When we were at the BLM office in Kanab, Utah, there was a little pamphlet with information for a short trail called Dinosaur Tracks, only 3 miles from town. With a few hours to spare on our last day in Kanab, we decided to check it out. Even though Dinosaur Tracks is a short trail, less than a mile round trip, it is actually a lot harder than we initially thought. With that said, it was pretty cool to see a piece of history dating back hundreds of millions of years in the form of the Grallator’s (carnivorous dinosaur) footprints. It also doesn’t hurt that the view on top of the mesa is beautiful.
Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surround areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti, no carving in sandstone walls and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!
Stats
Where
Trailhead:
Utah Port of Entry
2136 US-89, Kanab, UT 84741
Coors:
37°05’03.4″N 112°32’20.3″W
Parking
Big paved area with a few marked parking spots.
Restroom
There is a porta-potty right at the trailhead.
Fee
Free
Weather
Distance
0.7 mi R.T.
Elevation Gain
246 ft
Level
Moderate. It is steep, rocky and slippery trail.
Time:
30 mins – 1 hour
Pet-friendly
There’s nothing that say you can’t bring your dogs. However, we wouldn’t recommend bring your pups.
Ideal Weather
Best use from March through October. It can be pretty warm in the Summer.
Ideal Time
Morning or evenings for cooler weather.
Video
About the Grallator
Grallator is a name used to covers a common type of small, three-toed print made by a variety of bipedal theropod dinosaurs. Grallator translates into “stilt walker.” However, the actual length and form of their legs are unknown because the exact species that made the tracks are still unidentified. These dinosaurs used to roam the supercontinent Pangea in the late Late Triassic and the Early Jurassic.
A tell-tale sign for Grallator footprints is that they are three-toed (tridactyl) and range from 10 to 20 centimeters (or 4 to 8 inches) long. Even though the tracks only show three toes, it is speculated that the dinosaurs who made the tracks likely had between 4 and 5 toes on their feet. The other 2 digits were stubby and ineffective, therefore, not touching the ground when the dinosaurs walking or running. The reason scientists know this is because they found rare specimens with traces of these useless outer digits.
The Adventure
Getting to Dinosaur Tracks Trail
The trail begins in a large truck loading zone that is attached to the Utah Port of Entry, off highway 89. It is about 3 miles from Kanab. From Kanab, it is on the right-hand side of Highway 89, going toward Mt. Carmel Junction. Dinosaur Tracks trail is before the Moqui Caverns. There are a few marked parking spots near a porta-potty. The trail is right behind that porta-potty. If you decide to visit dinosaur tracks, please be sure to practice leave no trace and do not damage the dinosaur prints. Let’s keep them in great shape so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come!
The Beginning of the Trail
Dinosaur Tracks is an unofficial trail so there are no signages whatsoever. In fact, we weren’t really sure if we were in the right spot at first until saw a hiker coming down the mountain. The trail looks very unassuming and can be confusing. Before you start, please make sure to wear proper hiking shoes. Even though this trail is short, it is steep with tons of loose gravel that can be super slippery, especially going back down. I made the mistake of underestimating this hike and wore my gym shoes. It wasn’t fun.
As soon as you leave the parking lot, you will notice that there is a network of trails that seem to head off in different directions. Your objective is to climb on the top of the plateau behind the porta-potty. That’s where the dinosaur tracks are. To get there, you will need to follow the trail to get near the base of the plateau, then go left for a little bit to find the route that allows you to climb up. Even though you will be climbing the plateau directly in front of you, there is a lower ledge that prevents you from climbing straight up it.
As you wind your way around the base of the plateau, you should see a big arrow (or pile) made out of rocks. It was a bit faint so we made the arrow a bit more prominent. This is where you will be starting your climb. Shoes with a decent amount of traction are going to be quite important on this trail. There are plenty of steep and slippery spots ahead. After a short initial climb, you will find yourself making your way along a ledge. Enjoy this short break because there is a much bigger climb coming up.
The Climb
The good thing about the big climb on this trail is that it once again splits into a variety of different trails. Some are switchbacks while others seem to be created by people in the beast mode because they pretty much shot straight up the hill. Choose the easiest route for you, as long as it takes you to the top of the plateau. If you are going in a group, be careful at this part of the climb. There are a ton of loose rocks here, and it’s easy to kick rocks down on the people below you.
Once you reach the top, there is a small climb to the top of the rocky outcrop before getting to the dinosaur tracks. It looks tricky but it’s not that bad. Congratulations! You have made it to the dinosaur tracks.
The Dinosaur Tracks
It took us a second to find the tracks once we reached the top. Luckily, someone had taken small rocks and circles around them. Some sets are a little fainter than others. However, they are still in pretty good shape considering that they are at least 185-million years old! We ended up finding 3 sets of prints, but we didn’t try that hard. Maybe there are more. While you are up on the plateau, make sure to take a look around at the surrounding area. The views up here are quite beautiful.
The Way Back
Dinosaur Tracks is an out and back trail. Therefore, once you are done, just head back the way you came. Since there are so many trails, just take the easiest one for you. Make sure to take your time. Going downhill can be difficult, especially with how slippery this trail is. Once you reach the bottom of the hill, it is a simple walk back to your car.
Although we would not going out of our way for this hike, it is a fun experience if you are already in the area. It is short and you can do it within an hour. You can also combine it with the Moqui Caverns and the Belly of the Dragon, both are along highway 89, all within 10 minutes drive of each other.
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
Good hiking shoes are recommended on these adventures. Vy uses the Merrell Women’s Moab 2 hiking boots
Dustin’s shoes are Targhee III Waterproof
Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
You should always bring plenty of water. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.
For shorter hikes, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.
If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket
other things to bring
Always good to bring some snacks with you. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
camera gear
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