DINOSAUR, CO & JENSEN, UT– The arrival of winter at Dinosaur National Monument brings changes to visitor access in some areas.
In Utah, roads around the Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall are maintained throughout the winter. The Cub Creek Road is plowed to a parking area approximately 2.2 miles past the Green River bridge. The dirt road to the Josie Morris Ranch is gated with the first snowfall, but is open to hiking, and snowshoeing or cross-country skiing if conditions permit.
In Colorado, the Harpers Corner Road past the Echo Park Road turnoff to the road’s end is closed to vehicle access with the first significant snowfall. Visitors can use this section of road for hiking, and snowshoeing or cross-country skiing if conditions permit. The lower portion of the Harpers Corner Road is kept open to the Echo Park Road turnoff through December 31 so that hunters may access private and BLM land adjacent the monument. On January 1st, the road closes at Plug Hat Butte, which is five miles from US Highway 40. After the road closes to vehicular traffic, portions of the Harpers Corner Road are open to snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing if snow conditions permit.
The Echo Park Road, Yampa Bench Road, Island Park Road, portions of the Deerlodge Road, and the road to Gates of Lodore are not maintained and travel on them is not advised during the winter.
Dinosaur’s weather in winter can change rapidly. Visitors should always be prepared for a range of conditions and check the current forecast before heading out. Road maintenance may be limited during storms or on weekends. Visitors to the monument need to be well-equipped with all necessities such as food, water, and gas. Wear appropriate clothing–blue jeans and tennis shoes without a jacket are not the best clothing for walking three to four miles if you become stuck in the snow.
Please ensure that someone knows where you are going and when you are expected to return. Spending a night in your vehicle stuck in a winter storm until either your family or employer wonders where you are, can be a life-threatening situation. Night time temperatures can plummet well below zero.
For the properly prepared, winter is a wonderful time to visit Dinosaur National Monument. Days are cold, but solitude is readily available. Wildlife, like deer, elk and bighorn sheep, may be seen along the rivers. Please be alert for animals crossing roads particularly at dawn and dusk.
The Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall north of Jensen, Utah are open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. Due to limited staffing, access to the Quarry Exhibit Hall is by car caravans at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM. 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The Canyon Visitor Center near Dinosaur, Colorado is closed for the winter.
For more information on Dinosaur National Monument, call us at (435) 781-7700. You can also visit us on the web at www.nps.gov/dino, look for DinosaurNPS on Facebook and twitter.