State: Utah
Address 1: 8750 North Hwy. 191
City: Vernal
Zip: 84078
Phone: (435) 789-4432
Open: Open all year
Open all Year: Yes
Number of Sites: 29
Camp URL: http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/red-fleet
Full Hook: Yes
Hike to 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, boat and fish on Red Fleet Reservoir, and camp or picnic in a campground overlooking a sandstone and desert landscape. In the heart of Dinosaurland, Red Fleet is a destination in itself and great location for discovery of the area.
Dinosaurs inhabited the land in and around present day Vernal. Red Fleet State Park is home of numerous dinosaur tracks. These tracks are believed to be more than 200 million years old. Paleontologists can tell from these tracks preserved in Navajo sandstone that the dinosaurs were three-toed (tridactyl) and walked on two legs (bipedal). The tracks range from three to 17 inches. A second site of about 40 dinosaur tracks of four to five inches, in the more recent Carmel Formation, has been found in the area, however, the species has not yet been identified.
The tracks can be reached by hiking a 1.25-mile trail that is somewhat strenuous because of its several uphill and downhill sections. The best viewing times of the tracks are early morning or late afternoon. The tracks are somewhat difficult to see when the sun is directly overhead.