Colorado · National Monument trail

Harpers Corner Trail Stop 14

in Colorado

Back at stop number seven, it was noted that the rocks in Whirlpool Canyon were formed in ancient seas. How do we know this? First, the rocks are made up of fine grained sediments like the muds usually found on sea bottoms; and second, they sometimes are embedded with fossils of seas creatures.

Look closely at the rocks beneath your feet, you may be able to spot the clam-like shells of brachiopods, and pieces of the stems of crinoids or “sea lilies,” animals actually related to starfish. Though they lived hundreds of millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs, their remains help us piece together the jigsaw puzzle of the past.

States: Colorado
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Salt Lake City, UT · 152 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 40.5342°, -109.0080°

About Dinosaur National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Dinosaur National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/harpers-corner-trail-stop-14.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/dino/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Harpers Corner Trail Stop 14 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.