CuteCamper
Garden Park Fossil Area
Fossils of well-known species of large dinosaurs have been discovered at this site over the last 120 years. Many of the dinosaur fossils discovered at this site are on exhibit at museums around the country, including the Denver Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Fossils of two-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs, and dinosaur tracks have also been discovered in the Garden Park Fossil Area. In addition to dinosaur bones, Garden Park contains 2 significant, rare plant species, Brandegee wild buckwheat and inch milkweed. Garden Park is a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern, a Colorado Research Natural Area, and a National Natural Landmark. For more information, please contact the Royal Gorge Field Office.
RecAreaDirections
From Caсon City, go about 6 miles north on Shelf Road. This is part of the Gold Belt Back Country Scenic Byway. There are 2 small pull-outs with marked interpretive signs.
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Permits info
Facilities
Cleveland Quarry Rec Site Facility
Cleveland Quarry is part of the Garden Park Fossil Area and birthplace of modern paleontology. The site has interpretive information for the dinosaur bone enthusiast. Day-use visitors enjoy Fourmille Creek adjacent to the facility with Picnic tables, grills, and a toilet. Walk or drive to the Marsh Quarry site for a ¼ mile interpretive trail experience. For more information, please contact the Royal Gorge Field Office.
Dinosaur Flats Rec Area Facility
Dinosaur Flats contains an area open to target shooting with six defined lanes. In addition, the drive to the highest points along the ridge has several scenic overlooks. Pinon-juniper woodlands are the predominant trees growing in the rocky area. For more information, please contact the Royal Gorge Field Office.
Oil Well Flats Rec Area Facility
Twelve miles of single-track trails invite trail users to Oil Well Flats with its spectacular views of the valley below and the Sangre De Cristo Mountain range in the distance. Some routes are shared with motorized travelers but most visitors come for mountain biking, dispersed camping, hiking, horseback riding and dog walking. The best time to visit is late September through May when temperatures are comfortable. Visitors share the area with cattle grazing in the meadows and occasionally wildlife and cattle walk the trails. Trailer parking is available in the second parking lot with vehicle parking at the first parking lot. Visitors are encouraged to use the suggested camping sites, marked with a camping symbol. A wet weather gate closes the area to motorized use during wet conditions. This gate location allows some parking for non-motorized trail users. For more information, please contact the Royal Gorge Field Office.
