Vernal, primarily known as "Dinosaurland" due to its rich dinosaur fossil history, is a community with a population of 11,000, and is a hotspot for paleontological research. It offers a variety of attractions, including Dinosaur National Monument, the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, and Red Fleet State Park. It's a hub for outdoor recreation, including Flaming Gorge, and a gateway to exploring the stunning landscapes of eastern Utah and western Colorado.

Dinosaur National Monument contains the largest concentration of Jurassic-age dinosaur fossils in the United States. It spans 329 square miles with parts of the monument in northwest Colorado and northeast Utah. While the Monument spans both states, dinosaur fossils are only visible in Utah, and Colorado has the scenic canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers.

The famous Quarry Exhibit Hall "Wall of Bones", which displays dinosaur fossils, and the Tour of the Tilted Rocks Scenic Drive are located in Utah near Jensen. The Harpers Corner Scenic Drive is located on the Colorado side near Dinosaur, Colorado.

#1 The Quarry Exhibit Hall "Wall of Bones"

Approximately 150 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed this area, and their fossils are still embedded in the rocks. Explore the world-renowned "Wall of Bones" inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall, featuring dinosaur fossils, exhibits, and an actual cliff face showcasing approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones, including those of Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus.

So how did the bones get discovered? Andrew Carnegie. Yes, Andrew Carnegie, the founder of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution. In hopes of finding dinosaur skeletons for display at the Museums, in 1909, Earl Douglass was sent to the Uinta Mountains, where uplift had exposed rocks from the age of dinosaurs. Between 1909 and 1923, Douglass and his team excavated and shipped over 350 tons of fossils, including complete skeletons, to be reassembled in the museum's grand halls, with notes indicating "Shipped from Jensen [Utah]."

#2 Tour of the Tilted Rocks Scenic Drive

After the quarry, drive the Tilted Rocks Scenic Drive, known as Cub Creek Road. This is a very scenic part of Utah. Stop at the pullouts for geological tilted rocks, stunning views of the Green River, short and long hikes, easily accessible petroglyphs and pictographs, and the history of Josie Morris's Pioneer Cabin.
The petroglyph and pictograph sites reveal the connections of Indigenous people to this land and are credited to the Fremont peoples, who lived in the area between 300 and 1300. The “Vernal Classic Style” is characterized by humanlike figures with trapezoidal bodies and broad shoulders that taper down to thin waists. This style also includes many animal-like figures, including bighorn sheep, elk, deer, snakes, lizards, and abstract animal-like shapes. Additionally, abstract or geometric designs, such as circles, spirals, and lines, are also common.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, log cabins were built by homesteaders and outlaws seeking refuge. Cabins were constructed from local wood, and life consisted of endless hours of chopping wood, cooking meals, milking cows, and tending to the chicken coop and vegetable garden.

At the Quarry Welcome Center, purchase the $1 guidebook, which provides details on stops and points of interest along the 10-mile route.

The Desert Voices Trail offers spectacular views of Split Mountain and several adjacent rock layers (Loop, 1.7 miles round trip, elevation change 300', trailhead near Split Mountain Campground).

Box Canyon Trail is a level walk into a shady canyon that served as a natural corral where Josie Morris would pen and raise her livestock (easy, .25 miles round trip).

#3 Harpers Corner Scenic Drive

This 62-mile, paved, round-trip scenic drive winds along Colorado's canyon rims, offering panoramic views of the gorges carved by the Green and Yampa Rivers. The last 12 miles include several striking viewpoints and overlooks, some as high as 2500 feet above the rivers. The Harpers Corner Trail, located at the end of the route, leads to a vista with views into Whirlpool, Lodore, and Yampa canyons (a 2-mile round-trip hike).

The drive begins at the Canyon Visitor Center in Dinosaur, Colorado. Stock up on fuel, snacks, and water, as there are no services along Harpers Corner Road.

#4 The Flaming Gorge

The Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway (Highways 191 and 44) offers rugged landscapes and stunning views as it winds through the mountains and along the reservoir.

#5 Red Fleet State Park: Discover Dinosaur Tracks!

Impressive dinosaur footprints are located on the slickrock shores of Red Fleet Reservoir, some of which are 10-12 inches wide and three-toed. Approximately 150 million years ago, a dinosaur walked here onto soft sediment, leaving an impression. Over time, this impression was filled with other sediment, and as the layers of sediment hardened into rock, the footprint was preserved as a fossil.
The Dinosaur Trackway Trail is located within Red Fleet State Park. It is a moderate hike (rocky and sandy with some elevation changes) and is well-marked with brown markers and painted black dinosaur tracks. The best time to view tracks is in the early morning or late afternoon, when sunlight is most favorable. The number of visible tracks can vary depending on the water level. Use the AllTrails App for directions.

#6 Fantasy Canyon

Explore this unique landscape with otherworldly, spindly, layered rock towers and other unusual shapes. Fantasy Canyon, also known as Flying Witch locally, boasts unique and intricate rock formations sculpted by erosion over millions of years. The rocks are composed of sandstone and siltstone, deposited during the Eocene Epoch, approximately 40 million years ago. Although it is not a large canyon, it is packed with fascinating geological features. The canyon is easily accessible via a short, easy loop trail and is located 27 miles south of Vernal.

Want to learn more about visiting the 7 nearby National Parks and an easy planning guide? Click Here for more Adventures.

6 Reasons to love Vernal Utah!