This site features some very well-preserved footprints of Dilophosaurus (and variations of that species). There are also a few trackways to be found in what is described as the "chickenyard". It is obvious these dinosaurs were basically loitering at the time the impressions were made. These dinosaurs lived during the late Jurassic and were made famous by the movie "Jurassic Park"; they are the weight-challenged, computer programmer eaters. Although the movie brought these creatures publicity, the movie makes a few embellishments; they probably did not spit poison, nor did they have a neck frill that raised before they were going to attack.
However, these creatures were carnivores and very quick and agile.

The skull of a Dilophosaurus found in the same area as the chickenyard.

Tuba City Dino Tracks

Traces of this dinosaur have only been found in Arizona. The tracks tell us a great deal about Dilophosaurus; how it moved, how big and how fast it was, and whether it traveled in groups or in solitary.

The tracks are found in sandstone. This sandstone was wet and muddy at one time, and dinosaurs (and other creatures) left their prints as they walked or ran across the muddy ground. Later, this ground was buried by many other sediments and turned into rock. The rock was then lifted, eroding the rock layers above it to expose the fossilized tracks.

There are several Jurassic-age track sites west of Tuba City, AZ on Navaho Tribal Lands. They are relatively easily accessible from the road and recommended by National Park personal if you are looking for dinosaur tracks to view. Three different ichnogenera can be seen in this area: Dilophosauripus williamsi, Kayentapus hopii, and Hopiiichnus shingii. All are probably tracks of theropod dinosaurs. Dilophosauripus and Kayentapus are similar in size 27-34 cm in length, while Hopiichnus is approximately 10 cm in length. They occur in the Jurassic age Kayenta formation.

Description

The paper by Wells (1971) gives excellent descriptions of the localities and the tracks preserved here. Based on his measurements and the work of Thulborn, we estimate the size and weight of the three trackmakers as follows: Dilophosauripus, almost 5 ft in height at the hip, 17 ft in length and weigh about one-half ton; Kayentapus,approximately the same as Dilophosauripus ; Hopiichnus 1.5 ft at the hip, 6 ft in length, and weigh 0.05 ton. Remember, these are only estimates to give you an idea as to how big these animals were.

Tracksite 1 - Road to Moenave

After turning off onto route 160 to Tuba City, proceed up the hill to the left as the road winds its way up. The turnoff to the road to the tracksite is marked by a small weathered white sign with an arrow pointing the way: "Dinosaur Tracks". There is no sign that marks the road to Moenave. You should see some cars and covered wooden stalls from which the local Navajos sell jewelry and blankets to people visiting the tracks. As the road to Moenave is unpaved and very rough, proceed slowly to the parking area.

Directly behind the stalls is the "chickenyard" of Wells (1971). He describes it as such because there are really no clear indications of long trackways; trackways consist of two to three tracks at most. Many are well preserved however. The day we visited someone had marked one large track with chalk and labeled it "T-Rex". Clearly these tracks are too old to be attributed to T. rex. North of the "chickenyard" are the tracks of the ichnogenus Dilophosauripus. So named by Wells due to the similarity in age and size to Dilophosaurus wetherilli, the "spitter" in the movie Jurassic Park.

Tracksite 2 - Road to Moenkopi

The type tracks of Kayentapus and Hopiichnus are found here. A Navajo woman present at the Moenave site has told me that there are tracks up on the bluff before the Moenkopi Wash.