10 Places to Find Fossils in Colorado for Dino-mite Fun!
Let's go find fossils in Colorado!
Paleontologists young and old can explore the ancient wonders hidden across the state at these amazing Colorado fossil museums, hikes, and parks.
When I was in the 2nd grade, my teacher introduced a dinosaur unit, and I fell in love.
I soon checked out every book on dinosaurs in the small school library, and I determined my favorite dinosaur (protoceratops, if you were wondering). Just over 2 decades later, and I'm still fascinated by the giant creatures that once called our planet home.
While we were on our recent road trip from Las Vegas to Denver, I realized that we'd be heading straight into some of the best dinosaur fossil hunting territory that the U.S. had to offer. My inner 2nd grader rejoiced and immediately started researching.
Check out these sights and get ready for some dino-mite fun as you go Colorado fossil hunting.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through any of the links provided, I will receive a commission at no extra charge to you.
Colorado Fossil Hunting Map
Best Places to Find Fossils in Colorado
You won’t need any special equipment on your dinosaur themed adventures beyond some sturdy shoes and a sense of adventure.
Throughout Colorado, there are a wide variety of ways to experience fossilized relics from the prehistoric period, which means there’s something for every dinosaur fan.
No matter which adventure you choose remember to leave all artifacts as you find them (unless you’re on an approved dinosaur dig) and to take only pictures!
Dinosaur Ridge
Located just outside of Denver, Dinosaur Ridge is a dinosaur fan's dream come true. It consistently ranks as one of the most visited fossil sites in the United States, and it makes for a fantastic day trip from Denver.
NOTE: the property is huge, and it has 2 entrances.
The main attractions are the Main Visitors Center, the Dinosaur Ridge Trail, the Discovery Center, and the Triceratops Trail (the latter two of which get their own entry below).
The Main Visitors Center and the Dinosaur Ridge Trail are accessed via the Morrison, Colorado entrance, while the Discovery Center and the Triceratops Trailhead are located about 5 miles away in Golden, Colorado.
Main Visitors Center
The Main Visitors Center at Dinosaur Ridge has enough activities to fill a few hours, and is a good place to get acquainted with all things prehistoric.
Wander around the Exhibit Hall to learn about the types of animals that lived in this area millions of years ago, and be sure to visit the popular dinosaur replicas.
There are some great hands-on activities for visitors, including 2 dig sites: one for younger dino enthusiasts and another for older kids.
And, if your kids are anything like mine, they'll have to do the gem mining experience!
Ways to Experience the Dinosaur Ridge Trail
On the Dinosaur Ridge trail, you can see partially excavated real dinosaur bones, check out the fossilized footprints of these massive creatures (seriously awe inspiring), and learn about the geological changes that made this area so rich in prehistoric fossils.
The 2 mile hike is well signposted if you want to do the self-guided version and usually takes around 2 hours.
You can also choose to bring your bike and cruise the paved trail, or you can join one of the guided bus tour for an additional fee.
The bus tours take about 45 minutes and cost $15/adults and $10/kids.
The other option is to join a guided hike, which are led by a professional or amateur geologist. These are also an additional cost ($15/person) and take 2-2.5 hours.
Phone: (303) 697-3466
Address: 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, Colorado
Admission: free parking and free admission; additional fee for guided tours
Hours: 9 AM-5 PM daily, May-October; 9 AM-4 PM, November-April
Triceratops Trail at Dinosaur Ridge
The Triceratops trail and Discovery Center are a part of the larger Dinosaur Ridge property, but is well worth its own entry.
The larger Dinosaur Ridge property is also the closest area to Denver to see dinosaur footprints, and you might need more than one day out of the city to get to everything.
On this 1.5 mile loop trail, you can see 3D footprints, which were pressed down by the dinosaurs and then excavated from the bottom, forming a reverse cast.
This trail is also a great place to teach young paleontologists about the prehistoric plants that once covered this part of Colorado since there are several excellent examples of fossilized plants here as well.
Note: the Triceratops trail is really bumpy in places, so leave the strollers in the car, and make sure your kids are extra careful about where they step.
If you're visiting on the weekend, call ahead to make a reservation on one of the geologist-led tours. These cover the entire 1.5 mile trail and take up to 2 hours to complete.
Phone: (303) 697-3466
Discovery Center Address: 17681 W. Alameda Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80402
Triceratops Trail Trailhead: 1400 Jones Road, Golden, Colorado 80402
Admission: free admission; extra cost for weekend guided tours
Hours: 9 AM-5 PM daily, May-October; 9 AM-4 PM, November-April
Dinosaur Journey Museum
The Dinosaur Journey Museum might be is one of the smallest of the dinosaur museums in Colorado, but it packs a mighty punch with over 15,000 fossils on display and multiple interactive stations.
My preschooler LOVED this place, and she stayed until the final call before closing.
She especially was drawn to one of the interactive stations in the museum, where kids are invited to stamp a sandbox with a variety of dinosaur foot shapes.
