On the east side of the Ridge, just west of the C-470/Alameda interchange, is our Main Visitor Center. Our Main Visitor Center Complex is where you’ll begin your visit at Dinosaur Ridge. You will enjoy all that we have to offer on our 1.5-acre site. Take a 360 degree virtual tour of the Main Visitor Center Grounds so you know what to expect.
Masks are required to enter the Discovery Center (ages 3+). You can safely roam and run, learn and debate, and enjoy a National Natural Landmark in Denver’s backyard. Learn more about our new protocols and processes.
At the Main Visitor Center you will find:
- Hands on experiences. Find fossils in the Benton Seaway Box, uncover a dinosaur at Backyard Bones, visit our on-site dinosaur replicas, and try your hand at Sluice Mining.
- Exhibits, both indoor and outdoor. Trek Through Time’s paleo-murals, our Triceratops skull, T-rex teeth, iguanodon thumb spikes, and displays of fossils and bones.
- The Main Gift Shop. Pick up maps for hiking, purchase shuttle bus tickets, tickets for Trek Through Time, souvenirs, and snacks.
- The Stegosaurus Snack Shack. This seasonal snack bar with “grab and go” food options (granola bars, candy, water) is located at the Main Visitor Center.
Main Visitor Center Complex Hours:
Located at 16831 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465
| Visitor Center (Gift Shop) | Guided Bus Tours Departures | Walking Tours | Trek Through Time | Stegosaurus Snack Shack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day to Labor Day | 9:30am-4pm, every 20 minutes | 9:30am start, Fri/Sat 10:30am start, Sun | |||
| Labor Day to Memorial Day | 9:30am-3pm, one per hour | ||||
| May through October | 9am-5pm, Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday | 9:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Saturday 10am-4:30pm, Sunday | |||
| November through April | 9am-4pm, Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday | 9:00am-3:30pm, Monday-Saturday 10-3:30pm, Sunday | |||
| Approximately June 1 to August 15 | 10am-3pm |
Main Visitor Center Features
Trek Through Time Exhibit Hall
Trek Through Time is the indoor exhibit hall at our Main Visitor Center Complex on the east side of the Ridge. Many of our tracks and replica displays are for touching and exploring.
Kids Dig Areas
Kids love our dig areas. Enjoy a simulated dinosaur dig that teaches kids how paleontologists search for fossil evidence or sift for fossils and shark teeth in our seaway fossil box.
Visitor Center Gift Shop
Our Main Visitor Center Gift Shop is where you’ll purchase your bus tour tickets, pick up a map, obtain information, or find a souvenir to remind you of your visit to Dinosaur Ridge.
