Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – CO

Story of the Byway

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is aptly named: Dinosaurs once roamed here. This route contains some of the world’s most fascinating fossil quarries that reveal its prehistoric history. Along this highway are mountains, rivers and canyons that hold secrets from the past. The byway meanders through protected sites, including two national parks, two national monuments, and two great rivers of this region—Colorado River and Green River. Visible to the eye are remains embedded in the rocks – ancient stones, skeletons and petroglyphs from 100 million years ago are apparent on the surfaces of Dinosaur National Monument. Colorado National Monument is more than a monument—with its monoliths that live within the endless plateau. The red rock canyons create walls to the byway and a home for bighorn sheep and eagles.

Renamed in 2005, the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park honors Mr. Robb who was instrumental in highlighting five distinct sections of the park. These sections are uniquely different river and lake based areas for recreation. Highline Lake State Park resides within the Grand Junction area and is an ideal destination for campers, hikers and anglers. This park, with its lakes, grass, trails and trees, is designated by the Audubon Society for its migratory significance during the winter months. Also along the highway is the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), a 210,172 acre protected public land, known to be canyon country. Red rock canyons and sandstone bluffs can be traced back 600 million years. With pinyons and junipers peppering the land, the Ute tribes continue to honor this land as a link to their ancestors. Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is a visually compelling lesson in American history and paleontology.