Here, you'll get to see just how massive a T. Rex skull is and compare your height to the leg of a brachiosaurus.
Spoiler alert: you're going to feel tiny in both places!
There are lots of interactive elements to this museum, including an earthquake stimulator and moving dinosaur models, which makes it perfect for younger wannabe paleontologists.
Phone: (970) 242-0971
Address: 550 Jurassic Court, Fruita, Colorado
Admission: $9/ adults, $7/ seniors, $5/ kids; ask for the family ticket package if you're traveling with a party of 4-6 ($25/4-6 people).
Hours: 10 AM- 5 PM daily, year round
Museums of Western Colorado Dinosaur Dig
If you want to get your hands on some actual dinosaur bones, you need to head here!
Instead of just observing dinosaur bones at a museum, you can participate in a guided dinosaur dig in Colorado through the half and full day experiences through the museum.
Each tour is led by a paleontologist, who will guide participants through every step of discovering, uncovering, and preparing a fossil.
Kids as young as 5 years old can help out at the half day digs, while participates need to be at least 8 years old for the full day digs.
The dig opportunities are based out of the Dinosaur Journey Museum (above) in Fruita, Colorado. Museum admission is included in your dig pricing.
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center
Take a peek into what paleontologists do to prepare their finds for the public at this beautiful dinosaur museum near Colorado Springs.
Check out a triceratops skull, see the scales of a fossilized compsognathus, and try your hand at a fossil dig site in the children's area.
If you're interested in fossils beyond the dinosaur sort, you can find the preserved remains of prehistoric fish and pterosaurs, too.
There's even a place to watch the paleontologists work as they scrape, extract, and assemble the delicate skeletons.
The admission ticket includes the frequent tours of the museum, so check with the main desk on when those will be occurring during your visit.
Tours are around an hour long, and they're geared towards the ages of those taking the tour.
No bored kiddos at this museum!
Phone: (719) 686-1820
Address: 201 S. Fairview Street, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863
Admission: $13/ adults, $12/ seniors, $9/ children 5-12, free for kids 4 and under
Hours: Year round, Monday-Saturday 9 AM-6 PM and Sunday 10 AM-5 PM (Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day)
Garden Park Fossil Area
Some incredible discoveries have come out of this area, including complete Allosaurus and Stegosaurus skeletons.
Garden Park was one of the first paleontological sites in the U.S., so the discoveries here literally shaped the field as it was getting started.
In the mid-1800s, a major row occurred in the Garden Park area between two leading scientists of the day, Edward Drinker Cope, who worked in the Cope-Lucas Quarry, and Othniel Charles Marsh, who worked in the Marsh-Felch Quarry.
Visitors can walk through both of their non-defunct quarries and see the advances each camp was making as they were competitively looking for fossils.
Cope ultimately discovered more than a thousand different extinct species while Marsh discovered the first pterosaur fossil, which was just one of his many claims to fame.
Your work on these old birds & on the many fossil animals of N. America has afforded the best support to the theory of evolution, which has appeared within the last 20 years. -Charles Darwin in a letter to Othniel Charles Marsh
When visiting, be aware that this area has been designated a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern and National Natural Landmark.
Be considerate of the local flora and fauna, take care not to damage the delicate ecosystem, and always leave no trace.
Phone: (719) 269-8500 for the Royal Gorge Field Office of the BLM
Address: 6 miles north of Cañon City, Colorado on Fremont County Road 9. See here for specific details on how to access the trailhead.
Admission: free
Hours: always open
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Prehistoric Journey exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is worth the cost of admission alone since visitors have the ability to watch animatronic dinosaurs duel, learn about prehistoric flora, and get handsy with actual fossils.
The exhibit provides a holistic approach to educating visitors about the dinosaurs in Colorado.
Instead of showcasing a few impressive fossils and being done with the affair, the exhibit helps visitors learn about the evolution of prehistoric species, early climate changes that made life possible, and the habitats that supported the massive dinosaurs in their prime.
We loved this area at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science so much that my kids referred to it for the rest of the trip as "that dinosaur museum" we'd visited in Denver!
Note: while the dinosaur section of the museum is fantastic, you shouldn't miss out on the other great exhibits here, too. We spent a half day here and still didn't see everything!
There's also a planetarium ($5/show), an Imax theatre ($6/show), and rotating special exhibits (cost varies, so check the Denver Museum of Nature and Science website).
Phone: (303) 370-6000
Address: 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado
Admission: $19.95/ adult, $16.95/ senior, $14.95/ children 3-18, children 2 and under free. The adult, senior, and children tickets are reduced by a dollar for off-peak time visits and online ticket purchases.
Hours: Year round Saturday-Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM; Fridays 9 AM-9 PM; Closed Christmas Day
Picket Wire Canyonlands Track Site
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Get toe to toe with fossilized dinosaur footprints here!
