Dinosaur, CO - Over 260,000 people have visited Dinosaur National Monument so far this year, an increase of over 54% over 2011. "We have seen a tremendous boost in our visitation since the Quarry Exhibit Hall opened last October, providing access to view the dinosaur fossils for which the monument is famous." stated Superintendent Risser. "But, it has not just been visitation to the Quarry Exhibit Hall; we have also seen an increase in the use of many of our campgrounds, backcountry and even a slight increase in the number of boaters on the monument's rivers."
Recreational Visitors
2012
2011
Change
Total Year-to-Date
261,643
165,741
54.4%
May
36,512
24,442
49.4%
June
44,847
33,272
34.8%
July
64,570
41,111
57.1%
August
51,034
30,148
69.3%
Detailed park visitation information can be found at https://nature.nps.gov/stats/.
The new Quarry Visitor Center will continue to remain open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm through October 8th. The shuttle bus will also continue to operate and provide access to the Quarry Exhibit Hall through October 8th. The first shuttle trip up to see the wall of bones leaves at 9:00 am and the last at 4:30 pm. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes between those times. The last return trip down from the Quarry Exhibit Hall departs at 5:00 pm. Park Rangers are on duty at the Quarry Exhibit Hall to provide talks and answer questions. Additionally, rangers are providing several guided programs through the end of September. These include hikes on the fossil discovery trail where visitors can see fossils that are naturally eroding out of the cliff face.
The Canyon Visitor Center located near Dinosaur, Colorado closes for the season on Sunday, September 30th. Please visit the nearby Colorado Welcome Center located at the junction of US highway 40 and CO Hwy 64 for area information. The Harpers Corner Road will remain open until the first significant snowfall.
As fall arrives, many of the monument's campground water systems will be shut down for the winter. Some campgrounds will close completely while others remain open with limited services and fees are not collected. The Green River Campground on the Utah side of the monument remains open through October 1st, when it will close for the season. Campground fees are $12.00 per night, per site. The Split Mountain Group Campground will have water service until October 8th. Fees for Split Mountain are $25.00 per site, per night. More information on monument campgrounds can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
Entrance fees to the monument are $10.00 per private vehicle which is good for re entry for up to seven days. Annual passes for Dinosaur National Monument or all other federal lands are also available for purchase. Entrance fees to the monument will be waived for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 29. Visitors are invited to experience the park during this time, but reminded to come prepared for changing fall weather and limited services. For more information about National Public Lands Day, including national events and programs, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/.
Fall is a wonderful time to visit Dinosaur National Monument. Days are cooler with crisp nights. Solitude is readily available on many trails. Wildlife like deer, elk and bighorn sheep are also more active and likely to be seen. Please be alert for animals crossing the roads particularly at dawn and dusk. Dinosaur National Monument remains open to the public throughout the year. For more information about the monument please visit https://www.nps.gov/dino or call 435-781-7700. You can also find us on facebook or follow DinosaurNPS on twitter.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
