and that it is so accessible to the public.Taking our Arizona journey guide, we plotted out places to visit. Our son, who we believe to be the next Einstein of Paleontology, found an article on Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks and begged to go there. The article claimed that the variety and preservation of dinosaur tracks made this one of the best public sites of the Southwest. It also claimed that the “tracks” were right next to the parking area, and that it was easy access from Hwy 160. So off we went.
    After getting a speeding ticket for going five miles an hour over the speed limit, caution: the local police are very stern about the speed limit, we came across a worn down sign on the side of the highway that looked as if it belonged to a side show. Our first thought was, “oh great, a side show”.  Happily and unbelievably we were very, very wrong.
    As we pulled into the parking area, a Navajo guide came running to our car. She exclaimed “I am your guide” and our journey into a long lost world began. We were stunned as she began showing us the different dinosaur tracks. She used a water bottle to squirt water into the tracks and this gave us a clear image of the footprints. The tracks that we were looking at came from the Jurassic Period some 175 million years ago! We were baffled that we were litterly walking in the same spot that these amazing creatures walked so many millions of years ago. Not only did we see many different types of dinosaur foot prints, we also were able to pick up fossilized dinosaur eggs, and we touched the remains of a fossilized skeleton still in the ground. After our tour, we tipped our Navajo guide. Oddly there was no charge to visit, however tipping is required. This was one of the most amazing places we have encountered yet, and was well worth the cost of a generous tip.
    It was with disbelief that we left Tuba City Dinosaur Tracks. It is hard to understand why this amazing place is not being preserved. The land belongs to the Navajo Reservation and what an amazing treasure they possess. We are planning to revisit Arizona and all of its wonders again next year. We will certainly plan on revisiting Tuba City.     

If you are interested in visiting the Dinosaur Tracks of Tuba City, take Hwy 89 north out of Flagstaff, then U.S. 160 east towards Tuba City. Follow the signs.

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