BLM Invites Public to Free "Jurassic Walks and Talks" near Moab, Utah
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MOAB, Utah— Join a BLM paleontologist and explore the world of dinosaurs. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Moab Field Office is launching its summer series of “Jurassic Walks and Talks.” Every weekend from now through Labor Day, a BLM paleontologist will lead free tours of dinosaur fossil and tracksites in the Moab area. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, join us at the Moab Information Center (MIC), in downtown Moab, for hands on activities for kids and talks by our dinosaur expert. These events are all free and everyone is invited.
These walks and talks are supported by the BLM and Tread Lightly! “Respect and Protect” Campaign – connecting families to America’s natural and cultural heritage and instilling a sense of pride and stewardship for our amazing paleontological and natural resources.
The tours take place in the mornings, Friday through Sunday, and involve short hikes with lots of time to ask questions. Different tracksites are featured each day, on a rotating schedule. The weekend evening “Jurassic Talks” will take place outside the MIC at 6 p.m. Friday evenings will involve hands-on educational activities for kids. Saturday and Sunday evenings will consist of discussions about Moab’s world-class dinosaurs and trackways.
Maps and schedules are available at the MIC, which is located at 25 East Center Street. You can also download information from our BLM website by navigating to the Utah Public Room or using this link for the schedule: (Calendar Jurassic Walks-n-Talks).
Millions of dinosaur tracks and several new dinosaur species, including Utahraptor, have been found in the Moab area over the last twenty years. Featured sites include the Mill Canyon Tracksite, the Mill Canyon Bone Trail, the Copper Ridge Tracks, the Dinosaur Stomping Ground Tracks, and the Poison Spider Tracks. These sites range in age from about 112 million years old to about 190 million years old. Some of the unique features of these sites include the first Utahraptor-like tracks in North America, a giant meat-eating dinosaur with a limp, and real dinosaur bones embedded in Jurassic-aged rocks.
For further information, please contact the BLM Field Office (435) 259-2100 and ask for Nathan Ong or ReBecca Hunt-Foster. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.