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Dinosaur Ridge
Science & Nature Museum in Denver, Colorado
Dinosaur Ridge
Lakewood / Morrison / Golden
view website16831 W Alameda Pkwy
Morrison, CO 80465
303-697-3466
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Science & Nature Museum
Dinosaur Ridge Description
Driving through Morrison on I-465, 15 miles outside of Denver, you might do a double-take when spying something off the highway: footprints. Huge footprints. You've just spotted Dinosaur Ridge, an outdoor museum open from dawn to dusk, year-round, and sure to be a huge hit with your dinosaur fans. Those footprints are real, discovered in the 1930s during highway construction. Many other dinosaur fossils have been discovered here, including Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus (the Colorado state fossil).
Kid Tips
School-Age Kids: Kids will get a big thrill comparing the size of their own feet to the dinosaur footprints. The bones and fossils of prehistoric insects and plants, etched into the scraped rock walls, will grab their attention, too.
Planning Notes
- Book a guided tour. Call two weeks ahead for reservations.
- Dress for mountain weather. Basically, that means layering. Denver summers are hot and dry, but weather can quickly change to cold or rainy, so keep wind- and rain-proof jackets handy.
- Look for "Dinosaur Discovery Days." On a few Saturdays each year, the highway that runs along the ridge is closed to traffic but open to walking tours with volunteer guides; check the Website for dates during your visit.
Just the Facts
Hours: The Ridge is open from dawn to dusk. Visitor Center: May-Sept., Mon. -Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. Oct.-April: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun. noon-4 p.m.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
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What's Nearby?
- Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre 18300 W. Alameda Parkway
Morrison, CO 80465
303-697-4939 39.66556611111111 -105.205255 - Heritage Square Music Hall 18301 W. Colfax Ave
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-7800 39.7139625 -105.21245416666666
