Dinosaur National Monument is one of Moffat County’s most recognizable attractions and offers a wide range of activities.

The monument was mentioned in a recent New York Times article covering alternatives to crowded national parks. With Dinosaur National Monument listed as an alternative to Grand Canyon National Park, the emphasis was placed on the rafting opportunities that are present within Dinosaur, which are less crowded given that it only received around 350,000 visitors in 2022.

Named in 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson, the park was originally 80 acres in size. Today it has been expanded to include both the Green and Yampa Rivers, as well as many additional acres of land that contain impressive canyons, scenic views and cliff sides.

The monument itself covers 210,000 acres and is split between Utah and Colorado, with the majority of it situated within Moffat County. Visit Moffat County described it as one of its most popular attractions and the main thing that people are aware of in the county.

The monument is also home to impressive petroglyphs, which are large scale chippings in the rock that display various imagery. Created by the Fremont people, who lived in the area before the 14th century, the petroglyphs are among some of the most well-known attractions at the monument.

Discovered in 1909 by archaeologist Earl Douglass, the majority of the fossils at Dinosaur National Monument are from the Jurassic period and date back 150 million years. Several unexcavated dinosaur fossils can be seen along the monument’s Fossil Discovery Trail.

There are also several opportunities for guests to go on rafting trips along the Green and Yampa rivers, both of which wind through the monument.

Open to both private and commercial trips, the rivers through the park offer a variety of levels, ranging from calmer Class I rapids to a Class IV rapid named Warm Springs — which contains powerful enough currents that are known to flip boats.

The monument also contains several scenic drives and hikes through the canyon and its surrounding cliffs and mountains, as well as ample space for camping and picnics.