Photo: NPS Photo / Dan JohnsonDinosaur National Monument offers families the unique opportunity to see over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in the cliff face at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where kids can touch real 150-million-year-old bones. The monument spans both Colorado and Utah, with the famous fossil wall accessible only from the Utah side, while the Colorado side features stunning petroglyphs at sites like McKee Springs and Swelter Shelter. Beyond dinosaurs, families discover the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers at Echo Park, where towering canyon walls create a dramatic wilderness setting that was nearly lost to dam construction in the 1950s. This International Dark Sky Park also offers some of the clearest stargazing opportunities in the region, making it truly a place where prehistoric past meets pristine present.
Junior Ranger Program at Dinosaur National Monument
The Junior Ranger program at Dinosaur National Monument transforms kids into paleontologists through fossil discovery activities, dinosaur track investigations, and interactive learning experiences. Young explorers complete age-appropriate activities that teach them about prehistoric life, geology, and conservation while earning their official Junior Ranger badge and certificate.
- Explore the famous Fossil Discovery Trail with over 1,500 dinosaur bones visible in the cliff face
- Participate in hands-on fossil casting activities and learn real paleontology techniques
- Discover ancient petroglyphs and learn about the indigenous peoples who called this area home
Program Details
Download Junior Ranger Booklet
Get a head start! Download and print the booklet before your visit.
Source: NPS Junior Ranger Program Page
Best Ages for Dinosaur National Monument
Ages 5 and Under
The Pre-Reader booklet uses pictures and simple activities perfect for little hands and short attention spans. Young explorers love the fossil touch wall at the Quarry and the easy Plug Hat Trail with its paved, accessible path to scenic views.
Ages 5 and Up
The main Junior Ranger booklet includes dinosaur identification activities, word scrambles, and hands-on geology exploration that keeps elementary-age kids engaged. Activities like the park bingo card and fossil bone scavenger hunt at the Quarry Exhibit Hall are particularly popular with this age group.
Ages 10+
Older kids tackle more complex activities including petroglyph interpretation, river ecosystem understanding, and conservation action planning. The booklet challenges them to complete pages equal to their age, so a 12-year-old works through 12 different activities, making it substantial and rewarding.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The Quarry Exhibit Hall (where dinosaur fossils are displayed) requires a timed entry ticket during peak season and is only accessible from the Utah entrance near Jensen. Free timed tickets are typically available same-day, but summer weekends can fill up early. The Colorado side entrance near Dinosaur, Colorado provides access to petroglyphs and river canyon viewpoints without requiring reservations.
Van & RV Notes
Gates of Lodore Campground accommodates RVs up to 35 feet and offers river views, while Split Mountain Campground handles rigs up to 25 feet with closer access to the Fossil Discovery Trail. Both campgrounds work well for Sprinter vans, though Gates of Lodore provides more space for slide-outs and leveling.
Best Time to Visit
Late spring through early fall offers the best weather, with May through September providing the most Junior Ranger programming and all facilities open. Summer brings intense heat but also evening astronomy programs that take advantage of the monument's Dark Sky designation. Winter visits are possible but some roads may be impassable and the Harpers Corner area typically closes.
How Long to Spend
Plan a full day to experience both the Quarry Exhibit Hall fossil displays and explore cultural sites like Josie Morris Cabin or petroglyphs. Families truly engaged with the Junior Ranger program often return for a second day to complete river access activities and enjoy the dark sky experience.
Don't Miss
The lower Quarry touch wall where kids can actually feel real dinosaur fossils embedded in rock is absolutely magical for young paleontologists. The Gates of Lodore overlook provides a stunning introduction to the monument's river canyon wilderness, and many families find the short walk perfectly manageable even with tired legs from fossil hunting.
Fun Facts for Kids
The Quarry Exhibit Hall houses over 1,500 dinosaur bones and fossils still embedded in the cliff face, including bones from Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and the massive Camarasaurus
Dinosaur National Monument is one of only 100+ International Dark Sky Parks worldwide, meaning you can see the Milky Way clearly on moonless nights
The Green and Yampa Rivers flow through canyons that are up to 3,000 feet deep, carved through rock layers that span 2 billion years of Earth's history
Ancient Fremont people created petroglyphs here over 1,000 years ago, including the famous figures at McKee Springs that stand over 7 feet tall
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
Arches National Park
Arches National Park offers families iconic red rock formations and the chance to hike through natural stone arches, just 90 minutes southeast
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument features dramatic canyon drives and family-friendly trails with sweeping views of the Colorado Plateau, about 2 hours east
Fossil Butte National Monument
Fossil Butte National Monument preserves 50-million-year-old fish fossils in an ancient lake bed setting, roughly 3 hours northeast in Wyoming
See all Junior Ranger badges
Track your family's progress across every National Park Service site
View Badge Tracker