Expedition Details
Journey into the age of the dinosaur on this specially crafted family expedition in western Colorado's red-rock country. Excavate alongside scientists, ride horses to the magnificent Colorado National Monument, and pursue Earth's pre-historic past in a fossil quest that leads up the 9,000-foot Douglas Pass.
Trip Highlights
- Dig for dinosaur fossils in the Mygatt-Moore Quarry, where apatosaurus and allosaurus remains—among numerous other species—have been found.
- Step behind the scenes at a paleontology laboratory to watch how fossils are cleaned, identified, and preserved.
- Watch cowboys and cowgirls wrangle, rope, and race at the local rodeo.
- Float down the Colorado River on a full-day rafting trip, stopping to swim and explore.
Itinerary - 7 Days
Day 1 — Grand Junction, Colorado
Arrive in Grand Junction, Colorado, in time for a welcome dinner and orientation.
Doubletree Hotel Grand Junction (D)
Day 2 — Split Rock/Colorado National Monument
Spend the morning hiking the "boneyard" at the Split Rock dinosaur area. Learn to distinguish fossil from rock in this pre-historic landscape. After lunch at the Museum of Western Colorado's Dinosaur Journey Museum, encounter life-size robotic dinosaurs and explore hands-on exhibitions. Then learn about the geologic features and wildlife of the spectacular Colorado National Monument on a walk along its red-rock canyons.
(B,L)
Day 3 — Grand Valley/Unaweep Canyon
Take a horseback or wagon ride to the base of the sandstone cliffs that form the edge of the 10,000-foot Uncompahgre Plateau. Make rubbings of dinosaur tracks and learn about their locomotion. Picnic on the banks of West Creek in Unaweep Canyon, and take a swim in the creek's cool, flowing waters. Later, stop at the free-standing "bone boulder," where fossils have left distinct impressions in the rock face.
(B,L)
Day 4 — Mygatt-Moore Quarry
Join a paleontologist to excavate in the Mygatt-Moore Quarry, where eight distinct species of dinosaurs have been discovered. Then hike the "trail through time" and identify large fragments of dinosaur skeletons along the trail, embedded in sediment for more than 145 million years. Tonight, cheer on the wranglers at the local rodeo.
(B,L)
Day 5 — Douglas Pass
In a private paleontology lab, learn how fossils are prepared for museum curation and display. Then continue to an artist's studio to watch how casts are created to resemble ancient fossils. Depart the Grand Valley and journey up the 9,000-foot Douglas Pass to hunt for plant and insect fossils in a high-alpine forest.
(B,L)
Day 6 — Colorado River
Raft the Colorado River as it twists and turns through the beautiful Ruby and Horsethief Canyons. At a farewell picnic dinner on the river's edge, celebrate our pre-historic adventure and new friends.
(B,L,D)
Day 7 — Grand Junction
After breakfast, depart for your return flight home.
(B)
Note: Portions of this program take place on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
Jonathan Cooley
Jonathan Cooley studied geology and paleontology at the University of Colorado and at Montana State University. He completed his thesis on the world-famous Morrison Formation, in which many of the dinosaur fossils of western Colorado can be found. Working with a team under a National Geographic grant in 1995, Jonathan excavated the dromaeosaur Utahraptor. He has led expeditions to fossil localities in the American West, Alaska, Mongolia, Argentina, and Mexico, as well as for family programs and camps.
Jonathan will join the following departure:
Jul 17 - 23, 2010
