Dinosaur National Monument Custom Search In his book, The Immense Journey, Loren Eisley wrote, 'Once in a lifetime, perhaps, one escapes the actual confines of the flesh. Once in a lifetime, if one is lucky, one so merges with sunlight and air and running water that whole eons, the eons that mountains and deserts know, might pass in a single afternoon without discomfort.' This is Echo Park, named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 during his first scientific expedition into the Colorado Plateau. It is here that the Yampa River, the last free flowing river in the Colorado River System, joins the Green River. This is home and critical habitat for the endangered peregrine falcon, bald eagle, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. Indian rock art in Echo Park testifies to the allure these canyons and rivers had for prehistoric people. In 1825, William H. Ashley and his fur trappers were the first Europeans to enter Echo Park. In 1883, Patrick Lynch, a hermit, was the first to homestead in this canyon.     CONTACTS Email - DINO_Superintendent@nps.gov Fax- 970-374-3003 Write to Dinosaur National Monument 4545 E. Highway 40 Dinosaur, CO 81610-9724 - or - Dinosaur National Monument (Quarry) 11625 East 1500 South Jensen, UT 84035 Phone Headquarters - (970)374-3000 Visitor Information - (435)789-2115 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Trails, auto tours, campgrounds, and backcountry areas are open all year unless closed by weather conditions. Getting There PLANE - Flying in to Grand Junction, CO or Salt Lake City, UT would probably be the least expencive way to fly to Dinosaur. It is roughly a 3 hour drive from Salt Lake to the park in a rental vehicle, just over 2 hours from Grand Junction. Vernal, UT does have an airport and a few flights shuttle between it at Salt Lake every day. CAR - The popular Fossil Bone Quarry area of the park is only a 30 minute drive east from Vernal, Utah. Take Rt. 40 (Main Street) east out of Vernal until a well marked turn left/north from Jensen, UT onto Rt. 149. 7 miles later you reach the park. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - There are no transportation services to the park such as a taxi or bus. You must have your own transportation. For private river runners vehicle and passenger shuttle service is available from Wilkins Bus lines (435) 789-2476 and River Runners Transport (435) 781-1120. Weather & Climate The day-to-day weather conditions are highly variable at Dinosaur National Monument. They change not only with the season, but with time of day and where you are. Accessibility Although The Fossil Bone Quarry is only somewhat wheelchair accessible, there are campsites, picnic areas, and scenic trails that are. FEES/PERMITS Entrance Fee ANNUAL PASS The Annual Pass allows the holder and all guests in their vehicle to enter the park for one year. Fees only collected at the Dinosaur Quarry area on the Utah side of the park. FAMILY VEHICLE Fee covers everyone in a single private vehicle. Fees only collected at the Dinosaur Quarry area on the Utah side of the park. HIKE-IN OR BICYCLE Fees only collected at the Dinosaur Quarry area on the Utah side of the park. MOTORCYCLE Fees only collected at the Dinosaur Quarry area on the Utah side of the park. Permits RIVER PERMIT Fees and non-commercial river permits are required for private white water river trips on the Green and Yampa rivers within the park. For information on fees, equipment and experience requirements, and how to apply for the permit lottery, call (970) 374-2468. CAMPING Deerlodge Open All Year (53 miles east of Headquarters)- no fee, 8 sites, handles tents, is shaded, no drinking water, vault toilets, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. Echo Park (38 miles north of Headquarters) Newly renovated, , 17 campsites, including 1 handicap accessible, plus 4 walk-in sites and one group site. Water and vault toilets, handles tents. Check with a ranger on present fire use policy. Access is dependent upon weather, the last 13 miles of road are unpaved and impassable when wet. The road also requires high-clearance vehicles, RVs and trailers are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. Closed by snow in winter. Gates of Lodore Open All Year (106 miles north of Headquarters) - handles tents and RVs, has some shade, drinking water, vault toilets, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. Green River (5 miles east of Dinosaur Quarry) - has 88 sites, handles tents and RVs, is well shaded, usually has drinking water but does not for the 2000 summer season because of a water line break. Some areas will be closed for water line construction, water will not be available. No fees will be charged until construction is complete. Has modern restrooms, tables and fireplaces, firewood for sale, and ranger talks at the campground campfire circle. It is open approximately April to October. Rainbow Park Open All Year (26 miles from Dinosaur Quarry on unpaved road) - no fee, 2 sites, handles tents, no water, vault toilet, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. Road to campground is impassable when wet. Split Mountain Open All Year (4 miles east of Dinosaur Quarry) In the summer this campground is for group camping only, but is otherwise open all year. The campground has group camping fees, 4 sites, can handle tents, is shaded, has drinking water, modern restrooms, tables and fireplaces, and firewood for sale. Call (435) 781-7759 to reserve a group campsite. For More Information on this campground please call (435) 781-7759 FACILITIES Museums DINOSAUR QUARRY VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Phone - 435-789-2115 Visitor Centers HEADQUARTERS VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Location - 2 miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado on Hwy 40 Closures - Open daily 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., during the summer. Winter hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed on weekends and holidays. There is no entance fee. Exhibits - Exhibits and a 10-minute orientation program provide information about the monument's scenic canyon country.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Dinosaur National Monument.   Hotels Near Dinosaur National Monument: Blue Mountain Inn and Suites, Rangely , 13 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites VERNAL - DINOSAURLAND, Vernal , 47 miles away Travelodge Vernal, Vernal , 48 miles away Econo Lodge Downtown, Vernal , 49 miles away Best Western Dinosaur Inn, Vernal , 49 miles away Sage Motel, Vernal , 49 miles away Americas Best Value Inn Vernal, Vernal , 50 miles away   Ski Areas Near Dinosaur National Monument: Powderhorn, Colorado , 81 miles away, 1650 foot drop, 4 lifts, 44 runs   Whitewater Near Dinosaur National Monument: White River, Rio Blanco / Uintah County , 13 miles away, Class I-II - 95 miles long (Rangely to Green River) Green River, Uintah County , 19 miles away, Class II-IV - 44 miles long (Canyon of Lodore Colorado to US 40) Yampa River, Moffat County , 21 miles away, Class II-III(IV) - 71 miles long (Deerlodge Park to Split Mountain Campground) Jones Hole Creek, Uinta County , 22 miles away, Class IV-V - 4 miles long (National Fish Hatchery to Green River confluence) Green River, Moffat County , 22 miles away, Class II-IV - 44 miles long (Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain Campgound)   Public Lands Near Dinosaur National Monument: Colorado National Monument, Fruita - CO , 62 miles away   Golf Courses Near Dinosaur National Monument: Cedar Ridges Golf Course, Rangely , 19 miles away