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Road Trip and Travel Honest Reviews, Road Trips & Unique Stops

Dinosaur Ridge Review: Is the Hike Actually Worth It?

By Lary Stucker |
Dinosaurs ridge stomping grounds

If you are searching for unique things to do near Denver, Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado, usually pops up on every list. The promise is incredible: the ability to hike up a paved ridge and see actual, preserved dinosaur footprints and fossils embedded right into the side of the mountain.

But is it a thrilling adventure, or just a hot, uphill walk to look at some smudged rocks?

Our family recently explored this prehistoric wonder. Here is our completely honest review, including the best place to park, the track you can probably skip, and the altitude warning no one tells you about.

Getting Oriented: The Two Visitor Centers

Before you start walking, it is vital to know that Dinosaur Ridge has two separate centers located on opposite ends of the ridge. Where you park entirely dictates how your day will go.

  • The Main Discovery Center (North End): This center has the most parking. More importantly, it is located closest to the largest dinosaur track deposits. If you are short on time, park here.
  • The West Discovery Center: A much smaller center that sits across the street from the west end of the trail. It features a few indoor fossil displays and dinosaur statues.
Dinosaur ridge discovery center
A small discovery center sits across the street from the west end of the Dinosaur Ridge trail.
Dinosaur ridge brachiosaurus statue
This brachiosaurus statue sits next to some picnic tables and shade trees. it’s a great palace to have a snack before heading back onto the ridge trail.
Dinosaur Ridge Main Visitors Center
At the main visitor center there are fossils, options for booking guided tours, and a gift shop.
Dinosaur ridge raptor statue
Within the discovery center they have several dinosaur statues (like this raptor) and fossils on display.
The West center is great for a quick indoor look and a snack under the shade trees, but the Main Center on the North end is closer to the action.

Walking the Ridge: The “Stomping Grounds” vs. The Disappointments

Our favorite way to experience Dinosaur Ridge is to simply walk the paved trail. We started from the small parking lot near the West side Discovery Center and proceeded up the ridge.

The Highlights: As you walk, the side of the mountain literally opens up to reveal the past. You will see areas with upended stratum (indicating major geological upheaval) and small pieces of land that have slid away to reveal perfectly preserved prints.

The undisputed highlight is the massive “Stomping Grounds” wall. Here, you can get right up close to massive duckbill dinosaur tracks sitting right next to smaller tracks from the same species—which gives paleontologists evidence that these dinosaurs actually exhibited parenting behavior!

The Disappointments (Our Real Talk): We were incredibly excited to see the “Raptor Tracks” exhibit. The sign claims that raptor tracks are extremely rare and that only twelve sites exist in the world where you can see them. However, the track is so weatherworn that we couldn’t actually make it out. Even staring directly into the painted red ring that is supposed to highlight the print, we saw nothing but rock.

Additionally, we decided to hike the nearby Dakota Ridge trail up to the summit. Honestly? We were not impressed with the view. Save your energy for the main Dinosaur tracks.

Dinosaur ridge theropod tracks
This theropod track is one of the first displays you come across on the trail from the small discovery center.
Dinosaur ridge inverted dinosaur track
As you walk along the edge there is a section carved out where you can see the impression a brontosaurus made as it compressed the earth under its enormous weight.
Dinosaur ridge rare raptor track display
Apparently raptor tracks are extremely rare. The sign says only twelve sites exist where you can see raptor tracks.
Dinosaur ridge raptor track
This red ring in the raptor display is supposed to indicate the precise location of the Raptors track. No matter how hard we looked we were unable to spot it.
Dinosaur ridge prints revealed
Besides the main”stomping grounds” there are a few spots on the trail where you can see the land has given way to reveal more dinosaur tracks. You can only imagine how many more tracks wait to be discovered!
Dinosaurs ridge upended deposits
Throughout the area you can see upended stratum; indicating major upheaval.
Dinosaur ridge huge ash layer deposit
In the rock layers there is a consistent layer of ash from either a major volcanic eruption or some other major burn event.
Dinosaur ridge Dakota ridge trail
The start of the Dakota ridge trail. We walked up to the summit and was not impressed with the view.
Dinosaur ridge touching duck-bill dinosaur print
These larger duckbill dinosaur tracks are next to smaller tracks from the same species. This gives paleontologists evidence that these dinosaurs exhibit parenting behavior.
The large duckbill tracks are amazing, but no matter how hard we looked at the red circle for the rare Raptor track, we couldn’t spot a thing.

The “Real Talk” Survival Guide: 3 Tips for Your Visit

  • ⛰️ Prepare for the Altitude: You will be walking straight uphill at an altitude of over 6,000 feet. If you traveled to Denver from sea level, be prepared to get winded quickly. Take it slow.
  • 🥵 Bring Water and Sunblock: There is zero shade on this paved walk. The Colorado sun is intense, and getting dehydrated or overheated is a very real concern.
  • ⏱️ The “Quick Trip” Hack: If you want to make this a quick visit (or if you have small kids who can’t handle the uphill walk), park at the Main Center on the North end and walk straight to the “Stomping Ground” exhibit. The rest of the ridge is cool, but the Stomping Grounds are the absolute “big show.”

FAQ: What You Need to Know

How long does it take to walk Dinosaur Ridge?
If you walk the entire paved trail from one visitor center to the other and back, expect it to take about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on how often you stop to look at the exhibits.
Is there a shuttle bus?
Yes! If you do not want to do the uphill walk, Dinosaur Ridge offers a guided bus tour for a small fee. The expert guides drive you along the ridge, stopping at the major fossil sites to explain the history and geology.