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BPX 4-Day: Dinosaur National Monument Echo Park Campground

Dinosaurs once lived in these canyons. The Visitor Center is actually built around canyon walls where dinosaur fossils are embedded. Petroglyphs and Pictographs, messaging of Freemont Culture, can be found in at least 5 separate sites from half mile to 45 miles from Dinosaur National Monument.

The National Monument is within both Utah and Colorado.  With this  destination multiple activities abound.

Nearest Colorado towns: Dinosaur and Rangely.   Summer temperatures can be quite high so select your visit in earlier spring or fall.

Campgrounds: Echo Campground, a group site with a minimum of 8 campers, about 2 hours from the Monument, or inside the Monument are tent only group sites. Petroglyphs and Whispering Cave are within one mile of the Echo Campground Group site. Echo Campground is close to the river and seasonal rafters and boaters will put in within half mile of the Group site. Group campsites within the Monument are also relatively close to Green River.  Campground elevation:  5200'

4WD Vehicle: Only needed on drive into Echo Campground and may be dependent on season. Descriptions of the road into the Campground in guide books and on websites are  more cautious than experienced by 2022 CMC participants. 

Amenities: Both Echo Campground and group sites within the Monument have picnic tables, vault toilets, fire grates. Parking at Echo Campground is off the road, in a level field. Parking at the group sites within the Monument is off the main road. No firewood available at either campground.

Reservations: Recreation.gov 877 444 6777; local managers phone 435 7821 7700; reservations can be made 6  months in advance

Driving:  From Golden 7 hours/310 miles  Directions from Golden to Echo Campgroundz', Colorado - I-70W to Exit 205, CO 9 to Kremmling; US 40 west to Harpers Corner Road to Echo Park Road to campground; pass the individual site campground to go to the group campground.   From Echo Campground to Visitor Center is 40miles/about 1.5 hours.

Fees:  Campsite fee $15 x 3 nights/6 participants = $8 per camper; leaders must reserve campsites in advance; reimbursement by campers is due prior to trip start date; date of campsite reimbursement determined by leader.  Carpool fees - 600 mile baseline with 3 per vehicle including driver = $60 each

Nearest 24/7 ER:  Dinosaur National Monument Rangers 970 824 6501 

Moffat County Sheriff: 970 824 4485

Suggested Backpacking Section (BPX) itinerary for 4-day trip to be used for CMC trips led by BPX leaders for BPX members.

Note:  hiking mileage and elevation gain are not provided since trail selection is determined by trip leader

Day 1 - drive to Echo Campground, set up camp, visit Whispering Cave and Petroglyphs

Day 2 - take one of the two trails directly out of the campground.  A portion of these trails may be underwater in high season requiring alternate route finding and scrambling. Return to campground for evening.

Day  3 - break camp and drive about 2 hours to Dinosaur National Monument; spend the day in the "quarry" where the Visitor Center is built around canyon walls with dinosaur embedded fossils.  There are picnic tables with shade canopy close to the parking lot.  When finished at the Visitor Center, drive to campground selected within  the Monument.  Make camp and spend the night.

Day 4 - break camp; there are several hikes that can be taken within the Monument or participants can travel to other areas offering petroglyphs and pictographs while driving back to meeting location

Recommended tour on Day 4 - Pintado Canyon out of Rangley junction (Hwy 64 & 139). Take Hwy 139  south.  Pintado Canyon tour begins about 3 miles south of the junction and continues for 15 miles.  The tour involves driving to a specified point, exiting the car and hiking a short distance in canyons to view the rock art. 

 https://www.coloradolifemagazine.com/blog/post/canyon-pintados-rock-art

Note:  This trip could be limited to 3 days by driving directly to Dinosaur National Monument and camping there two nights.  Drive would be approximately an hour longer depending on stops along the way.

  • Suitable Activities: Camping
  • Seasons: March, April, May, September, October, November
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • Difficulty: varies
  • 5,200 ft
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  • Trails Illustrated 220
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