Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
VERNAL — From rodeos to rafting to mountain biking, the town of Vernal offers all kinds of outdoor activities for families. But one thing looms large over everything else in the area … dinosaurs.
I recently took my family to Vernal (aka Dinosaurland) to visit some of the museums and points of interest that I haven't seen since I was a kid. This won't come as a surprise to anyone, but a lot has changed in Vernal since I visited with my parents in 1987. For starters, there wasn't a Pogo ball or camcorder in sight. Also, the new restaurant scene in town is seriously impressive. There are also a lot more hotels, which is nice when you're traveling with youngsters and need better options to choose from.
There are still three different state parks within a 15-minute drive from city hall, and a world-renowned national monument that spans more than 300 square miles.
Here's a quick look at seven amazing activities you might want to check out if you're in the area:
1. Dinosaur National Monument: It all starts here — about 328 square miles — and offers a fascinating trip through time. Start at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where you'll see a wall containing more than 1,500 dinosaur bones from species like allosaurus, apatosaurus and stegosaurus. You can even touch some of the bones. Beyond the Quarry Exhibit Hall, there are countless back roads and hiking trails to explore. Be sure to check out the incredible McKee Spring Petroglyphs. Other highlights include the Desert Voices Trail and the Fossil Discovery Trail.
2. Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum: Once you've seen thousands of fossils in the monument, you should visit the museum where many of the most amazing local discoveries are displayed. The first thing you'll notice after walking through the front doors is the magnificent skeleton of a 90-foot-long diplodocus. There's also a lab where you can watch paleontologists working on fossils and preparing them for display. My older kids spent an hour exploring the museum's interactive displays, while my toddler was most interested with the dinosaur replicas in the garden area.
3. Steinaker State Park: Located less than 10 minutes out of Vernal, Steinaker Reservoir is great for wakeboarding, canoeing and kayaking. And, if you bring your pole, you'll have a good chance of catching a trout or bass. After sundown, take a black light around the hills near the boat ramp and you'll likely find a scorpion (they glow like neon under the light).
4. Moonshine Arch: Just a few minutes past Steinaker State Park is the trailhead for this beautiful arch. Stretching 85 feet and reaching 40 feet in height, Moonshine Arch is a standout of the area's Weber sandstone formation. The hike is about 1½-mile round trip, so you can easily complete it in an hour or so. Start early and bring plenty of water for a comfortable family experience.
5. Fantasy Canyon: This otherworldly place features sandstone formations that have been weathered into fascinating shapes. The canyon is small enough that you can explore it in 45 minutes or less, but it's definitely worth the drive.
6. Rafting the Green River: One of the best ways to see Dinosaur National Monument is on a float trip. We went on a single-day outing with Adrift Dinosaur and had a blast on the kid-friendly white water. Along the way, you'll see rock art, caves and wildlife such as bighorn sheep, eagles and blue herons. Get lucky and you might even spot a bobcat or cougar.
7. Red Fleet State Park: You can finish up your Dinosaurland trip with a relaxing beach day at Red Fleet Reservoir. The calm water is perfect for paddleboarding and swimming, and the fishing is also excellent. While you're out there, don't forget to take a quick hike on the famous Dinosaur Trackway trail. You'll find dinosaur tracks that are millions of years old.
