Dinosaur Hill Is One of Fruita’s Most Overlooked Hikes

Did you know that one of Colorado’s most important dinosaur discoveries of all time took place right here in Fruita, Colorado?

Just south of the mighty Colorado River sits Dinosaur Hill. It’s a place many of us drive past every day, while others have no idea what was discovered there back in 1901. Keep scrolling for a reminder of why this is one of Fruita’s favorite short and scenic hikes, packed with prehistoric findings.

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A Walk Through Prehistory: The Story Behind Dinosaur Hill

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Dinosaur Hill in Fruita is part of Colorado’s famous Morrison Formation. It’s a huge Jurassic-age rock layer that covers most of Colorado. The National Park Service says this rock layer is famous for preserving fossils across a big part of the Intermountain West. In Fruita, the Morrison Formation was hiding one of the most complete Apatosaurus finds in the state under Dinosaur Hill, ensuring Western Colorado would stay on the map as a major dinosaur habitat.

Trail Overview: Short but Packed With History

The Dinosaur Hill Loop is a one-mile trail in Fruita, Colorado, full of interpretive signs and fossil impressions. The trail includes some nice views of the Colorado National Monument and the nearby Colorado River. Along the way, guests can read about geology and the fossil context. You can visit the quarry site and see where the mighty Apatosaurus was excavated before it was sent off to the Field Museum in Chicago. The loop includes impressions and molds of bones once embedded in the rock.

What Makes Dinosaur Hill Unique and How to Visit

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Unlike most dig sites, Dinosaur Hill in Fruita is on public land managed by BLM and is free to visit. The walk feels educational, and while you are not allowed to remove any fossils from the site, you can see a real discovery site up close as part of the attraction.