Warner Valley Dinosaur Tracks and Fort Pierce

Some friends of mine told me about the Dinosaur tracks near my home so I thought I'd check them out with Judi, my 5 year old. 

To get there from State Street (SR-9) in Hurricane, Utah, take 700 West (Airport road) south for about 2.5 miles until reaching 2060 South. Take a right (begin going west) on 2060 South which will soon turn into 1100 South as it turns around the airport. Stay on 1100 south for about 3.5 miles until it turns into a dirt road. The dirt road "Y"'s as it starts - head straight, not right.

You'll be on this rough dirt road for about 2 miles before coming to a posted sign indicating that the Dinosaur Track Site 7.6 miles away, off to the right. 

From this point the dirt road is very well kept and easy for a passenger car to travel on. There are two more signs, pointing the way to the tracks. For the most part, it's pretty easy to find. As long as you follow the signs and stay on the main dirt road, you'll get there. 

Here's a look at the parking area.

There is a small parking area that can accommodate about 10 cars or so. From the parking area, it is just a short hike to the main dinosaur tracks - maybe a quarter mile or so. A sign and water diversion wall mark the main area of the tracks.

This is where the most obvious tracks are - on the left side of the wall where the people are walking.

Although Judi and I continued past the main sign and wall, I didn't find any Dinosaur tracks other than those by the water diversion wall. The tracks there were shallow but very cool as you could see the length of the dinosaur's stride as well as the direction he headed in. 

Here's a look at one of the tracks next to Judi's foot.

   

After we spent a little while exploring around the tracks, we headed back to the car. We saw a sign on the drive back indicating that Fort Pierce was a little was ahead. After asking Judi if she wanted to go, we decided to check it out (all I had to say was the word "fort" and Judi was in!).

We followed the signs to Fort Pierce on the well maintained dirt roads, the only difficulty being that there are two signs indicating a turn off to Fort Pierce. We took the first one and ended up in a large parking area with an unmarked dirt bike trail head. I decided that I didn't think this was right so I continued on the road and saw another sign for the Fort Pierce turn off not too much farther ahead. 

We parked and headed on a trail below the Fort. It lead us to a neat panel of Indian pictographs. 

We headed back on the trail to the parking area and then headed up the trail to the Fort. Judi had a great time exploring the small structure and I imagined the early pioneers trying to defend themselves from invading forces. 

Here's a look at one side of the fort.

It was a fun trip that both Judi and I found educational and fascinating.  

Here are a few more pictures from the trip:

Dinosaur tracks:

The first of two signs pointing the way to the dino tracks

The second of the two signs pointing to the dino tracks.

Here's a look at what the well maintained dirt road looks like as you get closer to the tracks sight.

This is the trailhead marking the way to get to the tracks at the end of the parking area.

Here's a look at the sign that has a map on it of the location of the 400+ tracks.

A closer look...

Here's the back side of the sign.

Here's a look at some of the dino tracks...

Judi, by some tracks. You can see how long the stride was by looking at these tracks.

Doing some exploring below the Dinosaur track sign. 

Pictures from Fort Pierce:

Doing some exploring on the trail below the fort...

Here's a look at the whole fort.

Judi enters the fort.

Judi relaxes inside the fort.