Torrey, UT
Our friends, Larry and Annette, live just outside Torrey. One of the treats during our visit here was a hike they took us on to check out some fossils of ancient dinosaur bones. The location is not on any map and is not publicized so you need “local knowledge” to find them.
Annette leads the way
There is no trail that leads to the fossils so you have to pick your way up a very rocky wash requiring some scrambling.
Is that a young dinosaur emerging out of the rocks!
Once up on top we enjoyed some great views of the surrounding area.
But soon our attention moved from the great views to the dinosaur fossils in the rocks around us.
There were small chips around us that looked like they were fossils. Larry then showed us a test to tell if the chip was fossil or just rock. The porous nature of some fossil bones will cause it to slightly stick to your tongue if you lick it!
Must be a fossil!
Don’t try this at home. This person is a highly trained paleontologist.
We passed a hole in the rock as we hiked and Annette demonstrated how to get up close and personal with the formation.
Getting in to the hole was not a problem, but getting back out required a different skill set called “Help me, Larry.”
We soon came to an area with a number of pieces of petrified wood.
Annette finds the perfect ride.
After an exciting afternoon of hiking, we rewarded ourselves with pizza and beer at the Rim Rock Patio. It was a bit brisk and windy outside but we took a table in the corner that was out of the wind so we could enjoy the great view.
The high mesa in the distance is Meeks Mesa. We hiked up there last week (and spent two hours searching for the trail back down).
On the way back to their house, Larry and Annette showed us around “suburban” Torrey. Deer and rabbits were all over the place.
Back at their house we were able to meet their cat, Oreo. The cat showed up on their porch one day and now performs guard duty.
Wow, John put a cat picture in the blog!
Tomorrow Larry and Annette head into Colorado for a family visit, so we said our good-byes before heading back to the motorhome. We enjoy visiting with them and appreciate their “guided tours” of the area!
Oh, the Places They Go! 
Mmmmm, I sure hope those “fossils” in your mouth are truly fossil bones and not fossilized scat…I know, I’m just gross.
Ooooo, very cool. The rock hound in me would be thrilled. It was a debate for us between going to Torrey and the San Rafael swell. Weather looked better in the swell, so that’s where we are headed today.
Mary, you can take out 25 pounds of rock! Thank goodness we live in a MH or I would have brought out the big rocks! Looks like you made a wise choice going to the Swell! The weather seems to be moving north on both sides of you.
Wait…I am lost. If everyone that visits that area takes a piece of the fossil to see if it is real, won’t there be no fossils pretty soon? I am missing something. Couldn’t you have found a bigger piece to test Pam? lol
Cool hike. Very different from your other adventures. I think Annette is a feisty one for sure. hehe
Oreo is a cutie. I am shocked at John also. Maybe he mellowing?
What a treat to see the fossils! Especially with a famous paleontologist along 😄. Your friends look like so much fun. Love the hole in the ground.
The fossils were a great treat, Jodee. So glad Annette and Larry shared the place with us. Yes, they are great fun and a little crazy:)
It’s nice to see a cat in the blog. You guys are funny – out licking the rocks and fossils.
John just knew that Oreo had to make the blog:) It was a super fun hike and adventure with great people!
Love the Paleontologist! (I needed spell check for that!) But what a neat hike! Dinosaur bones, Fossils… OH MY!
Seriously… very cool!!
Thanks, Nancy, it was very cool!
What a fun hike! It’s so neat you know fun folks in Torrey! I don’t believe I have ever seen fossils like that on a trail.
John, Rosie is jealous that Oreo got on your blog first! 😉
Annette and Larry are so much fun and know all the little secrets in the area. This area we hiked around isn’t really a trail. You wouldn’t find it unless someone led the way. Even they had to be careful finding the fossil location.
Sorry, Rosie! We’ll have to make sure John gets you in a future post:)
DInosaur bones, just laying along the trail. How cool is that?
Holly, the bones weren’t along a trail. This area doesn’t have a trail per say and is not known. The bones aren’t obvious and you had to know where to look and where to climb. It’s a good thing people don’t know about it because I’m sure they would be gone.
I bet they would be gone, too. I am always amazed by how much petrified wood disappears from Petrified Forest NP on an annual basis.
Geri was doing the rock/fossil on the tongue trick but her’s fell off–looks like you found the real deal!! Great times!
I had never heard of that trick before. The fossil really sticks to your tongue and has a very dry feeling. Once I knew what the bone fossil looked like, it was easy to see pieces everywhere. They didn’t look like any other rocks and were various shades of deep purple.
Excellent. Harleyhawk43.WordPress.com
Thanks:)
What a great day! And always special to have friends who live in the area that enjoy the same activities…hiking and pizza and beer!
Sums a perfect day doesn’t it, Gay:)
In checking out the petrifird wood, did you find any agatized or opalized (silicized) wood?
I’m enjoying your blog and really looking forward to chicking out these plaes my self in about 1 1/2 yrs. when we’re able to become full-timers.
Hmmmm, might leave the chickens at home and check the places out instead of chicking out the plaes. ; )
MQ, I read your second comment before the first one and thought it was spam! Yes, leave the chickens home:) Thanks for joining us!
I had to look up agate and opalized petrified wood! Yes, that is exactly what some of the wood looked like. Some of the pieces were much prettier than others.
What a fun hike — made way more fun, obviously by the four who were hiking together. 🙂 I didn’t know the trick about licking fossils. Thanks for the excellent step-by-step illustrated guide by the highly trained paleontologist and colleagues (hehe). Your photos and captions are hilarious!
Thanks, Laurel:) Glad you enjoyed our fun adventure. The four of us had a great time. We didn’t know about the sticking to your tongue either, but it sure worked!
Fun, fun, fun post! 😀
Thanks, Rommel:)
Were you really sure what you were putting in your mouth Pam? 😉 Great post. Love getting to places not often seen by the masses.
Thanks, Lu:) I never gave it a thought until Sue mentioned it!! Sure hope it was just a bone:)
I am guessing it was. 🙂
Fantastic, and not in the guidebooks for good reason … you know some ijiots would deface the fossils or try to break off pieces for memorabilia.
That’s right, Erin, and it is too bad because it would be great for others to share in this. Glad we had the opportunity:)
What did you do today? Licked some rocks and fossils. Words you thought you’d never say?
Haha! I thought the same thing, Pam:) I’d never heard of that trick but it worked!
Ha, love the hole in the wall pictures!
Thanks, Debbie!