DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT COLORADO UTAH corner of the monument. The original 80 renewed in 1923-24 by the National Mu­ acres of this area were set aside in 1915 to seum, Washington, D. C, and the University DINOSAUR preserve these fossil bones. The boundaries of Utah. Twenty-six nearly complete skele­ were extended in 1938 to include the scenic tons and a great number of partial ones canyon country. were recovered. Twelve dinosaur species National Monument At monument headquarters, 6 miles north were represented. The longest skeleton— of Jensen, Utah, is a temporary museum con­ Dipledocus—was 84 feet, the shortest— taining exhibits which will help you under­ Laosaurus—6 feet. Many of the bones have A semiarid wilderness plateau, cut by deep canyons and con­ stand the local geology and the story of the been assembled as complete skeletons which taining rich deposits of skeletal remains of prehistoric reptiles. dinosaurs. The Dinosaur Quarry is a quarter you may see in museums in Pittsburgh; of a mile by trail from the museum. It is Washington, D. C.; New York City; Lin­ an excavation in the top of a ridge where coln, Nebr.; Denver; Salt Lake City; and IN DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONU­ towering canyon walls. He named numerous rock layers have been removed to expose the Toronto, Canada. MENT you will find a vast wilderness geographic features, including the treach­ fossil-bearing strata of the Morrison forma­ little changed by man. Its principal scenic erous Disaster Falls, where he lost one of tion of Jurassic age, deposited approximately Early Indians features are the deep and narrow canyons his boats. 130 million years ago. formed by the Green and Yampa Rivers. The Yampa has also been active in canyon The National Park Service has recently Many remains of prehistoric Indian in­ Within its boundaries also is the Nation's carving. This river, rising in the Rabbit initiated a project to outline in high relief habitants are found in this area. Evidence richest deposit of dinosaur fossils. Here is Ears Range of northwestern Colorado, first some of the huge dinosaur bones in the up- of the earliest Indians was discovered at Head of Lodore Canyon Boating on the Yampa Steamboat Rock at Junction of Green and Yampa Rivers the rare opportunity to see these remains cut into relatively soft rock. Through a tilted fossil-bearing layer. A permanent Hell's Midden, in Castle Park where scien­ in place. The monument contains nearly long period of erosion its course was estab­ museum building will be constructed to en­ tists excavated a 17-foot refuse deposit. The 191,000 acres of Federal lands. lished in a series of bends or meanders. close this display. Already several partial lowest layers of this deposit showed that the The name "dinosaur" means "terrible Gradually, the soft rocks were worn away skeletons of dinosaurs have been exposed. earliest Indians did not practice agriculture, these excavations. Somewhat later pottery this early party crossed the Green River is slopes of the higher mountainsides. The formation about boating or for an appli­ lizard," an apt term to describe these pre­ and with uplift of the region the river en­ You are invited to observe these and to wit­ but lived solely by hunting and gathering was used. About this time these early In­ located along the headquarters approach road commoner varieties of wildflowers here are cation for a boating permit, please contact historic reptiles which have vanished from trenched its meanders into the underlying, ness reliefing operations. wild food plants, about 1500 to 500 B. C. dians moved into cave shelters where they near the monument boundary. sunflowers, goldenrod, sage-lily, evening- the superintendent's office at Vernal, Utah. the earth. There were many kinds, some more resistant strata. The resulting gorge, Dinosaur bones were first discovered here Sometime during the first few hundred lived, slept, and cooked their meals. They primrose, and bee flower. being of tremendous size. in a high plateau lying southeast of the in 1909 by Earl Douglass of the Carnegie years after Christ, agriculture was introduced never quite achieved the art of building per­ Eauna and Flora Dow To Get There Uinta Range, is not as deep as the canyons Museum. Fossils were removed by the mu­ in the area, for the remains of corncobs, manent house structures, for the caves sup­ of the Green but is equally impressive. River Boating The Canyon Country seum from 1909 to 1922. Quarrying was beans, and pumpkins have been found in plied the shelter they needed, and much of As in other areas of the National Park Monument headquarters and the Dinosaur Below the confluence with the Yampa, the their life was spent out-of-doors, tending System, the monument is a refuge for all