Travel & Field Programs

Buena Vista and Hartsel, CO
June 13 & 14, 2026
SOLD OUT!

Join fellow geology enthusiasts for a weekend of rockhounding in the Arkansas River Valley, exploring Colorado’s rich geologic history and renowned gem localities.

Leave the driving to Dino Ridge Lead Tour Guide Alyce Olson, as we depart from Dinosaur Ridge on Saturday morning by comfortable air-conditioned van and drive into the high country.  Our knowledgeable guides will interpret geologic stops along the way and lead the group in hunting and collecting blue barite near Hartsel.

Your hotel for the night has been reserved in Buena Vista, where you’ll time to explore the town and enjoy dinner on your own. After a hearty hotel breakfast on Sunday morning (included), our guide, geologist Rick Farrand will give an overview of Colorado’s geology, setting the stage for a visit to Ruby Mountain, where participants can collect Apache Tears obsidian and garnets under the guidance of our trip leaders. The trip concludes with lunch in Buena Vista (included), a visit to the local heritage museum, and return trip to Morrison by early evening (~5:00–5:30 PM).

Trip is limited to 12 participants.

Boulder, CO
August 15, 2026
8:00am – 4:30pm

SOLD OUT!

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 the late ichnologist Dr. Martin Lockley, a key figure in the founding and preservation of Dinosaur Ridge.

Spend half the day in private collections alongside renowned 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.

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, in-situ dinosaur tracksites like Dinosaur State Park and 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 co-led by paleontologist Dr. Lou Taylor and Dino Ridge Education Programs Director Erin LaCount. It is designed as a small-group, high-engagement experience for adult learners and enthusiasts.

 Trip is limited to 10–13 participants.

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.