Colorado
The following Colorado routes are included in the Colorado portion of the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway:
- Interstate 70 between Grand Junction and the Utah state line. (I-70 runs concurrent with U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 50 in this area)
- U.S. Route 40 between Dinosaur and the Utah state line
- State Highway 64 between Dinosaur and Rangely
- State Highway 139 between Fruita and Rangely
The easternmost starting point of the Dinosaur Diamond (DD) begins in Grand Junction, Colorado, on Interstate 70. In the vicinity of Grand Junction are the White River, Uncompahgre, and Grand Mesa National Forests. Other notable features nearby include the Powderhorn Resort, and the geologic features of Book Cliffs and Grand Mesa.
Traveling about 10 miles (16 km) westbound on I-70 will lead to Fruita, a small town within view of the Colorado National Monument, which features numerous scenic hiking trails. From the trails, one may view attractions such as the Book Cliffs and Coke Ovens overlooks, and unique rock formations such as Independence Monument and the "Kissing Couple". Fruita is also the home of Mike the Headless Chicken, and hosts an annual festival in his honor every May. A small statue dedicated to Mike can also be seen in the town.
Just west of Fruita, the byway turns north onto State Highway 139, traveling 78 miles (126 km) to the next town of Rangely, and traversing the Douglas Pass. Nearby attractions include the Rangely Outdoor Museum and the Cañon Pintado ("painted canyon") Historic District petroglyphs, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The byway continues 18 miles (29 km) northwest on State Highway 64, to the small town of Dinosaur. Nearby Dinosaur is the "crown jewel" of the DD, the Dinosaur National Monument, which claims to be the most productive Jurassic Period dinosaur quarry in the world. The monument includes a walkway where visitors can view a sandstone wall embedded with over 2,000 dinosaur bones, and watch paleontologists chip away the sandstone to expose the fossilized dinosaur bones. Visitors can also see the preparation laboratory where dinosaur fossils are cleaned and preserved.
Upon leaving Dinosaur, the DD continues west on U.S. Highway 40 and crosses the border into Utah.
Read more about this topic: Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, Route Description
Famous quotes containing the word colorado:
“I am persuaded that the people of the world have no grievances, one against the other. The hopes and desires of a man who tills the soil are about the same whether he lives on the banks of the Colorado or on the banks of the Danube.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)