Tucked away in the forested mountains just outside of Ouray are some of the most notable dinosaur tracks in the world at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracksite. So why haven’t you heard of them before? Because up until now, they were largely inaccessible to the public.
Last week, the U.S. Forest Service purchased 27 acres of land — which includes the dinosaur tracksite — from a local Ouray family who only just recently learned what all those “potholes” really were.
Paleontologists say this set of tracks is especially unique because of its size and pattern: It is 106 yards long, contains 134 consecutive footprints, and most notably, makes a sharp 270-degree turn. It is one of only six known tracksites in the world that demonstrates a more than 180-degree pivot by our prehistoric predecessors. The steps are the fossilized imprints of a sauropod (more commonly known as a “long-neck” dinosaur) that lived some 150 million years ago. The tracks were first discovered in the 1950s by a group of local boys, one of which would grow up to become renowned paleontologist Rick Trujillo.
Now owned by the federal Forest Service, the tracksite will be fully accessible to the public via nearby trailheads. Officials plan to erect new signage to inform visitors about the significance of the site.
👉 Want more? Check out this exhaustive guide for local dinosaur-lovers from our friends at 5280 🦕
