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Utahraptor State Park: Utah's New Dinosaur Capital

Utahraptor State Park: Utah's New Dinosaur Capital

Pack up the family for a new kind of adventure and explore the trails once walked by the mighty Utahraptor.

Written By Elisabeth Brentano

Utahraptor State Park | Elisabeth Brentano

Located about 15 miles northwest of Moab, Utahraptor State Park opened in May 2025 as the newest addition to Utah’s state park system. Spanning 7,466 acres, the park protects the Dalton Wells Quarry, one of the largest dinosaur bone beds in North America. Over 5,500 fossils representing more than 10 dinosaur species have been recovered here, including Utahraptor and Moabosaurus. The first evidence of Utahraptor was discovered in 1975 in Dalton Wells, but it wasn’t until 1993 that paleontologist Jim Kirkland and his team gathered additional fossils and formally named the species. At more than 20 feet long and weighing between 1,100 and 1,700 pounds, Utahraptor was a formidable hunter of the Cretaceous Period. Beyond its paleontological significance, the park is home to the Dalton Wells Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp and the Moab Citizen Isolation Center Historic Site. In 1943, the abandoned CCC camp briefly served as an internment camp for incarcerated Japanese Americans before being shut down permanently.

With events, prime stargazing, a network of ATV, OHV and single track trails, plus two campgrounds with modern facilities, Utahraptor State Park is a great complement to nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Visitors will admire views of red rocks, badlands and the La Sal Mountains, and perhaps even catch a peek at the park’s herd of resident pronghorn. “I love all the opportunities Utahraptor State Park has to offer,” raves park manager Brad Walker. “From our interpretive programming to the ability to see the Milky Way from camp with the naked eye, our park is a truly special place.”

Visitors may be lucky enough to spot pronghorn and other wildlife while exploring Utahraptor State Park.

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

During the warming months, plan to arrive early to beat the heat, and always bring plenty of water. A 4x4 vehicle is required for certain areas, including the trail to the Dalton Wells Quarry and the Klonzo mountain biking trails. Cautionary signage is posted near sandy washes and rough roads, but it’s always wise to check in at the Visitor Center before exploring the park’s network of dirt and gravel roads.

Please note: Collecting fossils is illegal, but if you find one, please document it with a photo (and if possible, a GPS pin) and send the information to park management.

Exhibits and Events

The Visitor Center has exhibits detailing the park’s history, plus information on interpretive programming, road conditions and more.

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

The Visitor Center has exhibits detailing the park’s history, plus information on interpretive programming, road conditions and more.

The Visitor Center features interpretive displays covering dinosaurs and the internment camp, as well as details about the park’s monthly events. Programming includes ranger talks focused on paleontology, guided hikes to Dalton Wells Quarry, nighttime scorpion walks and star parties. The park has a Celestron CPC Deluxe 925 telescope, and they are in the process of applying for their International Dark Sky certification, making this a phenomenal spot for stargazing. These educational events are perfect for families with kids, and a monthly schedule is posted on the “Events” section of the park’s website.

The Visitor Center features interpretive displays covering dinosaurs and the internment camp, as well as details about the park’s monthly events.

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

Camping

Sparkling clean and packed with amenities, the Gastonia Campground has 61 campsites that offer RV and trailer access, plus water and power hookups. Each site has a picnic table, a fire pit and a shade structure. Bathrooms have flush toilets and private showers, and they are free for registered campers at the Gastonia Campground only. Sites are reservable online at utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com.

For a quieter, more secluded experience, the Fossil Flats Improved Primitive Campground has three small loops with a total of 27 sites. Each numbered site has a picnic table and fire pit, with pit toilets located on each loop. While some sites are long enough for small motor homes and trailers, this area is best suited for car campers. Fossil Flats sites are also reservable online.

Please note: Fossil Flats was once the Willow Springs dispersed camping area, which was overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Camping is now restricted to numbered sites only, and many of the former dispersed sites are closed for habitat restoration, with barriers and signage marking the boundaries.

Hiking Trails

Descending the Dalton Wells Quarry Trail (left), one of the shade structures along the Utahraptor Historic Trail (right).