Boating has become a popular and ad­ Quarry are reached by U. S. 40. The head­ Green River flows through Echo Park (Pats Through centuries of erosive action the their crops, hunting, and fishing. Sometime wildlife. Deer are common throughout the venturous way of enjoying the canyon won­ quarters-quarry area is open all year, but the Hole), a lonely valley where a hermit, Pat Green and Yampa Rivers have been fash­ Reliefing operation at the Dinosaur Quarry between A. D. 900 and 1000 the inhabitants monument, and bighorn (mountain sheep) ders. Trips of 1 to 6 days duration are roads to the scenic canyon country generally Lynch, lived for years. It swirls and plunges ioning their spectacular canyons. of this region moved away; for what reasons are occasionally seen. Coyotes and bobcats offered by competent guides at reasonable are closed by snow from October 15 to past Harpers Corner, through Whirlpool Tilted rock layers of the Uinta Mountains, we do not know. are common, but the wary mountain lion is rates. May 15. Canyon, Island Park, and Split Mountain representing millions of years of geologic rare. Beaver, while not numerous, are The rivers are swift and turbulent in The monument cannot be reached by Gorge, and then slows to a more leisurely time, have been cut by the Green, the largest Escalante increasing. places. Skill in boating and knowledge of railway. Bus and airplane services are pace as it leaves the monument. tributary of the Colorado. Between the If you drive over Blue Mountain Plateau the streams are needed to traverse them available to Vernal, Utah, 20 miles west of 2,000-foot vertical walls of the Canyon of In 1776, a Spanish party of 10 men, led by from Harpers Corner or Pats Hole late in safely. Boating is not encouraged without headquarters, but there is no regularly Lodore the Green flows toward its junction The Dinosaur Quarry the Franciscan priest Escalante, camped for 3 the evening, you may observe deer, badger, a competent guide. scheduled transportation from there to the with the Yampa at Steamboat Rock, a great days on the banks of the Green River within porcupine, jack rabbit, cottontail, and the Ordinary rowboats, outboard motorboats, monument. monolith resembling the prow of a ship. The name of the monument is somewhat view of Split Mountain and the southwestern sage hen. Prairie dogs may be seen along foldboats, and canoes are not considered safe In 1869, Maj. J. W. Powell, famous pioneer misleading, for fossil dinosaur bones occur section of the monument. the road to Split Mountain Gorge. Golden- for running the rapids of the Green and Accommodations explorer, made a river trip between these in rocks which outcrop only in the southwest Not only did Escalante describe this region mantled ground squirrels and whiptail liz­ Yampa Rivers. Specially designed wooden Lodging is not available in the monument. in his journal, but Niera, his captain, pre­ ards are numerous near headquarters. and metal boats are used successfully by The nearest overnight accommodations are pared a map on which a portion of what is The plateaus adjacent to the canyons are some guides, but the most popular and per­ in Vernal, Utah. now Dinosaur National Monument is shown. typical examples of semidesert country, with haps the safest boats used by guides and The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the On this map, published in Spain in 1778, the greasewood, pinyon, junipers, and sage­ amateurs alike are the 7- and 10-man U. S. Back-country Travel scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment Green River appears as the Rio S. Buena­ brush growing in profusion. Stands of Navy rubber landing craft. of its people. ventura, and Split Mountain as Sierra aspen, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and The boating season is normally from The back country is reached by unim­ Mineral. A stone marker at the site where mountain-mahogany grow on protected May 1 to September 1. For additional in­ proved dirt roads branching northward from U. S. 40. Those who wish to go there is located in both Colorado and Utah; hence, should first make inquiry at headquarters. a license is required from the State in which Cars should be equipped with spare tire, you wish to fish. jack, chains, shovel, ax, extra water for the radiator, and a full tank of gasoline. Pack Trips ROAD MAP Roads and Trails Regularly established guide services and pack trips are not provided, but you may DINOSAUR All areas numbered on the map can be arrange horseback trips from Island Park to reached by jeep or truck, except Jones Hole Jones Hole. DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT (9) which can be reached by a 7-mile foot UTAH -COLORADO or horse trail from Island Park Ranch (8), Let's Keep Dinosaur Unspoiled or by boat from Pats Hole (5).