The trail to get to the largest dinosaur footprint site in North America--Picket Wire Canyonlands Track Site-- is a scenic 3 mile (roundtrip) jaunt along the Purgatoire River.
Access the area via the Withers Canyon trailhead near La Junta, Colorado.
If you've got a few hours (and plenty of water), it's well worth the effort.
There are also local driving tours that you can take to get you to the site more quickly if you've got kids who won't last the entire trek.
You'll also see the Rourke Ranch on your way, which might be a great opportunity to talk with your kids about ranching and its importance in this area.
Phone: (719) 384-2181 for the Comanche National Grasslands Information Center
Address: The Trailhead is 3 miles down Forest Road 300 A outside of La Junta.
Additional directions can be found here.
Admission: free
Hours: always open
Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience
The action-packed Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience teaches visitors about the process of finding and exhibiting dinosaur fossils in Colorado in both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Museum
The museum's 10,000 square feet is packed with tons of educational fun.
Included in the permanent collection are complete skeletons of several dinosaurs, exhibits on the natural environment of Western U.S. dinosaurs, and an engaging display on the Cretaceous Interior Seaway (translated: Colorado was once at the bottom of an ancient ocean!)
Guided tours are available throughout the day, and they're included in the price of admission.
Dino Wild Walk
Dino Wild Walk is a can't-miss outdoor experience with realistic (and huge!) animatronic dinosaurs.
Along the trail are 16 stops, each with its own dinosaur and information board. There's not a lot of shade on the trail, so bring a hat and some water as you make the loop.
Ropes Course
After completing the loop, take on the ropes course behind the museum.
Choose from two options: the TriceraTots junior ropes course and the T-Rex Terror course for older kids and adults. The T-Rex Terror course has a 20 foot roaring dinosaur staring guests down: escape if you can!
Paleo Lab
PIN ME!
The scientists in the Paleo Lab are devoted to their dinosaurs: what you see in the lab are fossils that were excavated from the Garden Park Fossil Area (above). It is run by the Garden Park Palentological Society, who find, clean, and prepare local fossils for display.
Phone: (719) 275-2726
Address: 44895 W. US 50, Cañon City, Colorado 81212
Admission: Visitors can buy tickets a la carte to each of the attractions, but a bundled deal is the way to go.
The full Dinosaur Experience ticket includes the Museum, Dino Wild Walk, and ropes course for $38.95/adult and $28.95/child.
Discounts for seniors, active military, veterans, and Fremont County residents.
Hours: Closed Monday-Wednesday; Thursday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM; Sunday 12 PM-5 PM
Red Rocks Ampitheatre
Come for the dinosaurs, and stay for the music at Red Rocks Ampitheatre!
Red Rocks is much more than its ampitheatre, so plan to stay before or after your next concert here to explore. This area is close to Dinosaur Ridge (above), and it's where the first Stegosaurus skeleton was found.
By the way, did you know that Colorado has a state fossil? It's the Stegosaurus skeleton that was found here!
There aren't guided tours of this area like at many of the other spots on this list, but the on-site visitors center does provide enough information to get fossil hunters situated.
Start at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre itself: walk around the tall walls, called Creation Rock and Ship Rock, to see if you can spot the fossils of several ancient reptiles.
While on your hikes around the 868 acre site, look for fossilized dinosaur footprints and other fossil fragments.
Remember: don't attempt to remove any of the fossils you see.
Phone: (720) 865-2494
Address: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, Colorado
Admission: free (added charge if attending an event)
Hours: Ampitheatre > event days, opens 1 hour before sunrise, and closes prior to the event (call for specifics).
Non-event days, opens 1 hour before sunrise and closes 1 hour after sunset. // Visitors Center > daily March-October, 7 AM-7 PM, daily November-February 8 AM-4 PM
Dinosaur National Monument
Another massive dinosaur themed site, Dinosaur National Monument is a must-do if you're interested in fossils.
There are over 1,500 real dinosaur bones embedded in the cliff face here, and you can get incredible close to see them.
Other ancient artifacts within the park include petroglyphs from early Native Americans.
If you're interested in getting a guided tour, show up for one of the free ranger-led Fossil Discovery hikes.
These hikes only cover a fraction of the property's 210,000 acres, so give yourself plenty of time to explore.
[Note: as of March 2022, the ranger hikes are temporarily stopped due to the pandemic. Check the NPS website on any changes.]
Plus, this site is in Dinosaur, Colorado, which I feel gives Colorado fossil hunters extra credit!
Phone: (435) 781-7700
Address: 4545 Highway 40, Dinosaur, Colorado
Admission: $25/vehicle for a 7-day pass (free for National Parks pass holders)
Hours: outdoors areas are always open; Main Visitors Center, daily March-April and October-November, 9 AM-5 PM; daily December-February 10 AM-4 PM; daily May-September, 8 AM-6 PM
Are you interested in dinosaurs or fossils? Would you like to go fossil hunting in Colorado?
