Dinosaur National Monument

For those looking to get out of Park City and into a greater wilderness, one may consider visiting the prehistoric Dinosaur National Monument. Head on I-80 east out of the greater Salt Lake City area and after approximately 25 miles, take the exit for Highway 40 east towards Vernal. Stay on 40 east to Vernal (about 160 miles) and drive through Vernal following Highway 40 to Jensen, Utah (10 miles east of Vernal). Make a left (north) turn onto UT 149 and follow the signs for the Visitor Center. Four hour approximate driving time from Salt Lake City.

Just a few hours from Salt Lake City, Dinosaur National Monument is in fact a world away from the ordinary outdoor experience.

Located in Utah's far northeastern corner, Dinosaur National Monument retains great scenic beauty amidst little crowds, many prehistoric bones and other fascinating, unsoiled spots. Once there, you can uncover the varied geologic and natural history of the area.

In addition to the thrill of prehistoric sights, Dinosaur National Monument also is remarkable for its colorful rock, Douglas fir forests and deep river canyons.

150 million years ago, the area, with its plethora of ferns, conifers, grasses, ponds and rivers, proved the ideal habitat for (mostly vegetarian) dinosaurs like diplodocus, Apatosaurus and stegosaurus. What is special about the monument is that in at least one spot of the monument, floodwaters washed dinosaur carcasses to the bottom of the river, thereby preserving the skeletons in sand and created the largest quarry of Jurassic-period dinosaur bones ever discovered.

As if this isn't reason enough to visit, the area offers boundless hiking, whitewater rafting and wildlife-watching opportunities. Weather you are looking for fun in the past or the present, Dinosaur National Monument is well worth the visit.