Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway – UT
Details
- DesignationNational Scenic Byway (2002)
- Intrinsic QualitiesNatural
- LocationUT, CO
- Length328 of 480 total miles

Overview
The Dinosaur Diamond runs through the best land in the world to learn about dinosaurs. Numerous sites are available to the public where bones and tracks are still visible in the ground. Many museums along the way add to the opportunities to see and learn about dinosaurs.
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Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau
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Carbon County Visitor Center
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Moab Information Center
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Dinosaur Travel Board
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San Juan Visitor Center
Story of the Byway
Let your imagination run wild on this road trip 200 million years in the making. The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway bridges eastern Utah and western Colorado in a real-life “Jurassic Park” along more than 500 miles of beautiful red rock scenery, rugged Book Cliffs and cool waters of the Colorado and Green rivers.
Driving Directions
The Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway travels through two states (Colorado and Utah), creating a loop that resembles a diamond shape. The byway begins in Grand Junction, Colorado, and travels west through the Utah towns of Moab, Green River, Price, and Vernal before crossing back into Colorado to Rangely, Fruita, and back to Grand Junction. The byway can be followed to the north going in a counterclockwise direction, or to the west, going in a clockwise direction. Colorado Section The Colorado section of the Dinosaur Diamond travels through the western portion of the state. Start at the Utah-Colorado border on US-40. Turn south onto CO-64 at Dinosaur and continue to Rangely. From Rangely, travel south on SR 139 to Loma. From Loma, travel east to Fruita on US 6 and Grand Junction.To loop back to the UT section, travel west on I-70 to the UT/CO border, where this section of the byway ends. Utah Section UT/CO Border via I-70 to Moab, The Utah Section starts at the UT/CO border on I-70. Go west. Take exit 212, the eastern Cisco exit, and turn left over the Interstate. A mile and a half west of Cisco is the three-way junction with UT-128. *Turn left and head south toward the Colorado River, Castle Valley, and Moab. At the intersection with US 191, turn left (south) to reach Moab, UT. Moab, UT to Green River, UT, Turn right (north) onto US 191 and cross the Colorado River. Continue north to Crescent Junction and I-70. Take I-70 west past Green River, UT. Green River, UT to Price, UT, Two miles west of Green River, UT turn north at exit 156 onto US 6/191. Head north towards Price, UT, about 60 miles northwest. Price, UT to Duchesne, UT, From Price, continue north and west on US 6/191 through the town of Helper. Four miles north of Helper is where US 6/191 splits. Take the right-hand turn onto US-191 that goes down and over the Price River, the railroad tracks, and around the coal-fired power plant you see there. Continue on US-191 44 miles up Willow Creek Canyon, up and over Reservation Ridge with a pass at just over 9,000 feet above sea level, and down through Indian Canyon to the town of Duchesne, UT in the Uintah Basin. Duchesne, UT to Vernal, UT, A few blocks after crossing the Strawberry River, there is a stop sign that divides US 191 from US 40.Turn right and head east on US 40 through Myton at the Duchesne River bridge and then through Roosevelt. US 40 continues on into Vernal ending up on Main Street. Vernal, UT to UT/CO Border, Take US 40 east for 12 miles to reach Jensen, UT. Continue east across the bridge over the Green River. Travel 18 miles to UT/CO border where this the Utah section of the byway ends
Points of Interest
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Museum of Moab
prehistoric exhibits as well as more recent artifacts from native cultures, the explorations of Spanish missionaries and early settlers
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Copper Ridge Dinosaurs Tracks and Dinosaur Stomping Grounds track site
Imprints left by large dinosaurs.
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Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail and Track Site
1.8 mile out-and-back trail.
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Arches National Park
Scenic area for camping, hiking with 2,500 stone arches and red rock vistas.
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Moab Giants
Dinosaur attraction: museum, theater, laboratory, an outdoor walkway lined by replica dinosaurs, café, gift shop
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Island In The Sky District of Canyonlands National Park
Information, back country permits, water.
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Thanksgiving Point/Museum of Ancient Life
Dinosaur Museum in Lehi.
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Sego Canyon Petroglyphs
Itinerary
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Dinosaur Adventure
Day 1
Start your prehistoric exploration of the byway with a visit to the Moab Information Center. Here you can get directions to Moab’s dinosaur and rock art sites. Head to the Copper Ridge Dinosaurs Tracks and Dinosaur Stomping Grounds. Stop for lunch on the trail, then continue on to Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail and Track Site for more. Head back to Moab for dinner and a visit to the Moab Rock Shop.
Day 2
Wake up early to see the sunrise at Arches National Park. Spend the morning touring the area and finding the dinosaur tracks. Enjoy lunch at the Moab Giants Café, then visit the Moab Giants dinosaur attraction. Head to Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset before returning to Moab for the night or continuing on the byway.
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