Travel & Field Programs
Geology, Gems, and Minerals, Oh My!
Buena Vista and Hartsel, CO
June 13 & 14, 2026
Join fellow geology enthusiasts for a weekend adventure into the Arkansas River Valley, exploring Colorado’s rich geologic history and renowned gem localities. Departing from Dinosaur Ridge, travel into the high country with interpretive geologic stops along the way before an afternoon of hands-on rockhounding for blue barite near Hartsel.
Overnight in Buena Vista, with time to explore the town and enjoy dinner on your own. Sunday begins with a guided overview of Colorado’s geology, setting the stage for a visit to Ruby Mountain, where participants can collect Apache Tears obsidian and garnets. The trip concludes with lunch in Buena Vista, a visit to the local heritage museum, and return to Morrison by early evening (~5:00–5:30 PM).
Trip is limited to 12 participants.
A Journey Through CU Collections
Boulder, CO
August 15, 2026
8:00am – 4:30pm
Join Dinosaur Ridge and the University of Colorado Boulder for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes exploration of the CU Museum of Natural History. This full-day experience offers rare access to fossil collections typically kept out of public view, including significant track collections from renowned ichnologist Dr. Martin Lockley, a key figure in the founding and preservation of Dinosaur Ridge.
Spend half the day in private collections alongside paleontologist Dr. Karen Chin, exploring cabinets, archives, and research spaces not open to the public. Then, enjoy time in the museum’s public exhibits, showcasing over a century of scientific discovery since its founding in 1902.
Go beyond the exhibits and discover what’s hidden behind the scenes! This is a rare opportunity to experience paleontology up close.
Trip is limited to 20 participants.
Fossil Frontiers of New England
East Coast: CT, MA, & NY
October 1-6, 2026
Explore the foundational institutions of American paleontology on a curated multi-day field trip through Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. From the historic halls of Yale Peabody Museum to the collections at Beneski Museum of Natural History, and from iconic in-situ tracksites like Dinosaur State Park to the world-renowned American Museum of Natural History, this immersive experience connects participants to the people, places, and discoveries that shaped dinosaur science in North America.
Participants will engage with historic collections, explore dinosaur tracks preserved exactly where they were made, and gain insight into both early discoveries and modern paleontological research which links bones, tracks, and landscapes into a deeper understanding of prehistoric life.
This trip will be led by Erin LaCount and is designed as a small-group, high-engagement experience for adult learners and enthusiasts.
Trip is limited to 10–13 participants.
St. George Tracksites & Fossil Quarry Field Experience
St. George, UT
October 23-27, 2026
Step into deep time in southwestern Utah on this immersive paleontology field experience. Explore the renowned Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, featuring an exceptional Early Jurassic tracksite, and go behind the scenes in museum collections and prep labs.
Participants will also excavate fossils at the active Substation Quarry and join a guided field excursion to lesser-known tracksites and striking sandstone landscapes, culminating with a visit to Red Hills Desert Garden where additional dinosaur tracks are preserved in situ.
Trip is limited to 8-12 participants.
