Monument Regulations

You can help preserve the monument's unique features and landscapes by knowing and following these basic regulations. Additional regulations apply for trips into the backcountry, on the rivers, or with horses & pack animals. More regulations, such as the Superintendent's Compendium of Regulations, can be found on the Laws & Policies page.

 

Campfires

Wood fires are allowed at developed campgrounds and picnic sites where fire rings and grills are provided. Open wood fires in all designated vehicle campgrounds, picnic areas, and any other developed area are restricted to permanent monument-installed metal fire rings or grills. Visitors may use portable gas or charcoal grills. Charcoal must be cooled and safely disposed of in an appropriate ash receptacle.

Open wood campfires are permitted in the monument backcountry except for the following locations:

• Jones Hole Creek Canyon including the designated Ely Creek campsites
• Upper Pool Creek Canyon
• Lower Sand Canyon
• Pats Draw
• The inner canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers that are not part of designated river campsites. River trips must use a fire pan and remove all fire debris from the backcountry. A fire pan of appropriate size on a fireproof tarp or blanket of sufficient size to catch coals and ashes around the pan. The fire pan must be elevated at least 3 inches off the ground.
• Within 1 mile of developed campgrounds and day-use areas.

 

Wood Gathering

Wood may not be gathered in developed campgrounds and picnic sites. Gathering firewood that is dead, down, or live is always prohibited along both rivers, except that driftwood may be collected for campfire use on the entire length of the Yampa River and on the Green River below Echo Park for campfire use. With the implementation of hazard tree mitigation projects at backcountry river campsites such as Limestone and Jones Hole and ongoing fuel reduction projects at Echo Park, the public may use available cut and stacked wood already placed at these locations.

 

Cultural Resources

Disturbing, entering, or camping within 100 yards (300 feet or 100 meters) of an archeological or historical site is prohibited. Collecting artifacts is prohibited. Learn how to be a good visitor and steward of archeological sites by reading the NPS Guidelines for Visiting Archeological Sites.

 

Firearms

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable Federal, state and local firearms laws and regulations, including laws authorizing or prohibiting concealed carry, before entering a national park. Some parks are located in more than one state or locality, which means that the applicable laws may change depending upon where you are located within a park area. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. Using firearms is prohibited in the park. Federal law also prohibits firearms in federal facilities. Read more about firearms regulations at Firearms in National Parks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

 

Hunting & Fishing

Hunting is prohibited in Dinosaur National Monument. The discharging of firearms is also prohibited. Fishing is allowed. Visitors who fish in the monument must have a valid Colorado and/or Utah State Fishing License depending on location they are fishing in, and must comply with the appropriate State Fishing Regulations.

 

Motor Vehicles

All vehicles must remain on designated roads and be operated by a licensed driver.

 

Natural Resources

Disturbing or collecting natural features (plants, rocks, antlers, fossils, etc.) is prohibited.

 

Off Highway Vehicles

The use of off highway vehicles (OHVs), all terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and any other motorized vehicle manufactured recreational off-road use, even those licensed by a state for street use, is prohibited in Dinosaur National Monument.There are many roads for these types of vehicles located on nearby public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service. Find more information on the Visit Dinosaurland and Visit Moffat County websites.

 

Permits

Permits are required for all overnight trips in the backcountry. Some activities like weddings and commercial filming or photography may require special use permits. Boating in the monument also requires a permit. Read more about the permits you may need before your visit.

 

Pets

Activities with pets are very limited in the monument. The only pet-friendly trails in the monument are the River Trail and Swelter Shelter Walk on the Utah side of the park, and the Plug Hat Butte Area Trails on the Colorado side of the park. As a general rule, pets are allowed in all paved areas, and in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. Pets must always be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 meters) long, and handlers must clean up after them. Pets and animals who provide only comfort or emotional support aren't allowed on the shuttle bus, in the Visitor Centers, or at the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Service animals may go wherever their handlers go. Visit our Traveling with Pets page for more information.

 

Portable Toilets

Dinosaur requires all river runners to carry out their solid human waste. The park requires the use of washable, reusable toilet systems or the type of system that uses dry chemicals and enzymes to render solid human waste into nonhazardous products acceptable for disposal in permitted landfills. Toilet systems must be designed to contain human waste in such a fashion as to provide for secure containment and adequate storage.

 

River Recreation

The National Park Service does not recommend swimming in the rivers at Dinosaur National Monument. Flow rates can be dangerously high, especially during certain weather events and during the spring runoff. There are many hidden objects in the bottom of the river, such as tree branches, which can trap the feet or arms of swimmers. It's much safer to simply cool off by wading close to the shore instead of swimming.

Boating in the monument requires a permit. Motorboats and personal watercraft (e.g. Jet Skis) are not permitted on the rivers in Dinosaur National Monument. In addition, objects like air mattresses, inner tubes, conventional rowboats, pool toys, and swimming pool-type rafts are also prohibited. The park offers two different kinds of boating permits:

• Play Permits: Visitors can obtain free play permits at the park's Visitor Centers for boating downstream of the Split Mountain Campground. Play permits may also be issued for river crossings at certain areas where downstream travel by Play Permit is prohibited, like Echo Park. Permits may be issued only for river-appropriate watercrafts (e.g. river rafts, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, etc).
• Commercial and Noncommercial Permits: Visitors looking for a guided river trip can book a commercial rafting tour through one of our authorized concessionaires. Noncommercial rafting permits must be obtained through Recreation.gov.

 

Rock Scratches = Graffiti

Graffiti including scratching on rocks is prohibited by law in Dinosaur. Please join us in protecting the monument by not leaving your mark. If you discover graffiti in the park, please let a ranger know. Otherwise, make memories, take pictures, but leave no visible trace of your visit.

 

Unmanned Aircraft (Drones)

The use of unmanned aircraft is prohibited to protect public safety, minimize visitor-use conflicts, and prevent unacceptable impacts to scenic values, natural soundscapes, and wildlife.