Fossils, Rock Art, and Regional History
The Quarry Exhibit Hall displays a wall of about 1,500 dinosaur bones; visitors can also touch real, 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils there. This brings together views of a vast wall of bones and the chance to actually touch fossils.
The McKee Spring Petroglyphs offer a different trace of the past: large, human-like depictions from the Fremont culture. Several petroglyph panels lie along a loop trail about a quarter of a mile long.
The Museum of Uintah County preserves and shares the heritage of the Uinta Basin, from its earliest peoples to the present. In the First Peoples exhibit, you can see traditional clothing, tools, pottery, and beadwork. The museum also offers tours, workshops, themed art exhibits, and other exhibitions. Its combination of artifacts and educational programs spans the material culture and the diverse ways the museum presents its subject.
River, Trails, and Canyons
On the Green River, one-day rafting trips from Rainbow Park travel 9 miles through Class I to III rapids.
The Island Park Trail is about 8 miles one way, challenging, and not regularly maintained. Nearby, the Jones Hole Trail runs from the Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery to the Green River; it is 4 miles one way, or 8 miles round trip. For comparison, note that the Island Park Trail’s 8-mile distance is one way, while the Jones Hole Trail’s total round-trip distance is also given.
Nearby is also the small, scenic Ely Creek Falls. Reach it by following Ely Creek for about a quarter of a mile from a point about 2 miles from the Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery. The two approximate distances describe different segments: first the distance to the starting point, then the route along the creek.
Daniels Canyon runs from east to west and is characterized by tall, sheer walls. The Daniels Canyon Wilderness Study Area is in Uintah County and offers views of Dinosaur National Monument. For hikes on the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument, there are established trails near the visitor centers and along Cub Creek Road; hiking off-trail is also permitted in many areas.
Nearby, the Dinosaur Trackway Trailhead provides access to a well-preserved Jurassic-period site: several dinosaur tracks are exposed in Nugget Sandstone. The Dinosaur Trackway Trail is about one mile long and marked with cairns and interpretive signs.
Cycling and Climbing Routes
Nearby, the McCoy Flats Mountain Bike Trail System comprises 35 miles of interconnected mountain bike loops for cyclists of all experience levels. The main trailhead has a compacted gravel parking lot for 25 to 30 vehicles; maps are available at the trailheads, and interpretive signs are at the main trailhead.
The Goblin City Trail is an existing, non-motorized hiking trail in Uintah County. Since route conditions and work can change, check for current notices before setting out. Near Vernal is the public Ashley Gorge Via Ferrata. It uses fixed steel cables, rungs, ladders, footholds, and bridges as climbing aids and was developed on property owned by Uintah County.
Discover more destinations: Vernal, Wayne County, Millard County, Okanogan County, Rich County, Tooele, San Juan County, Sevier County.
For the broader travel overview: Utah.
