else…|Glen Canyon Conservancy
