We bet that you didn't know it was possible to literally walk the same steps as the dinosaurs once did long before us. In fact, we'd be willing to bet that not many people out there even knew that dinosaur footprints existed out in the open, for everyone to see and visit, without museum admission or special exhibits.
Or perhaps you did know that?
Either way, these places do exist and they're pretty incredible. Being in the presence of something that once walked the same path but at much greater measurements is truly humbling. It reminds us that we were not the first to come here and, just maybe, we might not be the last; everything leaves behind a story. Many pieces of the Jurassic story can be found scattered across the U.S. in the form of footprints left behind by animals much larger than ourselves. Here are some places where you can peep them for yourself.
Clayton Lake State Park, New Mexico
Clayton Lake State Park is home to an astounding 50 dinosaur footprints, all of which have remained in nearly perfect condition for an incredible amount of time. Also known as the 'Dinosaur Freeway,' it's easy to see why this park was given such a specific name. The tracks left behind by multiple dinosaur species are estimated to be about 100 million years old.
One of the tracks has been identified as having belonged to a baby iguanodon, which would have only been about 12 inches long at the time. The larger tracks that can be found in the park likely belonged to a multitude of dinosaur species that were about 30 feet tall, and one track even shows a dinosaur slipping in the mud before regaining its balance... Not unlike many humans we know.
Dinosaur State Park, Connecticut
In stark contrast, Dinosaur State Park is home to 2,000 footprints left behind by what was determined to be a carnivorous species of dinosaurs. These tracks were discovered back in 1966 when a bulldozer was doing work in the area and unintentionally unearthed these perfectly preserved footprints.
Following this incident, excavation work revealed some of the largest preserved dinosaur tracks in the entire world, and that's not even all this park has to offer. Visitors can hike through areas that are home to vegetation and plant life that were around during the Jurassic and Triassic periods.
Dinosaur Footprints Wilderness Reservation, Massachusetts
Dinosaur Footprints Wilderness Reservation was discovered much earlier on than many others, with the first discovery of tracks being made in 1802. The excavation revealed 800 tracks altogether along the Connecticut River, and it's been determined that they belonged to one of the earliest dinosaur species in the world.
The tracks offered a mix of clues regarding who they belonged to, and it was concluded that some of the tracks belonged to small plant-eaters while the large tracks belonged to an ancestor of the king himself, the T. Rex. Some Jurassic plants are also fossilized there, as well, along with the ripples left behind by a body of water that was once in the area.
Picketwire Canyonlands, Colorado
Picketwire Canyonlands is incredibly diverse in terms of its dinosaur tracks and it also holds the title of having the most tracks out of any place in North America. It's estimated that more than 1,900 tracks are fossilized here, and they can be reached with a hefty 11.2-mile hike - but it's worth it.
After leaving from the Withers Canyon Trailhead, hikers will eventually stumble upon sets of 130 different tracks, all of which belonged to allosaurs and brontosaurs. Judging by the specific grouping of the tracks, it's believed that the brontosaurs traveled together in a pack-like style.
Bull Canyon, Utah
The fossilized footprints in Bull Canyon can be found after a short hike which is probably a relief to hear after the 11-mile hike in Picketwire Canyonlands. This hike also overlooks the canyonlands so not only is it part of prehistoric history but it's also quite beautiful. Visitors will find three-toed footprints that belonged to theropods, and their prints are a testament to how different the area once was.
Rather than the dry, almost desert-like landscape that it is now, it was once lush with vegetation and filled with natural water reservoirs. The theropods existed about 200 million years ago, and they were a carnivorous species. It likely would have been much easier of a hunt with so many marshlands and vegetation, which just goes to show how much landscapes change given the time.