Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits

Permit · Colorado ·

Managed by the National Park Service

Dinosaur Proposed or Recommended Wilderness Area (Recommended) · Restricted Access

4,936 ft
Elevation
Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits 6
Photo: Ranger Ethan · Recreation.gov

Overview:

Welcome to the Split Mountain daily section permit site for Dinosaur National Monument -- home to the Green and Yampa Rivers, two of the west's premiere whitewater rivers. This is where you can obtain rafting permits for one day trips launching at Rainbow Park and taking out at Split Mountain.

The last section of the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument is the nine miles of Split Mountain Canyon beginning at the Rainbow Park boat ramp and flowing swiftly downstream, punctuated by notorious rapids, assorted riffles, and stunning views as the river cuts swiftly through the mountain before reaching the take-out at the Split Mountain boat ramp.

As with the rest of the river corridors within Dinosaur National Monument, this is a proposed wilderness and consequently managed as such. This means you will not hear motors or see vehicles anywhere along your trip.

Primitive camping facilities exist at the Rainbow Park launch site and are quite popular in the summer months. The Rainbow Park Campground has only four sites that hold eight people each. There is no running water available at these sites, but there is a vault toilet. The launch location has been kept fairly primitive to help the visitor transition to the wilderness environment of the canyon. Due to the remoteness of the area and long drive times, many groups camp at their launch site the night before their river launch.

At the Split Mountain take-out, there are reservable group campsites (flush toilets seasonally, no showers) as well as vault toilets year-round and a seasonally operational groover dump site. Nearby is the world famous dinosaur quarry where you can see 149 million year old dinosaur bones encased in the rock.

Getting there

None

40.49583, -109.17222 · 40°29'45.0"N 109°10'20.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 95°F in Jul, down to 30°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F303955647588959282654833
Low °F81627354452595747352412
Precip in0.60.60.60.70.90.50.70.61.21.10.50.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Ways in

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  • 01 — Entry Point

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Common questions about Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits

Can you reserve a site at Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits?
Yes, Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Camping near Dinosaur National Monument - Split Mountain Permits

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Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.