{"id":8493,"date":"2019-11-14T18:59:50","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T23:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=8493"},"modified":"2020-02-25T14:36:39","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T19:36:39","slug":"picket-wire-dinosaur-tracksite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2019\/picket-wire-dinosaur-tracksite","title":{"rendered":"Picket Wire Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On my trip west this year I made sure I had time to visit this unique area. The Dinosaur Tracks<\/strong> are located within and along side the Purgatoire River<\/strong> with the Comanche National Grassland<\/strong>. [Gallery<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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source:usgs.gov (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The area is located 35 miles south of La Junta, CO<\/strong> off the lightly maintained County Road 25<\/strong> (upper left in the map above). The last few miles are on a primitive forest service road that ends at the Withers Canyon Trailhead and Campground<\/strong> (four sites with fire grates and a pit toilet).
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Withers Canyon Trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first portion of the 5.2 mile trail goes down a steep “stairway”<\/strong> to the canyon floor. I had to walk my bike most of the way but it’s not far. After that it flattens out into an easy path through grassland and cottonwood trees<\/strong> along the Purgatoire River<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are a few ups and downs where the river crowds the canyon side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About half-way to the tracks I came upon the Dolores Mission<\/strong> from the 1870s to 1890s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The small cemetery includes several well preserved headstones (mostly of children).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After another easy 1.5 mile cycle I was at the tracksite proper. There is a parking area for off-road vehicles and a pit toilet. There are several interpretive signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Someone obviously had a sense of humor…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The tracks are on both banks and in the river bed itself. The water was low so I was able to access most of the site however dirt, sand, mud, and debris covered a portion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three-Toed Theropod (Carnivore) Tracks
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Two Parallel Sauropod (Herbivore) Trackways<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To give a sense of how complex the site is I’ve borrowed part of this illustration from an excellent write-up I found online. [A Dash with the Dinosaurs Field Trip Guidebook<\/a><\/em> (October 2000) compiled by Matthew Morgan for the Colorado Geologcial Survey]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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source:cgs (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are more of my track photos in the gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was alone for the entire day but I did encounter a few critters along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Collared Lizard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tarantula<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My cycle back was idyllic! Speeding along with the warm sun at my back and a cool breeze on my face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n