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

The 0.8-mile Dalton Wells Quarry Trail is a rocky path with approximately 200 feet of elevation gain, climbing to the top of the quarry where the Utahraptor was discovered. According to paleontologist Jim Kirkland, this formation is unique because it contains more dinosaur species than any other formation on the planet and records the very beginning of the Cretaceous period, which is documented nowhere else in North America. A 4x4 vehicle is required to access the Dalton Wells Quarry Trail, as the dirt road to the trailhead has several sections with deep sand.

Another option is the 0.5-mile Utahraptor Historic Trail, which explores the remains of the Dalton Wells CCC Camp and the Moab Citizen Isolation Center. The wide, mostly level path has shade structures and benches, plus a wealth of interpretive signage. The trailhead is accessible via a well-maintained gravel road, and a 4x4 vehicle is not necessary.

Mountain Biking and ATV Trails

A sandy wash en route to the northern section of the Sovereign trail system, which is located on Dalton Wells Road.

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

The Klonzo mountain biking trails, which are managed by the BLM, cover 24 miles and offer a mix of terrain best suited for intermediate riders. Both Klonzo trailheads are approximately 2.5 miles down Willow Springs Road, and a 4x4 vehicle is needed to navigate Courthouse Wash. Alternatively, riders can park before the wash and ride the extra 1.5 miles to the trailheads. The Sovereign trail system spans 50 miles of OHV, ATV and mountain biking trails, including slickrock, single tracks and connector roads. The two main Sovereign trailheads are accessed via Dalton Wells Road and Willow Springs Road, both of which require a 4x4 vehicle.

Other Points of Interest

The Willow Springs Dinosaur Tracks are managed by the BLM, but can be accessed via Utahraptor State Park.

Photo: Elisabeth Brentano

The Willow Springs Dinosaur Tracks are accessible via Willow Springs Road, just past the Klonzo trailheads. A small parking area and interpretive signs mark the site, with rocks lining the trackway. At first glance, many of the tracks resemble potholes, but look closely and you’ll spot theropod, ornithopod and sauropod prints preserved in the sandstone. A 4x4 vehicle is needed to pass the sandy wash on the dirt road to the dinosaur tracks.

For more, head to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, just two miles north of Utahraptor State Park on Highway 191. Here, more than 200 tracks from theropods, sauropods, ornithopods, ankylosaurs and even crocodiles are visible from a boardwalk. The trail and boardwalk are just 0.25 miles and mostly flat, and parking is next to the Courthouse Rock Campground.

Over 5,500 fossils representing more than 10 dinosaur species have been recovered at the Dalton Wells Quarry.

Photo: Utah State Parks

Lodging, Dining and Tours

Moab has a seemingly endless array of hotels. Top-rated budget options include the Moab Rustic Inn and the Bowen Motel, while mid-range properties include Field Station Moab, Aarchway Inn and Gravity Haus Moab. Luxury options include the Red Cliffs Lodge and Hoodoo Moab, with Ulum Moab and Under Canvas Moab offering an upscale glamping experience.

Breakfast enthusiasts will fall hard for the Love Muffin Cafe, known for its coffee, lattes and breakfast paninis, while DoughBird is the go-to spot for fresh doughnuts and fried chicken. Más Café and Cactus Jacks Moab are also visitor favorites, and top lunch spots include Trailhead Public House and Eatery and Moab Garage Co. Desert Bistro and Rooted Vine are the best spots for dinner, and other worthy contenders include the Broken Oar Restaurant and 98 Center Moab.

For guided adventures, Moab offers something for every type of outdoor activity. Moab Adventure Center runs rafting trips, horseback riding, climbing, canyoneering, zip lining and 4x4 tours, along with Jeep rentals. Western River Expeditions specializes in multi-day rafting trips in Cataract Canyon and Desolation Canyon, while locally-owned Sheri Griffith River Expeditions has trips on the Green and Colorado Rivers, plus women-specific and family-friendly itineraries. The top UTV tours and rentals include Epic 4x4 Adventures, Moab Tour Company and High Point Hummer & ATV.

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Explore Utahraptor State Park

About the Author – Elisabeth Brentano

Elisabeth Brentano is a writer and photographer based in California, but her passion for nature takes her all over the world to produce travel and environmental content. You can follow her adventures on Instagram at @elisabethontheroad.

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