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If you are looking for things to do near Denver with kids, you should visit Dinosaur Ridge in the town of Morrison, Colorado.
Morrison is located about 20 miles west of Denver and it is home to the famous Red Rock Park. Morrison is also a gateway to other mountain towns and hosts several events throughout the year.
Dinosaur Ridge is where the first Stegosaurus was discovered in the world! And it is still ranked the #1 dinosaur track in the United States today.
History of Dinosaur Ridge
The Dinosaur Ridge is found in an area designated as the Morrison Fossil National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. This area is part of the Morrison Formation which has been a fertile ground for dinosaur discoveries in the western United States.
The whole area was a shallow sea bed that rose with the Rocky Mountains over millions of years ago.
In 1877, the most commonly known dinosaurs were found here. Dinosaurs like Apatosaurus, Allosaurus, Iguanadon and the first Stegosaurus – the official state dinosaur of Colorado.
60 years after the discovery of the fossils in 1877, dinosaurs tracks were found while a highway was being built in the area.
What You Can Expect to See at Dinosaur Ridge
You will be able to see the tracks of dinosaurs like the Iguanadon, as well as, raptors. Present in the area are also the fossils of different sea animals and the riples created by currents from when the area was covered by the sea millions of years ago.
Dinosaur bones are still embedded on the rocks.
Cross sections of footprints of gigantic dinosaurs are still visible where they stepped on the earth. Their footprints show how heavy these animals were, crushing several layers of soil underneath and showing which direction they were headed in this area that was known as a dinosaur highway.
Why You Should Visit Dinosaur Ridge!
If you have children who are crazy about dinosaurs, this is definitely an experience that they will enjoy. Being able to see and touch the findings in Dinosaur Ridge certainly beats a visit to any museum.
Dinosaur ridge also includes two children’s dig sites for the little ones to pretend to be paleontologists.
A small museum room is also available for older kids and adults. For the little ones, there are two tables full of dinosaur toys and costumes. A hit with kids for sure!
Bus Tour or Self-Guided Tour
I highly recommend that you take the bus tour. The guides are well informed on the history and the geology of the area and it makes the whole experience more interesting. Tickets are available at the Dinosaur Ridge store – U$10 for adults and U$8 for children 3 and over.
The bus tour is a highlights tour. You will be able to get out and explore in three areas, but if you want to see more things and don’t mind the exercise, then a self-guided tour might be best. This option is also free.
Dinosaur Ridge can be explored by foot or bike. The Alameda Parkway is paved and 2 miles long (round trip). It climbs up 200 ft in elevation, but you will be able to walk and see things along the way. There are signs on the side of the road explaining the geology and history of each area and the road is closed to cars.
Where else can you see dinosaurs in Colorado?
Pretty much all of Colorado used to be the stomping grounds of dinosaurs, so naturally, there are many places where you can see remnants of them today. The state even has a Dinosaur Scenic Byway!
Here are some places that you might want to check out. The first 3 are located in or near Denver.
- Morrison Natural History Museum
- Triceratops Trail in Golden
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Rabbit Valley Mesa County
- Picketwire Canyonlands
- Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
- Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience
- Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita
- Dinosaur Hill Fruita
- Garden Park Fossil Area
- Delta County Museum
- Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway
If you enjoyed this post on Dinosaur Ridge, you might also like to check out these other things to do in Colorado:
- Rocky Mountain Camping and Hiking
- Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge
- Burro Trail: Golden Gate Canyon
- What to see and do in Salida
- The Most Instagrammable Places in Colorado Springs
- Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Eldorado Canyon State Park
- Paint Mines
- Gross Reservoir in Boulder
- Bear Lake Trail
- Flatiron Vista Trail
- Fountain Valley Trail
- Loveland Colorado
- How to become more outdoorsy
- The Summit Trail
- Cedar Gulch Trail
- Hiking St. Mary’s Glacier
- Tips for Visiting Pike Peak
- Tips for Visiting Mount Evans
- Pike’s Peak Cog Railroad
- Camping and Hiking at Golden Gate Canyon
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This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
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