Dinosaur Ridge

Morrison, Colorado

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Walk With a Geologist Guided Walking Tours

Have you ever wondered about the geology behind the discoveries and fossils at Dinosaur Ridge?

Join a professional geologist for a tour of Dinosaur Ridge–a 2½-hour walk and discussion of the geology and changes of the Denver area through time. This walk begins at the Dinosaur Ridge Main Visitor Center, 16831 W. Alameda Parkway. You will be transported by van from the Visitor Center to the west side of Dinosaur Ridge for a 1½-mile walk back. The first quarter-mile of the walk gains approximately 100 feet of elevation. The remaining 1¼ miles of the walk is downhill. These exclusive tours offer you private access to scientists who can give you insider secrets about all of the sites at Dinosaur Ridge.

Your tour leader will explain:

  • the Precambrian–Fountain Formation unconformity located across the valley in Red Rocks Park;
  • the missing rocks and life in between the Precambrian and the Pennsylvanian time;
  • the dinosaur fossils and environment of formation of the Jurassic Morrison Formation;
  • the volcanic ash bed in the Cretaceous Dakota Formation;
  • why there are oil and gas deposits in the Denver Basin;
  • the dinosaur track site that developed along a swamp section of the Cretaceous beach;
  • the tidal channel and associated life along other stretches of that same beach;
  • and finally, the Cretaceous interior seaway that extended across Colorado from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico

Your leader will use maps that show how North America and Colorado fit into a global pattern of movements with the assembly of the supercontinent Pangea that allowed world-wide migration of dinosaurs to our continental dispersal of today.

Tour Dates:

  • Saturday, December 5, 12:00pm
  • Saturday, December 19, 12:00pm

Tour Specifics:

  • Tour is suggested for ages 16+
  • Start time 12:00pm
  • Length: 2.5 hours
  • Minimum of 2 and maximum of 9 participants
  • $15 for adults
  • Tour may be called off for active precipitation, temps below 32 degrees, or lack of registrations.
  • Appropriate attire: comfortable shoes, sun hats, sunglasses, removable clothing (windbreakers, fleeces, etc…)
  • Bring water
  • At this time, all participants must wear a mask (available for purchase in our gift shop).

Register:

  • $15 per person (ages 16+)
  • Reservations by phone: 303-697-3466

Tour Guides:

Kermit Shields received his geology degrees and spent his professional career with Mobil Oil in a variety of production and exploration jobs in both domestic and international offices. After retiring, he became an active volunteer at both the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and at Dinosaur Ridge. He has been on the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge board of directors since 2006.

Bill Stone received bachelor and master of science degrees in geology and spent a career in the petroleum industry, exploring for and developing oil and gas reserves in the U.S. Bill began guiding tours at Dinosaur Ridge in 2018 and loves sharing its geological wonders with everyone.