Dinosaur Ridge had been on my wish list since a conversation with a family at Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut. They told us about their child’s fossil camp experience there, and we found ourselves thinking a fossil camp might appeal to adults, too. When a business conference brought me to Denver in June 2026, I finally got the chance to visit.
I explored both sides of the ridge on foot, stopping to examine tracks, fossils, rock formations, and interpretive signs. The main dinosaur tracksite was the highlight. I spent much of my visit there, studying the footprints and taking photos and videos.
My visit included about an hour and a half exploring Dinosaur Ridge, followed by exhibits and a stop at the Main Visitor Center. An unexpected detour on arrival added about 40 minutes of walking and hiking beforehand. This guide focuses on the sights I explored and practical details to help you plan your own visit.
Exploring Both Sides of Dinosaur Ridge
My visit began at the Denver Basin Overlook, where I reached the Dinosaur Ridge interpretive route after an unexpected hike from Red Rocks. A couple I met nearby helped me understand what there was to see on either side of the ridge.
I started on the west side, stopping at the raptor tracks, the dinosaur bone bed, and other interpretive sights before reaching the West Jurassic Gate. I took photos and videos along the way, then retraced my steps uphill.
From the overlook area, I continued down the east side toward the main dinosaur tracksite. This was the attraction I most wanted to see, so I lingered there before continuing past Croc Creek and through the East Cretaceous Gate to the Main Visitor Center.
Walking both sides let me appreciate the variety of sights. The main tracks were my highlight, but stopping along the route made the visit much richer than heading straight to one attraction.
The Main Dinosaur Tracksite: My Favorite Stop
The main dinosaur tracksite was the highlight of my visit. After looking forward to Dinosaur Ridge for so long, I wanted time to study the footprints rather than simply take a photograph and move on.
I spent much of my visit here looking across the track-bearing rock and taking photos and videos. Seeing footprints preserved where animals once moved gives this kind of fossil site a different appeal from viewing a skeleton in a museum. The tracks record activity, offering something to examine and something to imagine.
For me, this was a place to slow down. If dinosaur tracks are your main reason for visiting, leave room in your schedule to spend time here rather than treating every stop along the route as an equally brief pause.
Dinosaur Bones, Raptor Tracks, and Other Stops
Although the main tracksite was my favorite, I stopped at all the interpretive stops during my visit. On the west side, the dinosaur bone bed and raptor tracks gave me reasons to pause, examine the rock, and take more photos and videos.
The variety was part of the appeal. Along with dinosaur remains and footprints, I stopped at sites with ripple marks, crocodile traces, concretions, and other rock features. The interpretive signs helped connect what I was looking at with explanations of how these features formed.
You do not need to arrive knowing how to identify every fossil. Give yourself time to read the signs and look closely at the features they describe. Some sights are easier to recognize than others, and that process of looking and learning is part of the experience.
The overlooks added another dimension to the walk, offering broader views between stops focused on the rock’s details. Together, these sights made Dinosaur Ridge a place I was glad to explore beyond its best-known attraction.
Finishing at the Main Visitor Center
After exploring the ridge, I walked to the Main Visitor Center and spent time looking through the exhibits. It was a chance to continue learning after seeing the tracks and fossils outdoors.
I also browsed the gift shop, which had plenty of interesting items, though I didn’t buy anything. Outside, I found a picnic table near dinosaur sculptures and settled in for a snack while waiting for my ride.
I had not had cell coverage at my unexpected Red Rocks drop-off or during the approach hike. At the Main Visitor Center, I connected and requested an Uber back to my downtown Denver hotel. That was my experience on this visit; coverage and ride availability may differ for others.
The stop made an enjoyable finish to an outing I had wanted to take for a long time. My visit was part of a Denver business trip, and getting there became an adventure of its own. Read about the rideshare mix-up, unexpected hike, and lessons learned in Visiting Dinosaur Ridge During a Denver Business Trip.
Use the Map to Plan Your Visit
Before you arrive, download the official Dinosaur Ridge map and decide where you’ll start. It shows the Main Visitor Center and the Martin G. Lockley Discovery Center on opposite sides of the ridge. Selecting the right destination matters, especially if you are arranging a rideshare drop-off.
The map lists the interpretive trail as 1.1 miles one way or 2.2 miles round trip, with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain and loss. It suggests allowing about an hour and a half for the round-trip walk. Give yourself additional time if you want to linger at the tracks, take photos, or explore the visitor center.
Pay attention to the compass: this map places south at the top and north at the bottom. It also shows the Dakota Ridge Hiking Trail separately from the Dinosaur Ridge interpretive route. My unexpected approach hike added extra walking and wasn’t necessary to visit the fossil stops.
Save the map to your phone before leaving your hotel, and confirm your drop-off and return pickup locations. My visit worked out, but a more precise arrival plan would have left more time to see the sights.
Prepare for an Outdoor Walk and Protect the Fossils
The Dinosaur Ridge map notes that the ridge has no shade or water. Bring your own drinking water and plan for sun exposure, with clothing and footwear suited to the walk and the day’s weather. Leave time for the uphill portions and stops to take in the sights.
The route is shared with cyclists, so stay aware of approaching bikes and follow posted directions. If walking the full route doesn’t suit your needs, check with Dinosaur Ridge about available tour options and access arrangements before you visit.
This is a place to observe fossils where they are preserved. The map prohibits rock collecting and climbing. Follow signs and staff guidance about where you may walk and whether any particular feature may be touched. Leave the tracks, bones, and surrounding rock for others to discover.
My photos and videos became the souvenirs I brought home, preserving details I could revisit long after returning to my hotel.
A Bucket List Visit Worth Making
Dinosaur Ridge lived up to the anticipation that began with a conversation at Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut. Seeing the main tracksite was the highlight, but exploring both sides of the ridge and finishing at the visitor center made the outing especially memorable.
You don’t have to be a paleontologist or a youngster at fossil camp to enjoy looking closely and learning something new. My visit reminded me that curiosity can turn a business trip into an experience worth remembering.
For more places to explore, visit our dinosaur tracks guide and fossil places guide. If you are planning an outing around your work schedule, read our guide to combining business trips with outdoor adventures.
Adventure Never Gets Old™