This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple routes that you can take to access the Silvershield Trail dinosaur tracks. One is hiking in directly from the Silvershield Trailhead, and another begins along the Ouray Perimeter Trail before branching off on Oak Creek Trail and then Twin Peaks Trail. One other route involves hiking up the steep Old Twin Peaks Trail. I have not hiked the Old Twin Peaks Trail, so this article just focuses on the initial two routes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Silvershield Trailhead is accessed just north of the town of Ouray. If you are coming from the north, exit Highway 50 onto CO Road 17. This is the road north of town with a bridge over the Uncompahgre River. You will then drive on CO Road 17 for roughly a mile before turning right onto Silver Shield Trail Road. The parking lot is a couple hundred feet from this turnoff. Try to arrive early as there is limited parking at the trailhead. Once you park, you might not be able to figure out where the trail is for a brief second. This is because the trail climbs nearly straight up along the cliff face in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have an activity tracker, you will continuously record flights of stairs goals as you hike. The initial climb gains almost 1,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile. Approximately, 0.7 miles into the hike, the incline becomes slightly less dramatic, giving your legs a well needed break. Approximately one mile into the hike, the grade becomes noticeably less even though you are still gaining altitude. The trail flattens out a lot as you approach the dinosaur tracks. If you just hike to the dinosaur tracks on this route, the hike is approximately four miles roundtrip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would suggest hiking a little bit past the dinosaur tracks as the views of Ouray just past the tracks are amazing. Even though the return hike is mostly downhill, it is still quite challenging. The path is very steep, and the eroded trail is very slippery. Trekking poles are definitely recommended to help you keep your balance and prevent you from slipping on the steep descent. You can view Silvershield Trail conditions and download GPS waypoints for the hike on Alltrails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHiking Silvershield Trail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From Silvershield Trailhead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n