Type
Track Site / National Natural Landmark
Age
Jurassic & Cretaceous, ~150 mya and ~100 mya
Established
Tracks documented 1937; ridge opened to public 1989
Best time
Year-round — the paved road is open in all seasons
- ◆Hundreds of Cretaceous dinosaur footprints
- ◆The original 1877 Morrison Formation bone discoveries nearby
- ◆Both bones and tracks on one accessible ridge
- ◆Free self-guided road; guided tours available
Photos
Overview
Dinosaur Ridge is one of the most accessible major dinosaur sites in the world — a hogback ridge just west of Denver where two chapters of dinosaur history are exposed side by side. The west side exposes Late Jurassic Morrison Formation rocks that yielded some of the first Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus material in the 1870s; the east side reveals a Cretaceous shoreline covered in fossilized footprints.
Geology
The ridge is a tilted hogback where erosion has sliced through the Morrison Formation (Jurassic river deposits) and the younger Dakota Formation (a Cretaceous coastal sandstone). The famous trackway formed on a muddy shoreline of the Western Interior Seaway, where herds of dinosaurs left footprints that hardened and were buried before they could erode away.
What You See
Along the road you can see exposed dinosaur bones still in the rock, ripple marks from ancient shorelines, and the 'Dinosaur Freeway' trackway with hundreds of footprints from ornithopods and theropods. Interpretive signs and a visitor center explain each stop, and the paved road makes it unusually accessible.
Famous Finds
The nearby Morrison quarries are historically immense: this is the town that gave the Morrison Formation its name, and Arthur Lakes' 1877 discoveries here helped ignite the 'Bone Wars' between rival paleontologists Cope and Marsh. The Cretaceous tracks are among the best-displayed dinosaur footprints in North America.
Visiting
You can walk or bike the road for free; the managing foundation also runs guided bus tours, a Discovery Center, and special programs. It's an easy half-day trip from Denver and one of the best family-friendly dinosaur experiences in the country.
Best time to visit
Year-round — the paved road is open in all seasons. Spring and fall offer comfortable walking weather. Weekday mornings avoid Denver-area weekend crowds.
Getting there
15 miles west of Denver on I-70: exit at Morrison/C-470, follow signs to Dinosaur Ridge on Alameda Parkway. Free parking at the main trailhead. RTD bus service reaches nearby Golden/Lakewood; the ridge itself requires a short drive or rideshare.
Map
Morrison, Colorado (near Denver) — approximate location only. Exact fossil localities are not published to protect sites from looting.
Market & Provenance
Dinosaur Ridge itself produces no commercial fossils. Morrison material sold legitimately must come from private land elsewhere in the formation with proper documentation — not from this protected landmark.
Collecting & Legality
Collecting is not permitted. The ridge is a protected National Natural Landmark managed for education and preservation. Footprints and bones must stay in place. It's a destination for seeing dinosaurs, not sourcing them.
FAQ
Is Dinosaur Ridge free?
Self-guided walks on the road are free. Guided bus tours and the Discovery Center have fees — check dinoridge.org.
Can I collect tracks or bones?
No. It is a National Natural Landmark; all fossils must remain in place.
What's the difference between the two sides?
West side: Jurassic bones in rock. East side: Cretaceous footprints in sandstone.