Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks

00:00     Title
00:15     Winslow To Tuba City Via SR 87 & SR 264    
02:50     Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks
10:30     Fin

For those who have always wondered what Jurassic Park must have been like, there is a place in the Navajo Nation where the prehistoric dinosaur experience is real. There are literally countless prehistoric dinosaur footprints that can be seen at the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks viewing area. This vast archaeological area covers many square miles and the setting is dramatic to see. The dinosaur tracks are in a barren red clay sandstone landscape that used to be a muddy swamp eons ago. 

The Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks is located Highway 160 just a few miles east of Highway 89. Historic Tuba City is right next door and all modern amenities can be found there. This destination is less than a one hour drive from the Grand Canyon and several other famous landmarks are nearby, which include the Hopi Villages and Navajo National Monument.

The Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks is a primitive site and facilities are limited, but Tuba City is just a couple miles away. Be sure to bring plenty of water, because the walking distances do cover a lot of ground. After the car is parked, visitors are greeted by a native guide and an introduction takes place before entering the Dinosaur Footprints Area. The tour guides are well educated on the natural history of this area and some have done field work with university level archaeological teams. The tour guides provide an educational conversations out in the field and they can identify every dinosaur footprint in this vast region. They also know where the fossils, dinosaur eggs and ancient petroglyphs are located in this vast field.

Not every visitor is familiar with the local sovereign nation customs, so this tidbit may help. There is no entrance fee at the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks. This is a protected area and the tour guides help to minimize environmental damage. The native guides do expect to be tipped and some expect payment ahead of time. If they frown upon your tip offer, then simply offer a little more. The knowledge dispensed by the guides is well worth it and the experience will be greatly enhanced. An average tour lasts one or two hours so wear comfortable soft shoes and carry some water. 

Dinosaurs of every kind left footprints in the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks in prehistoric times.  Everything from Tyrannosaurus Rex to herds of small plant eating dinosaurs left their marks in the ancient clay mud. Many dinosaur fossils have been unearthed in this area and there are several dinosaur eggs exposed on the surface of the red clay sandstone. Petrified wood, bones and even fossilized dinosaur dung can be seen everywhere in this majestic place. One look at the bare bedrock ground will show that this place truly must have been a very busy dinosaur destination way back in prehistoric times!

There is a bit of controversy concerning the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks, but most of the negative claims come from biased people. Archaeologists have recognized the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks Area as an authentic dinosaur footprint and fossil site and it is not fake, like some internet folks claim. Natural history students from the University Of Arizona often schedule trips to this place, which provides a valuable learning experience in their field of study. All this goes to show that the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks Area is a legitimate ancient archaeological site, so the doubters are nothing more than party poopers.

There actually is one specific item of scientific controversy in the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks Area that many archaeologists will not offer an official opinion. This item is the human footprints that are also seen amongst the ancient dinosaur tracks. There are a few areas in this vast field where human footprint shapes can be seen in the ancient hardened mud and the tour guides are quick to point out these features. Those who adhere to alternative human timeline theories will certainly be thrilled to see the footprints, while others may see them as belonging to a dinosaur that had deformed feet of some kind. All it takes is one look at the human footprints amongst the big reptile tracks to have something to ponder over for a lifetime!

A quick tour of the Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks takes about one hour, but there is so much to see that a visitor could spend all day exploring this monumental site. For those who want to spend the day exploring the Dinosaur Tracks Site and do some old fashioned trading post gift shopping, Tuba City has got it all covered. There are several good restaurants in Tuba City and there are no federal taxes charged in the Sovereign Navajo Nation, so the money goes a long way.

The Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks Area is a must to experience, especially when visiting the nearby Grand Canyon National Park is on the agenda. Navajo Nation tourism runs proud in this region and there is plenty for visitors to see and do. The Tuba Dinosaur Tracks Area is a great place to start a Navajo tourism venture and the picturesque setting does look like an ancient dinosaur vacationland postcard picture!