Picket Wire Canyonlands Tracksite (4,403′), Eastern Plains
Picket Wire (Purgatoire) Canyonlands, in the Comanche National Grasslands, is home to the largest dinosaur track site in North America. 150 million years ago this area was part of a large shallow lake and was teaming with Brontosaurs and Allosaurs. As these massive beasts plodded along the muddy edge of this lake, they left their footprints in the mud, which were eventually buried and turned to stone. Today, over 1,300 of these footprints, extending a 1/4 mile, are exposed at the Picket Wire Canyonlands dinosaur track site.
Another interesting geological attraction on the Eastern Plains is Paint Mines Park, with it’s richly colored clay spires.
Trail Stats
- Destination: Dinasaur Track Site
- Trailhead: Withers Canyon
- Round trip: 10.8 miles / 17.4 km
- Elevation: 4,403′ -4,153′ / 1,342 m-1,265 m
- County: Otero
- Agency: U.S. Forest Service
- Nat’l Grassland: Comanche
Trail Pictures
Looking down into the valley with the trail in the middle left
Looking down into the valley with the trail in the middle left
Trailhead gate
Trailhead gate
Extreme heat warning
Extreme heat warning
Withers Canyon Trailhead
Withers Canyon Trailhead
The long dirt roads through the Comanche Grasslands from the trailhead
The long dirt roads through the Comanche Grasslands from the trailhead
Climbing back out of the canyon floor
Climbing back out of the canyon floor
Trail along Clark Canyon
Trail along Clark Canyon
Huge rock on the hillside ready to roll
Huge rock on the hillside ready to roll
The Dolores Mission and Cemetery
The Dolores Mission and Cemetery
Signage at the site
Signage at the site
A large variety of footprints
A large variety of footprints
Prints were made at the muddy shore of an ancient lake
Prints were made at the muddy shore of an ancient lake
Limestone bedrock along the Purgatoire River containing some of the tracks
Limestone bedrock along the Purgatoire River containing some of the tracks
The dinosaur track site
The dinosaur track site
Print of a meat eating Allosaurus
Print of a meat eating Allosaurus
A horny toad warming in the sun
A horny toad warming in the sun
Another ruin from the 1800’s
Another ruin from the 1800’s
The Purgatoire River full of spring melt from the mountains
The Purgatoire River full of spring melt from the mountains
Spring along the Purgatoire River
Spring along the Purgatoire River
A petroglyph among the rocks
A petroglyph among the rocks
An excellent trail to follow
An excellent trail to follow
Ruins along the trail
Ruins along the trail
Spring flowers in bloom on the canyon floor
Spring flowers in bloom on the canyon floor
View of Withers Canyon
View of Withers Canyon
Allosaurus print
Allosaurus print
Large bedrock area along the near side of the river containing dinosaur tracks
Large bedrock area along the near side of the river containing dinosaur tracks
The trail between the canyon walls and the river
The trail between the canyon walls and the river
GPS Route with Elevation
Video Tour
Weather
Trail Directions
There are no navigation issues with the trail. The reason for the difficulty rating is the distance.
Starting at the Withers Canyon Trailhead, the trail descends 250 feet into the canyons. Along the way you will encounter many ruins including the Dolores Mission and Cemetery. Many rocks above the trail have centuries old petroglyphs left behind by nomadic tribes.
Trailhead Directions