If you are driving towards Four Corners on Route 160 you’ll see signs for Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City along the road (just before you reach Tuba City, heading north).
These dinosaur tracks receive 4 out of 5 stars on both Trip Advisor and Yelp, and if you search online to find out if these are real, you’ll find that people generally agree these are real dinosaur tracks. They have been viewed and verified by paleontologists from Northern Arizona University (NAU), as well.
The hike is fantastic, and I highly recommend making the stop. You’ll quickly find that there are hundreds of dinosaur tracks and that the view is fantastic. You’ll see the Hamblin Ridge, and get a glimpse of a barren desert land.
Here are some of the dinosaur tracks.
Even more dinosaur tracks.
These dinosaur tracks were discovered in the beginning of the 20th century, and we have been told that they were discovered during road construction in the area. Either way, they’re an impressive specimen and
This can’t really be called a hike, since it only takes about 15 minutes to view all of the tracks and the elevation is essentially flat.
Watch my video of our tour:
Dinosaur tracks include the following genera:
- Eubrontes
- Grallator
- Coelophysis kayentakatae
- Dilophosaurus wetherilli
Despite what your tour guide says, there are apparently no actual Tyrannosaurus rex tracks at this spot. Yeah, I know, disappointing. Oh, and the “skeleton” that is pointed out to you along your walk is also not real, but is actually just an interesting place where the sandstone eroded. Also, the “tooth” that you’ll see along your walk is apparently not a raptor claw, but is instead most likely a lung-fish gill-plate. That’s according to a site called hikearizona.com which has this excellent review of the site.
And, sadly, the “dinosaur eggs,” and the “dinosaur poop” isn’t real either. I know, major bummer. Above, you can see the “eggs.”
Here’s a photo of the “dinosaur poop” set in the shape of a turtle.
Have fun!
Getting there
You should know that this is open land, not owned by anybody (but it is on the Navajo Reservation). When you park, you’ll be greeted by someone who will inform you that there is no fee to park, or to view the tracks, but that they will give you a guided tour. I’ve included my video above showing the tour, and we gave the lady a $16 tip for her time.
You should know that you are not obligated to take a tour, and can walk around the area yourself freely, and parking is also free.
Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks
U.S. Hwy 160
Tuba City, AZ 86045
13 Comments
[…] are the Tuba City dinosaur tracks real? The answer is yes, and no. I’ve written more about the Tuba City dinosaur tracks in a related […]
We took my son there back in 2003. I remember doing the tour ourselves and giving $10 per person, but was followed back to our vehicle by a guy who was asking very persistently for more money. I didn’t think it was worth more than $30 for the few tracks that were there, so he didn’t get anything else.
It sounds like things have not changed, they are still harassing the tourists.
Hi Jody,
Yeah, I think it depends on who you get to give you the tour.
I understand you can turn down the tour, and just walk around if you wish.
Chris
my family visited here in 1999. Our guide was very nice and my boys loved seeing the dinosaur tracks. I gladly paid for our tour. Please remember these people live below the poverty line in a very isolated area. There aren’t many options for earning a living.
We actually visited this site back in 1997 we were greeted by a young Navajo man called David , he politely gave us a nice tour of the tracks and was also very interesting to talk to about his culture . My 5 year old son was awestruck as he was a dinosaur freak at the time . When the tour was over David again politely asked if we enjoyed the tour and asked could we make a small payment for his time . I gladly paid $20 for his time as it made that part of our US tour a great experience . As Australians visiting the US at the time we came to see how hard it can be for the native Indians to keep their culture going in face of so much change and outside pressures .
[…] Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks: 20 miles South of the Gap Trading Post, a slight Eastern detour onto AZ160 will lead you to a non-descript sign advertising free parking. A Navajo Indian guide will then escort you to a site featuring fossilized dinosaur tracks, eggs and dung. Though the latter two are unconfirmed, the dinosaur tracks are the real deal. Formally, there is no charge for admission to the site, but guides to appreciate gratuities. […]
[…] Dinosaur Tracks […]
We stopped there on our way to Monument Valley yesterday. They didn’t ask for money. We were given a nice tour. We bought a couple things because we felt his time was worth it.
[…] heard of it) and Zion National Park (I can’t sum up my love for Zion easily). Oh, and some dinosaur tracks in Tuba […]
[…] monuments on the Wildcat Trail. Drive from Monument Valley to Sedona. Stop off to check out the Tuba City dinosaur tracks, Wupatki National Monument, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument along the way. Camp at […]
[…] monuments on the Wildcat Trail. Drive from Monument Valley to Sedona. Stop off to check out the Tuba City dinosaur tracks, Wupatki National Monument, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument along the way. Camp […]
[…] When travelling between Page and the Grand Canyon South Rim, you can also stop by Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks. Sitting on a part of the Navajo Nation, this attraction is self-managed, and not part of a National Park. In my opinion this makes for a non-ideal situation. You’re given an amazing first hand experience of multiple dinosaur artifacts, including very clear dinosaur tracks, with the ability to even touch them. However, there is no thought of conservation. And no information is available, besides what a guide may be able to tell you. Entrance is free, but you will be approached by locals offering to guide you, also free of charge. You should take a tour, and tip your guide at the end. Less than half an hour, but amazing to see. You can read more about it here. […]
[…] Arizona, so we could start fresh the next morning. The next day we had a chance to check out the dinosaur tracks nearby before we headed to the Grand Canyon. We took several short stops at several different viewpoints […]