Last updated: 9/23/2010
16831 West Alameda ParkwayMorrison, CO 80465
May-Oct
Monday - Saturday
9 AM - 5 PM
Nov-Apr 9am-4pm
Jun-Aug
Monday - Saturday
10 AM - 4:30 PM
Sep-May 10am-3:30pm
Jun-Aug
Monday - Saturday
10 AM - 4 PM
Sep-May 10am-3pm
Trail Free (main aattraction)
Exhibit Hall $1 (5 & under free)
Shuttle Bus Tour $3 (5 & under free)
|
Tom Moklestad
phone: 303-687-3466 x13
|
|
Erin Fair
phone: 393-697-3455 x11
|
Dinosaur Ridge is an outdoor museum along a trail along Alameda Parkway that goes up and over a spectacular mountain of a type called a hogback. Locally the mountain is named Dinosaur Ridge because of abundant dinosaur fossils along the trail. One site has Late Jurassic dinosaur bones from about 150 million years ago exposed in a cliff of sandstone; another has over 300 footprints made by Early Cretaceous dinosaurs about 100 million years ago. Another 15 or so interpretive sites include beautiful scenic overlooks of the Denver Basin and Red Rocks Park. At the visitor center at the base of the ridge on the east side are a gift shop and an exhibit hall, Trek Through Time.
The exhibits include 5 large murals depicting local environments set in either the Jurassic or Cretaceous periods, plant and animal fossils from the area, touchable replica fossils and selected rock specimens, and hands-on interactive exhibits including those that illustrate how tracks are made. The Friends of Dinosaur Ridge are currently raisng funds to build a structure over the world-famous tracksite in order to preserve the tracks for future genrations. With staff and volunteers the Friends provide guided tours, talks and special events for tens of thousands of visitors annually. As a result, for many children the Friends provide a rare outdoor experience.
The organization incorporated in 1989 in order to preserve Dinosaur Ridge and educate the public about the natural resources there. In 1994 the group acquired the use of the visitor center. In 2005 the Friends opened Triceratops Trail, four miles to the north in Golden, Colorado and in 2008 the group opened the exhibit, Trek Through Time, at the visitor center.
shuttle bus tours (daily) docent program for Trek Thru Time school & group tours by reservation group tours at Triceratops Trail special events (monthly, May-Oct) lectures (monthly Oct-Nov, Jan-Apr) teacher workshops (summer) kids (K-3) facilitated dinosaur dig adult ed. nightschool (Feb-Mar) kids outdoor class (Mar, Nov) jr. paleontologist - self-guided birthday parties with program
Friends of Dinosaur Ridge is a nonprofit 501-3C. The trail and vistor center are on land owned by Jefferson County Open Space.
3 newsletters and an annual report (quarterly)
Annual Report - March
Ridge Report (newsletter), summer, fall and winter
Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is
provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as
to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc.
and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such
use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.