The Coolest Visitor Center In Utah Is Filled With Dinosaurs
By Courtnie Erickson|Published August 24, 2023
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Courtnie Erickson
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From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
Located near the Utah and Arizona state line is the small town of Big Water. Home to approximately 475 people, this town is known for being close to incredible outdoor attractions like the Wave at Coyote Buttes, Paria Rimrocks Toadstool Hoodoos, and Lake Powell. But, there is another destination that is often overlooked near Big Water — the Big Water Visitor Center. This may be one of the coolest visitor centers in southern Utah as it takes you back in time — far, far back in time.
You will find the Big Water Visitor Center along Highway 89 and it’s the perfect road trip stop. This visitor center is one of four visitor centers in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and each has a different theme. The Big Water Visitor Center focuses on the dinosaur and geological discoveries in the area.
Dinosaur lovers will enjoy visiting this visitor center due to its impressive dinosaur display. You can walk by and admire the massive mural display of the Late Cretaceous Period.
Bring a picnic lunch to the Big Water Visitor Center as there is a large, shaded picnic area where you can relax, enjoy a meal, and admire the area before you continue on your journey.
Make sure you arrive with plenty of questions about the region's past, the national monument, and the surrounding area. The employees at this visitor center are ready to answer all of your questions and help you have the most enjoyable experience.
The Big Water Visitor Center may not be the largest visitor center in Utah, but it’s certainly one of the coolest. You’ll walk away having a whole new appreciation for this area years ago.
For more information on the Big Water Visitor Center, check out the Bureau of Land Management website.
Have you ever stopped by the Big Water Visitor Center in southern Utah? What did you think about this destination? Let us know in the comments. And if this is a stop on a road trip through southern Utah, make sure you are prepared with the right snacks and any other items for a long trip.
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