Walk With a Geologist at Dinosaur Ridge

Walk with a Geologist at Dinosaur Ridge Trail is a 2.5-hour (1.5 mile) walking tour of the East and West sides of Dinosaur Ridge led by a professional or amateur geologist. In addition to the interpretation of the dinosaur track and fossil sites, the tour includes an in-depth discussion of the geology and changes of the Denver area through time. All walkers require a ticket to be transported via shuttle bus to the starting point. This tour is designed for participants ages 16 and older.

This enhanced walking tour will explain:

• the Precambrian–Fountain Formation unconformity located across the valley in Red Rocks Park;
• the missing rocks and life in between the Precambrian and the Pennsylvanian time;
• the dinosaur fossils and environment of formation of the Jurassic Morrison Formation;
• the volcanic ash bed in the Cretaceous Dakota Formation;
• why there are oil and gas deposits in the Denver Basin;
• the dinosaur track site that developed along a swamp section of the Cretaceous beach;
• the tidal channel and associated life along other stretches of that same beach;
• and finally, the Cretaceous interior seaway that extended across Colorado from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico

Your leader will use maps that show how North America and Colorado fit into a global pattern of movements with the assembly of the supercontinent Pangea that allowed world-wide migration of dinosaurs resulting in our continental dispersal of fossils today.

Tour Dates & Times

April 13th @12:00pm-2:30pm – Sign Up Here

May 11th @9:30am-12:00pm – Sign Up Here

June 8th @9:30am-12:00pm – Sign Up Here
June 22nd @9:30am-12:00pm – Sign Up Here

Tour Specifics

• $20 per person (All walkers require a ticket to be transported via a shuttle bus to their starting point)
• Tour is suggested for ages 16 and older.
• 2.5 hours
• Admission to the Exhibit Hall is included with each ticket
• Masks are required on the shuttle bus (ages 3+).
• Tour may be called off for active precipitation, temps below 32 degrees, severe winds, or lack of registrations.
• Appropriate attire: comfortable shoes, sun hats, sunglasses, removable clothing (windbreakers, fleeces, etc…)
• Bring water
  
• Minimum of 2 and maximum of 13 participants