Public Tours

Length of Program: 45-60 minutes round trip

Times: Buses leave once per hour (Labor Day to Memorial Day) or every 20 minutes (Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Age Appropriateness: Fun for all ages

Pick Up Location: In front of the Gift Shop in the Main Visitor Center complex

Fee: $11/adult (12+), $8/youth (3-11), two years and under are free. Includes bus tour and admission to our indoor exhibit hall, Trek Through Time. All tickets are purchased in the Gift Shop.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHAT will I see on a guided bus tour?

Guided bus tours feature stops at the Bones Bed, the Brontosaur Bulges, and the Dinosaur Track site. You will experience a brief talk at each site and see and touch the fossils.

Your tour includes a 45-60 minute educational experience typically enjoyed most by our guests ages five and up. Many younger guests also enjoy placing their hands in the dinosaur tracks and touching dinosaur bones on our tours. At the Visitor Center, they can also explore our Backyard Bones: Cretaceous Crime Scene dig site and the Seaway Fossil Box.

Though our public tour buses are not available to school groups or other large tour groups, you can coordinate a scheduled tour for your group or school on weekdays.

WHEN can I get on a guided bus tour?

Dinosaur Ridge’s tours operate at different times depending upon the season. Use the chart below for information on our hours of operation and tour departure options.

How do I get on a public bus tour?

When you arrive, head to our Main Visitor Center gift shop to purchase bus tickets. Then find your way to our bus stop 15 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket. If you miss your scheduled departure, return to the gift shop to receive a new time.

To be guaranteed a seat on a Guided Bus tour, you should arrive no later than 3:30 pm (summer) and 2:30 pm (winter). On rare occasions, the 3:30/2:30 pm deadline may be changed without notice due to extreme weather or other unusual circumstances.

Can my whole group ride the same bus?

Our buses seat 14 people. We aim to accommodate large groups (7 or more) and can usually seat the whole group on the same bus. However, in some circumstances, this may not be possible. To guarantee your group is together, consider reserving a scheduled group tour.

Can I walk?

If you decide to walk the Dinosaur Ridge Trail from the Dinosaur Bone Site back to the Visitor Center, (about a 1.5-mile hike that’s mostly downhill), your driver can give you information on the trip to the Bone Site and can get you started on your hike by pointing out the Dinosaur Bones and Brontosaur Bulges before you continue on your own.

Can I take a self-guided tour?

Self-guided visitation is a popular way for families and small groups to explore the features at Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail. Admission to the Dinosaur Ridge Trail, Triceratops Trail (located in Golden, CO), and the Main Visitor Center Gift Shop is free of charge. The Guided Bus Tour and Trek Through Time Exhibit Hall require a paid ticket. There are more than fifteen interpretive sites on Dinosaur Ridge Trail and six interpretive sites along Triceratops Trail that you may visit.

If you are bringing a group of 15 or fewer for a self-guided tour, you do not need to notify us ahead of time. For larger groups, please notify us of your plans to visit at least one week in advance by emailing tours@dinoridge.org.

Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail are open from sun-up to sun-down. Stop in to our Main Visitor Center Gift Shop or the Discovery Center to pick up a free map for your self-guided walking tour. Review our hours of operation or read more about Dinosaur Ridge Trail and Triceratops Trail. For self-guided tours of Dinosaur Ridge, please park at the main Visitor Center located at 16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO, 80465, unless you are instructed otherwise.