Out for a Stroll in the Morrison
Objectives:
1) To observe, for yourself, evidence that dinosaurs once walked
the earth;
2) To learn more about these creatures and how they left
footprints that have lasted 150 million years!
3) To take photographs of these footprints.
Supplies:
For good photographs of the footprints, take a whiskbroom to
brush off the dust and debris, or you can fill the footprints with
water to outline them better. Low-angle (dawn or dusk) lighting
improves chances of good pictures. Making casts with plaster is
forbidden.
Drinking water, sunscreen.
Directions:
The site is located on BLM land and maintained by them. Proceed
on Hwy 191 (north if you are coming from Moab, south if you are
coming from Crescent Junction). The turnoff is to the east off Hwy.
191 at: N 38 49.493 W 109 46.886.
Note: The sign to the site is not visible from the highway.
You’ll cross a cattle guard and railroad tracks where you'll see
the first BLM sign. From there you will find good markers at all
intersections. The road winds around for 2.1 miles with 0.5 miles
on bumpy cobblestones. We made it in our low-clearance Honda Civic
but we would recommend delaying your trip if the road is wet and
muddy.
You can park at: N 38 49.796 W 109 45.792. Follow the trail for
500’ to the tracks which begin just below a BLM descriptive sign.
The tracks are depressions in the sandstone roughly centered at: N
38 49.900 W 109 45.723
Educational Requirement:
To get credit for this EarthCache you must
answer at least one Study Question and post a picture of your group
at the site or post a picture of a dino track.
Study Questions: [This can be a short
sightseeing visit or an extensive study unit, as you
wish.]
1.) Which species of dinosaurs left their footprints here?
Mill
Canyon
2.) How are those dinosaurs related to each other?
Dinosaur Classification
2.) What is the Morrison Formation? What is the Dinosaur
Diamond? Morrison
Formation and Dinosaur Diamond
4.) Where else in the U.S. might you go to find dinosaur tracks?
Dinos in the
U.S.
5.) Imagine you are a dinosaur scientist. How would you decide
how a dinosaur moved? … What he ate? … Whether he was peaceful or
vicious? Do
you think they sounded like this? If not, why not?
Bonus points for pointing out a feature near the trackway that
indicates the origin of the Ridge’s name.
Have fun!
You'll get much better pictures if you first clean off the
prints with a whiskbroom!
"The Bible" on Utah dinosaurs, Dinosaurs of Utah, was written by
Frank DeCourten: DeCourten
Other resources:
Wikipedia
Article
Family
Visit
UC
Berkeley on Dinosaurs
Ideas about dinosaur behavior
