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A Dinosaur Road Trip Through The American West

AdinosaurroadtripthroughtheAmericanWest

RED FLEET STATE PARK, Utah —

A three-toed footprint appeared in the rock, slightly longer than my hiking boot.

The outlines weren’t crisp, but the impression was deep enough to collect sand grains and pebbles. This impression is estimated to be between 157 million years old and 206 million years old.

After a one-mile desert hike through scattered sagebrush, juniper trees and cactus, I found proof of dinosaurs.

More footprints — faint as bruises in the overcast light — emerged on the sandstone slope at the edge of a reservoir. These tracks were attributed to dilophosaurus — a carnivore from the Early Jurassic, and a star of “Jurassic Park” (1993).

Seeing dinosaur remains in the wild felt different than looking at fossils arranged behind glass in a museum. You can imagine a living, breathing reptile passing through, even if the timescale is incomprehensible.

A dinosaur footprint at Red Fleet State Park in Utah.

Somehow, they are still here.

The improbability brought a sense of calm and relief. I felt small, inconsequential and so did the stresses of everyday life.

These tracks at Red Fleet State Park marked one of the more remarkable moments in a nine-day dinosaur hunt that led me from Salt Lake City to Denver.

At every stop, I was looking for answers. Why are we so fascinated with these ancient creatures? Why do they feel inseparable from this part of the country?

After traveling 1,139 miles and passing through 11 towns and cities, it became clear that this region isn’t just rich in fossil discoveries. Dinosaurs have become as woven into the identity of the West as the cowboy.

About this story

Reporting, visuals, design and development by Yutao Chen. Map by Artur Galocha. Story editing by Gabe Hiatt. Photo editing by Lauren Bulbin. Design editing by Christine Ashack and Virginia Singarayar. Video editing by Allie Caren. Copy editing by Briana R. Ellison. Footprint icons from iStock.

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A Dinosaur Road Trip Through The American West

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