Moen-avi, Arizona: Dinosaur Tracks

Near Tuba City Arizona you will find very detailed, clear dinosaur tracks. Very interesting in a strange sort of way. You can even find piles of dino poop (petrified).

The "guides" are an interesting study in and of themselves. It is best to negotiate the fee up front or donation as they like to call it. I think I paid $40 bucks for our tour but things were slow and we may have been the only customers that day.

During our vacation trip to the Grand Canyon we were doing some exploring in the general area. Loved the ruins and Sunset Crater volcano site and were looking forward to seeing the Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, AZ. We turned into the attraction, marked by a crude sign and were met by a Native American man who held up his hand for us to stop and directed us where to park. We nicely thanked him and were surprised when he was there when we got out of the car. We did not know who he was, he never told us, he was unintelligible, unkemp and downright creepy.

He led us around and when my husband was some distance from us, he told me he would appreciate a $10 to $15 per person tip. I felt somewhat intimidated and gave him a $20, he said $5 more. My husband was furious when he found out. There were no signs posted stating guides would be accompanying all tours and hefty "tips" expected. Disconcerting experience to say the least.

This was one of the most incredible sites I have ever visited. Traveling west on Highway 160, about 5 miles out of Tuba City, you come across a small, hand painted sign that reads "Dinosaur Tracks 1/4 mile." Step out of your vehicle and you are standing on a piece of sandstone about the size of a city block. A Navajo guide walks you to the edge of the road and points out the tracks.

I expected to see one or two tracks but the sandstone is full of tracks. The tracks range from the size of a plate to about the size of a garbage can lid. There is also a partial dinosaur skeleton embedded in the rock, coprolite and a 4 inch claw. Expect to tip the guide $10 - $15 per person.

My mother and I started our 21-day, eight state excursion with my three young children ages 4, 3, and 1 with a stop at the Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City. As residents of Arizona, we had heard of these tracks before, yet had never been there. They were very easy to find and we were greeted by an older woman who told us that her family lived just up the road and they took care of the tracks. We were not pressured for money and I saw no sign of any beer. Our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to explain things to my children so they could understand. However, we opted not to take the full tour as the kids spotted some llamas in the distance and wanted to see them. Upon leaving we tipped $20 and decided that a return trip was in store.

We visited Dinosaur Tracks on a whim on our trip from the Grand Canyon up to Monument Valley. As some others, wer were a bit apprehensive when we saw the hand painted sign and several young men standing around a shack, a few with beers in hand.

However, the young Navajo man who approached when we pulled up was very polite and friendly. He gave us a full tour of the tracks, which were pretty impressive, answered all questions politely and cheerfully, and never once even hinted at asking for money. He even told us a faster way to get back to the highway by going across what seemed to be a private road through the village. We tipped $20 for the four of us, but never felt pressured and no one was drunk.