Dinosaur National Monument · Colorado, Utah

Box Canyon Trail

0.3 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Box Canyon Trail: 0.25 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 90 ft of climbing · 5,387 ft–5,473 ft · earth surface · hiking

HistoryExhibits

5,387 ft 5,473 ft · 0.3 mi high 5,473 ft

Along the way Josies Cabin Interpretive Exhibit Josie Morris Homesite

Trailheads Box Canyon Trailhead 5,384 ft Drive there · Hog Canyon Trailhead 5,367 ft Drive there

Hike the Box Canyon Trail 0.25 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

20-60 Minutes · no dogs · season The last 2 miles (3.2) of the Cub Creek Road that leads to this trailhead are unpaved. This unpaved section may be closed to vehicles when wet with rain or snow. If the road to Josie Morris Cabin is closed to vehicles, the trailhead will be 2 miles (3.2 km) one-way from the end of the paved road, which lengthens the BoxCanyon hike to 4.25 miles (6.8 km) round-trip.

Start Josie Morris Cabin Area

Large cliffs of white rock rise above green shrubs to a blue sky.
The end of the Box Canyon Trail provides dramatic views of cliffs of Weber sandstone. Photo: NPS

Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km) round trip

Elevation Change: Less than 100 feet (30.4 meters)

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Type of Trail: Out and back, not a loop

Trailhead: Josie Morris Cabin Parking Area

This trail offers a relatively level walk into a shady box canyon. This trail is good to do even on a hot summer day. It features nice exposures of the craggy Weber sandstone of Split Mountain. The canyon served as a natural corral where Josie Bassett Moreis would pen and raise her livestock. It is excellent for small children. Stay on the trail to avoid running into poison ivy.

Hiking brochures are available at the Visitor Centers.

Rules and Regulations

Pets and animals who provide only comfort or emotional support are prohibited on this trail.

Carry out all trash.

Collecting artifacts, fossils, plants, antlers, rocks, or other objects is prohibited.

Do not feed or approach wildlife.

Biking on trails is not permitted in Dinosaur National Monument.

Your Safety

There is some shade on this trail.

Poison ivy is common in this area. Keep small children close and stay on the trail to avoid it.

Be prepared for desert hiking. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Take water. A minimum of 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water per person is recommended in summer.

Temperatures can exceed 100°F (38°C) in summer. To avoid the heat, hike in the morning or evening. Carry a headlamp if hiking near nightfall.

Let someone know where you are going and when you are due back.

Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes, such as hiking boots or athletic shoes. Open-toed shoes or sandals are not recommended.

Watch for wildlife. This is bear and mountain lion country. Keep small children close.

All natural areas pose risks. Your safety depends on your own good judgement.

Pets Pets and animals who provide only comfort or emotional support are prohibited on this trail. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, working service dogs may go wherever their handlers go.

Accessibility Trail is primarily a gravel or sand path approximately 30 inches (76 cm) wide. There are a few steps along the route. This trail is not considered wheelchair accessible.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Other trails from the same trailheads

All 35 trails in Dinosaur National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.