Dinosaur Ridge

   The construction of West Alameda Parkway in 1937 exposed this Jurassic age slab of fossilized lake bed covered with hundreds of footprints. The road has been closed to traffic and opened as a 1 1/2 mile bike and walking trail with interpretive signs.  Besides the footprints visitors can also see a quarry site where the first stegosaurus was discovered, imprints of vegetation, worm holes and dinosaur bones encased in rock. A guided shuttle bus tour ($5.00) is available.

   One of the shuttle buses has a lift but we walked/rolled so I don’t know the details. We also did not visit the small exhibit hall ($2.00)  managed by Friends of Dinosaur Ridge. The trail is in good condition but it’s uphill, a 200’ gain in 1 mile, so wheelchair users will need to have some help. The best parts, the footprints and the exposed bones, are at opposite ends of the trail. Most of the interpretive signs are easy to see.

  Parking for cars and RVs is along the road at beginning of the trail or at the exhibit hall. A smaller parking area is located at the end of the trail. RVs will not fit in that one. Trail
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