Near Moab in Grand County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Sauropods or Ankylosaurs?

Photographed by James Hulse, March 31, 2025

1. Sauropods or Ankylosaurs? Marker

Inscription. The impressions in front of you represent the trackway of a four-legged or quadrupedal dinosaur that is walking away from you toward the hillside. These particular tracks belong to a relatively small dinosaur about 11 feet long - leaving behind a very wide gauge trackway. After excavation in 2013-2014, paleontologists determined that these tracks do not continue into the hillside past what you can see today.

Paleontologists currently differ on their interpretation of these tracks. The feet are rotated outward, resembling the feet of a sauropoda long-necked, plant eating dinosaur tracksite in Spain. The handprints of this animal preserve finger impressions, something not generally found in sauropod tracks, and the toes of the hind foot are more distinct than in most sauropod tracks. Some paleontologists think these tracks resemble those of known ankylosaurs or heavily armored dinosaurs that were common in this area during the Early Cretaceous Period.

What kind of dinosaur do you think left these tracks behind?

Name of Track: Sauropodichnus-like or Tetrapodosaurus-like
Early Cretaceous (~112 million years ago)
Cedar

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Mountain Formation

Erected by National System of Public Lands, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Paleontology • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 38° 43.374′ N, 109° 44.056′ W. Marker is near Moab, Utah, in Grand County. It is on Cotter Mine Road (County Road BLM 215) 0.2 miles south of Mill Canyon Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Moab UT 84532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Algae (here, next to this marker); Ornithopod Tracks

Photographed by James Hulse, March 31, 2025

2. Sauropods or Ankylosaurs? Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Sauropod Tracks (a few steps from this marker); Geology (a few steps from this marker); A spring morning 112 million years ago... (a few steps from this marker); Medium-size Theropod Tracks (a few steps from this marker); Dromaeosaur Tracks (a few steps from this marker); Large Theropod Tracks (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moab.

Additional keywords. Ichnology

Sauropods or Ankylosaurs? Dinosaur tracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 31, 2025

3. Sauropods or Ankylosaurs? Dinosaur tracks

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.