Riggs Hill, Grand Junction

Riggs Hill is the site of the earliest Brachiosaurus find and the first area dinosaur dig site. First excavated by Elmer S. Riggs, Assistant Curator of Paleontology at the Field Museum in Chicago, in 1900, both Stegosaurus and Allosaurus bones have also been uncovered at this paleontology hotspot. The 0.8 mile, self-guided interpretive trail offers panoramic views of Grand Valley.

Plan

Getting there

Riggs Hill is located at the intersection of S. Broadway & Meadows Way just west of Grand Junction and southeast of Fruita. From Grand Junction take Highway 340 (Broadway Road) west to South Broadway. From Fruita take Highway 340 south to South Broadway.

Map It!

Google Maps

Opening hours

The trail is open from sunrise to sunset.

Fees

Admission is free of charge.

Things to keep in mind

Wear a hat and sunscreen and carry plenty of water.

Explore

History & Culture

North America's largest dinosaurs roamed Grand Junction and the surrounding area long before white farmers and Ute Indians inhabited Grand Valley. Late Jurassic dinosaurs called Colorado and Utah home roughly 150 million years ago.

Late Jurassic Dinosaurs

Utah Geological Survey

Kids' stuff

There are a variety of online resources that make learning about dinosaurs fun. Get tips for finding fossils and learn to identify what you discover. Find fun facts about dinosaurs, dig online and put your knowledge to the test. Follow paleontologists to a dig site in Mongolia and learn about more than dinosaur bones. Discover the sound of the Parasaurolophus and find out how scientists created the voice from a fossil. Map the dinosaurs and discover which beasts roamed in your backyard.

Learn, Build and Play

San Diego Natural History Museum

American Museum of Natural History

Dino Sounds

Scientific American

Dinosaur Finder

Discovery Channel

Other family attractions in Grand Junction