Self-guided Walking Tours

Explore at Your Own Pace

Self-guided tours are a great way to experience both Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail on your own schedule.

The Dinosaur Ridge Trail features over 15 interpretive stops highlighting fossils, geologic formations, and dinosaur tracks.
Triceratops Trail offers six unique interpretive sites to explore in a shorter, urban setting.

To enhance your visit, pick up a free trail map at the Main Visitor Center Gift Shop or the Martin G. Lockley Discovery Center, or download one of our $8 audio tours (English or Spanish) for a more in-depth experience.

For just $4, you can also add admission to our Exhibit Hall, where our expert guides provide insights into the area’s fossils, geology, and prehistoric history.

Plan Your Visit

Trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset
Free parking is available at the Main Visitor Center:
16831 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO 80465
(Unless otherwise directed)

Check our hours of operation and learn more about Dinosaur Ridge Trail and Triceratops Trail to plan your self-guided adventure.

Walk Dinosaur Ridge

At Dinosaur Ridge, walk the trail and explore at your own pace. We recommend giving youself 1.5-2 hours to explore the sites. NOTE: Please be sure to walk along the inside mountain lane and avoid the outside bicycle lane. Please bring water, wear layered clothing, and expect an elevation gain/loss of 300 feet (91.5m). The trail is stroller, wagon, and dog friendly (be mindful of hot asphalt in the warmer months). There’s limited shade and a single port-o-let along the trail.

Walk Triceratops Trail

In nearby Golden, the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge manages a secondary site called Triceratops Trail. Please head over to that page for more details on the fossils, the parking, and the accessibility.

Walking Distances at Dinosaur Ridge (rounded to nearest .1 mile)

VC Gift Shop Building

Exit to Alameda

East Gate

Tracksite

East Overlook

West Overlook

Bulges

Bones Bed

West Gate

DC Gift Shop Building

Distance from Main Visitor Center Gift Shop

0

0.1

0.3

0.6

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

Distance from East Gate at base of Dinoridge

0.3

0.2

N/A

0.3

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

Large Self-Guided Groups

If you’re planning a self-guided visit with 15 or more people, please complete our Self-Guided Tour Request Form at least two weeks in advance to help us coordinate your visit.

Self-Guided Tour Request Form

For groups of 60 or more, a permit from Jefferson County Open Space may be required, or we may ask you to adjust your plans (such as splitting into smaller groups or choosing a different time) based on availability and other scheduled visitors.

Self-Guided Tour Request Form