The Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway , Moab Utah


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March 3rd 2014
Published: March 3rd 2014
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The Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway is located north of Moab, Utah. The site was discovered by Linda Dale Jennings Lockley in 1989. The trackway includes imprints left by a large turning sauropod brontosaur and four theropod carnivores of various sizes. The Copper Ridge site with its abundance of different tracks is a rare find.
The Copper Ridge trailhead is about 2 miles east of Highway 191 on a dirt road that is accessible by car. The turnoff is across from the large microwave tower between mileposts 148 and 149. Immediately after turning east the dirt road crosses the railroad tracks where you will see a BLM sign for the 'Dinosaur Tracks 2 Miles'. The road might not be suitable during very wet weather.
There is a register where the trail starts at the base of the hill and The trail climbs at a moderate angle but it is only a short distance to the trackway.

The sauropod tracks were made by an unknown species of brontosaur. Sauropod comes from latin and means 'lizard foot'. The large holes that are full of sand were made by the hind feet which were up to 2 feet in diameter. Tracks from the front feet are smaller and more shallow but are also present. The BLM brochure makes them much easier to spot.
The theropod tracks were made by various sized carnivores. The range in size from 8 inches to 15 inches. Theropod comes from latin and means 'beast foot'. The marks left by the claws are almost startling as they leave an impression in your mind of how deadly they must have been. It is illegal to make plaster casts of the tracks but it is perfectly fine to pour a little water in them for a better picture.


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