Round Trip Distance: 1.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 5668 - 5778 feet
Cellphone: 0-1 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Visitor Center
Fee: $5/adult - Youth under 16 free
Attractions: Dinosaur fossils, museum
The Rock Walk is one of the hiking trails located at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry about 30 miles south of Price, Utah. The trail makes a loop around the washes below the Visitor Center and quarry site passing an in situ dinosaur fossil enroute. The trail is interpretive in nature with various facts of interest pointed out at numbered locations along the route.
The quickest and easiest way to Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is to take Highway 10 from Price for about 11 miles to the Cleveland/Elmo turnoff and follow the signs from there. The signs will lead you through Elmo. The total distance from Price is about 28 miles and the last 11 miles are on graded dirt roads. If you are coming from the Green River, Utah direction you can also turn off of Highway 6 at the sign near Sunnyside Junction but a high clearance vehicle may be needed to cross the creek. The drive on that route is about 21 miles of all dirt roads.
The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is only open seasonally from late March to the end of October from 10am - 5pm except Sundays when the hours are 12pm - 5pm. Visit their website for more information and consider calling ahead to check road conditions. Signs at the site warn that your vehicle needs to be outside the main gate by 5pm. The main gate is 1 mile from the Visitor Center so plan your visit so that you have plenty of time for the activities that you have in mind. The exhibits in the Visitor Center and the quarry site can easily be accomplished in 1 hour. Add another hour to hike the Rock Walk trail and 1 1/2 to 2 hours more for Raptor Point and the Rim Walk.
The exhibits in the Visitor Center are a good starting point. Am I the only one wondering if this guy will come to life when the sun goes down. Alas, we didn't see the tablet of Ahkmenrah anywhere so it is doubtful. (movie - Night at the Museum)
Continuing out the back doors of the Visitor Center there is a sign that shows the layout of the quarry and hiking trails. The trail to the quarry buildings is paved and wheelchair accessible.
The trailhead for the Rock Walk is just south of the quarry buildings. Be sure to obtain a trail guide before starting.
The first numbered station is just below the main trail. Be sure to stop at it or you will miss the only dinosaur fossil on the trail.
As you look at the post the fossil is directly behind you in the side of the hill.
The trail continues its loop with about a dozen more points of interest along the way. This type of landscape is what we often refer to as a 'high plains desert'. There are no shade trees so you might want to bring sunscreen and carry a little water.
The Rock Walk does have a few little hills to go up and down.
As the loop comes to an end the Rock Walk trail crosses the trail leading to Raptor Point and the Rim Walk. Here you have the option of cutting the hike a little short by going to the left or continuing straight ahead and follow the trail behind the quarry buildings. If you aren't going to do anymore hiking you will want to be sure to visit the quarry site inside the metal buildings before leaving.
The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry has several picnic tables near the Visitor Center that are located in a pleasant setting among a large garden of boulders. A picnic in addition to a stroll around the Rock Walk trail would be good options to extend your stay while visiting the quarry. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
