Rare dinosaur tracks are longest continuous set of sauropod footprints (EarthSky.org)

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt
April 28, 2024



Dinosaur tracks now part of national forest

Some 150 million years ago, a long-necked dinosaur known as a sauropod took 134 steps that are now etched across a landscape in Colorado. The dinosaur made a loop, tracking back over its prints as if it had taken a look at where it was headed and then changed its mind. Today, these tracks are the longest-known continuous sequence of sauropod footprints in the world. And on April 10, 2024, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests acquired 26 acres (10.5 hectares) in Ouray County, Colorado, containing these footprints.

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The land containing the footprints had belonged to the Charles family since 1945. Members of the Charles family prospected for gold in the hills and played among the “potholes,” which, they said, were favorite locations for their dogs to explore. In 2021, the family discovered those “potholes” were really dinosaur footprints. The following year, the Charles family asked the U.S. Forest Service if they would be interested in the land. Anita McDonald, a trustee for the family estate, said:

The family is happy to offer this unique trackway to the U.S. Forest Service, ensuring that the land is protected and enjoyed by future generations.