Pros about Dinosaur National Monument: It was a quick 20 minute drive from our Campsite and Steinaker State Park. Interesting dinosaur exhibits.
Cons about Dinosaur National Monument: Despite its name there were no actual dinosaurs. Lots of bones and some replicas, but no actual dinosaurs running around – BOO!
Our visit to the monument was a nice way to break up our one full day at Steinaker. Parking at the visitor center was easy, even in a RV. After checking out the visitor center, some of the adults and older kids elected to take the mile and a half hike up to the Quarry Exhibit Hall while others took the tram. The temperature was starting to climb but it wasn’t too bad so the hike up was still pleasant. We did all end up taking the tram back down though.
We saw a few fossils along the trail but the real show was located in the enclosed (and air conditioned) exhibit hall. There they have a rock wall with a bunch of fossils so you can really get a taste of what it was like for the first fossil hunters who found and excavated this dinosaur graveyard.
For anyone who is interested in dinosaurs or has kids who are, definitely make it a point to stop by if you’re in the area.