Walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs and learn about pre-historic fossils at this National Natural Landmark.
Located just west of Denver in Morrison Colorado, Dinosaur Ridge is an area of extreme scientific and historical significance which contains fossils, footprints and bones of the mighty beasts that roamed this land during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.Dinosaur bones from the skeletons of Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus and Allosaurus were first discovered here in 1887 and since then, the area has become a magnet for palaeontologists, geologists, historians, earth scientists and nature lovers. Happily, there is still plenty of room for casual visitors who simply want to explore the prehistory of Colorado’s Front Range by walking in the footsteps of these extraordinary creatures.Dinosaur Ridge has an excellent visitor’s centre as well as two interpretive trails, the Dinosaur Ridge and the Triceratops Trail. Before you tackle the trails, acquaint yourself with the environmental history of the area with the Trek Through Time exhibit. Held in the Dinosaur Ridge Exhibit Hall, this informative display gives a detailed account of the prehistoric remains found at this site and includes maps, murals and fossils in glass cases. Youngsters will be especially awed by the interactive exhibits like Goldilocks Footprint Experiment, which explains the preservation of dinosaur footprints. Children are also encouraged to play with the replica fossils of skulls, claws and teeth which sit on the Touch Carts.Next, make your way over to the Dinosaur Ridge Trail which has 15 sites of geological interest as well as hundreds of dinosaur tracks. Come face-to-face with ancient dinosaur vertebrae and limbs at the unique quarry of prehistoric bones. The Triceratops Trail is just over two kilometres of gravelled track that leads to a preserved delta-like habitat which is home to an array of plant fossils, palm fronds and deciduous trees. Along the way, meander through boulders of sandstone and marvel at the 68-million-year-old dinosaur, bird and invertebrate tracks. Both trails have informative signs explaining the geological and historical features of this impressive site but if your knowledge is still a little rusty, it’s good to know that guided tours are also available.If you’ve had your fill of hectic theme parks and the like, then schedule a trip to Dinosaur Ridge. It’s educational, scenic and comes highly recommended.
