Klondike Bluffs Dinosaur Track - Hike

The dozens of tracks you will see are predominantly those of carnivorous dinosaurs called allosaurus, which were probably on the hunt for other animals that were coming to what was once a large body of water in the Klondike Bluffs area

Dinosaur track

Most of the tracks are from Allosaurus, the most abundant large predator in the Morrison Formation, Allosaurus was at the top of the food chain, probably preying on large herbivorous dinosaurs, and perhaps other predators. It averaged about 30 feet in length.

Fred Wierum, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Getting there

Take Highway 191 north out of Moab for about 13 miles (milepost 142). Klondike Bluff road is on the right. If you pass the airport, you went too far. The parking area is at the end where you will see a wired fence and gate.

Parking ( 38.773730, -109.712503 )

Klondike Bluffs Trailhead

Note

Dogs allowed
The Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway is only about a mile or two from the Dinosaur Stomping Ground. Both sites can easily be visited on the same trip.

Photo Notes

Pour some water into a track to get a better picture of it
Late in the day or early morning lighting will show off the tracks best and make them easier to see

Distance

4.3 miles total out and back, 350 ft of elevation gain

Route

From the parking area, you will see a kiosk and a yellow cattle guard with access to a dirt road. This is the Copper Ridge Safari Route. Follow this sandy doubletrack road for 0.75 miles.
When you reach a junction with the Dino Flow mountain bike trail, turn right onto the Klondike Road Trail, and this double track becomes single track and eventually enters a dry wash. Hike this for about a half mile.
You will arrive at the bottom of a huge slickrock incline. The route is marked by white lines painted on the slickrock.

As soon as you start keep an eye out for areas to your left surrounded by stones, these are surrounding the first of the dinosaur tracks.
Also, watch for petrified sand ripples. The entire area was once a large body of water. This is the beach area of the prehistoric lake/sea. The ripples are clear evidence the area had an abundance of water and wildlife.
Continue on the slick rock following the white painted lines.
The trail will turn left; however, to see more tracks, continue straight on the slick rock staying close to the left edge where the dirt and slick rock meet.
Keep your eyes on the ground for many other tracks. As the hill begins to crest the slick rock, you will find the best tracks.

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