The World’s Longest Dinosaur Tracks Open for Global Travelers: A Jurassic Wonderland in Colorado

Colorado’s Jurassic wonder as the world’s longest dinosaur tracks open to the public, revealing a prehistoric path through time.

Approximately 150 million years ago, a dinosaur with an elongated neck wandered the area now known as Colorado. This creature, at one point, made an unusual maneuver, tracing a broad 270-degree arc with its path. Today, visitors can marvel at the 134 consecutive footprints left by this sauropod from the late Jurassic period. This trackway, the longest continuous dinosaur trackway in the world, is now under federal protection, offering a portal back to prehistoric times.

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service announced the purchase of three plots totaling 27 acres in Ouray County, Colorado. Two of these plots encompass the stretch of sauropod tracks spanning 106 yards, known as the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Track site.

These fossilized prints are found west of the small town of Ouray, nestled within the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. Positioned about 9,300 feet above sea level in sandstone, these imprints document one of the few known cases where a dinosaur dramatically changed its walking direction. Although similar trackways have been observed in China and near Moab, Utah, this site is unique in preserving a complete turn of more than 180 degrees.

The Charles family originally purchased this land in 1945, hoping to find gold. It wasn’t until 2021 that they recognized the significance of the shallow depressions on their property, which often collected water, as dinosaur footprints.

In 2022, the family reached out to the Forest Service to explore the possibility of selling the land. Two years later, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests acquired this historic site from the Charles Real Estate Trust for $135,000, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Forest Service plans to provide public access to these dinosaur tracks via the existing Silvershield Trail, a challenging two-mile path accessible to hikers and horse riders. Enhancements are planned at the site, including educational signage, interpretive displays, and a dedicated website to emphasize the importance of the sauropod tracks.

Sauropods, enormous plant-eating dinosaurs known for their lengthy necks and tails, were among the largest dinosaurs, sometimes reaching up to 100 feet in length. At the time these giants roamed Colorado, the majestic Rocky Mountains had not yet risen.

Although the tracks were previously located on private property, they were partially visible, allowing for occasional glimpses and online sharing by visitors. Local enthusiasts, including Rick Trujillo, who co-authored a study on the site, were aware of these tracks long before their official recognition. As a child in the late 1950s, Trujillo stumbled upon them, and years later, he informed the Charles family of their importance.

Anita McDonald, whose grandfather originally acquired the land, expressed the family’s pride in transferring this remarkable trackway to the U.S. Forest Service, ensuring its preservation and accessibility for future generations.

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