Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite
Near Kanab, Utah
Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite does not offer reservations through Recreation.gov. Please take a look at the area details below for more information about visiting this location. Enjoy your visit!
Overview
The Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Tracksite is one of Utah’s most significant fossil track localities located on BLM-managed lands near Kanab. Visitors can explore the track-bearing surfaces on foot and learn from interpretive panels that explain the geology, paleontology, and importance of protecting these fragile resources. The site’s remote setting provides expansive views of Navajo Sandstone and surrounding high-desert terrain.
The site preserves hundreds of fossilized dinosaur and other vertebrate footprints in the Navajo Sandstone, dating back approximately 180 million years to the early Jurassic. Three-toed tracks like Kayentapus and Grallator were made by theropod dinosaurs, whereas the large four-toed tracks, Otozoum, were made by the bi-pedal ancestors to the herbivorous, long-necked sauropod dinosaurs. The site also contains tracks called Batrachopus, attributable to crocodilians, and Brasilichnium, which were made by small, early mammals. The site provides insight into the behavior and movement of dinosaurs and other animals before the landscape transitioned from an oasis in a Sahara-like desert to the colorful Navajo Sandstone seen today.
To reach the tracks from the lower parking area near the interpretive display, walk around the vehicle barricade and follow the drainage west. After about 180 yards (165 meters), the drainage ends at a pour-off. At this point, climb the slope to the right (north) and begin exploring the surrounding sandstone. Watch the ground closely — tracks often blend into the rock and may take time to notice. Many visitors find that footprints become easier to spot after spending a few minutes at the site, and on the return hike you may discover tracks you passed without seeing earlier.
Hours and Seasons
Open year-round. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions. Summer heat can be extreme, and the access road may become impassable during wet weather.
Features and Services
- Access and Parking: Sand parking area at the site. High-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to sections of deep sand on the access roads that can be especially challenging to navigate when the sand is dry. Access can also be challenging when conditions are wet.
- Foot Traffic Only: The tracksite is open to foot traffic only; bicycles and motorized vehicles are not allowed past the parking areas.
- Educational Resources: Brochures and a children’s activity handouts are available at the BLM Kanab Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah. The visitor center also has maps and information about visiting the site.
- Cell Service: Limited or nonexistent; plan ahead.
- Toilets: None available on-site.
- Drinking Water: Not available; bring your own supply.
- Pets: Allowed on leash; keep pets off fossil surfaces and pack out waste.
- Camping: No camping at the tracksite. Dispersed camping may be allowed in surrounding BLM lands; check local regulations.
- Nearby Amenities: Kanab offers food, fuel, lodging, and medical services.
Respect and Protect
Dinosaur tracks are irreplaceable fossils. Viewing and photography are encouraged, but do not walk directly on tracks, remove material, deface surfaces, or make molds or casts. By practicing responsible outdoor ethics, you're helping ensure future visitors can appreciate this remarkable site.
