Dinosaur National Monument: Desert Voices Tail

The Desert Voices Trail located on the Utah portion of Dinosaur National Monument is a really pretty walk through the desert and is actually quite scenic. It’s not too tough, however there is no shade so it can get quite warm. I recommend planning this one as early as you can.

Quick Details:

Length: 1.5 Miles
Difficulty: DR3
Elevation Gain: 300 ft.
Restroom: Yes, there is a pit toilet at the nearby picnic area.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Remember you are in the desert. Bring plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing. There is no shelter on this trail.
Fee area. $20.00 per car.

To Get Here:

Head into Dinosaur National Monument via the Quarry Visitor Center. Look for the Split Mountain turn off to the left about 2.2 miles beyond the visitor center. Follow that down about 1 mile and park at the picnic area. Walk down towards the boat launch and look for the trail sign on the left. If you reach the river you went too far.

The Trail:

Trail sign.

Butterfly.

Little cave.

Antlion traps.

The trail follows Cottonwood Wash for the first little while.

I liked the quote. There are periodic information signs all along the trail. White ones for adults a gray one made by kids, for kids. It is kind of fun.

There is quite a bit of greenery.

Keep an eye for the fist trail split, and follow the signs advice to go to the right. It will be much easier this way.

Red hills.

The trail crosses and becomes the wash a few times.

Pretty red canyon.

Looking back towards Split Mountain.

Multi-colored hills.

Pretty desert scenery.

Just enjoying the tranquility. The monument, and this trail in particular, has very little noise pollution and all you can hear is the desert. It’s incredible.

Pretty mountains.

Neat little alcoves in the sandstone. And some vandalism above.

Lots of pretty colors.

Split Mountain again.

As you get up in elevation you start to see more of the mountains.

Lizard!

Split Mountain again. I love that little pinnacle on the top left.

Lovely trail through the desert.

Starting to really see the cliffs above.

You can take this connector trail to connect to the Sound Of Silence trail. If I remember right it will add about 3.5 – 4 miles. This is also about the halfway point for the Desert Voices Trail.

Lots of layers of color here.

As we cross over the ridge you see some yellow rocks.

And now we get a different view.

Desert.

Fun pocked wall.

Desert pothole.

Fun cliff.

Juniper tree growing out of a rock.

More colorful rocks.

Pretty.

Quick climb up over the ridge again.

The view across the desert.

Huh. I didn’t know that about lichens. Basically the more vibrant the colors, the better the air quality is.

And the air quality is really good here.

The cliffs of Split Mountain again.

Great viewpoint up here.

Panoramic.

And now the trip down the mountain. You can kind of see where the green river cuts through the mountain.

Pretty scenery.

This rock kind of looks like a puma.

Nice view.

Rocky ridge.

The path down goes through these red hills. This kind of reminds me of The Petrified Dunes Trail in Snow Canyon State Park.

Looking up the wash.

This is a neat ridge too.

Walking down the colorful ridge. I am glad we are coming down this way. I’m not sure I would have made it up.

Looking up the little valley again.

Back down to the initial split. Almost done with the hike.

Back down to the wash.

More of the pretty flowers.

I’m kind of regretting not going down to the riverside to look at these caves a little closer, but oh well.

Pretty striped hills.

Well that was a fun hike, with some really fantastic views. Not too difficult. However it was kind of hot. I would definitely recommend doing this one in the morning before it has gotten too hot out. But, other than that we enjoyed it. Going with 8 out of 10 Squirrels.

As for difficulty, there was a climb, but it wasn’t too bad. DR3.

Dogs are not allowed on this trail.