Read an Excerpt
Black Mesa Dinosaur Track Site
ABOUT THE SITE: You might be thinking that because this site is way out in the boonies in Oklahoma, all you’ll see is cows, grass, and cropland. But then you realize you’re a dinosaur hunter and you don’t really care what’s on view today; it’s what you can see from 100 million years ago that really counts. Located near Black Mesa, these famous dinosaur tracks have been preserved in sandstone next to Carrizo Creek. They were originally discovered in the 1980s, with a total of 47 footprints present. Unfortunately, many have weathered away, and only a third of the original tracks are visible today. The dinosaur tracks are located on private property, but happily, viewing them is allowed during daylight hours. (The above photo is from a professional photographer and was taken with permission.)
A Slip in the Mud
Location: Near Kenton, Oklahoma.
Type of Site: Dinosaur track site.
Age: 100 million years.
Site Rating: 3 stars
Digging: No digging or collecting allowed.
For the Kids: See the gift shop note.
Also in the Area: Black Mesa State Park and Black Mesa Preserve are both nearby. The state park boasts camping and recreation opportunities, and the preserve protects over 1,600 acres of wild, rugged land.
Contact Info: This site is located in a remote area, so be sure to visit the website for detailed directions.
Site Details: www.travelok.com/ listings/view.profile/id.2245
GPS: 36.938961 N, -102.960866 W
All dinosaur tracks are interesting, but a few of the tracks here have drawn scrutiny from scientists because they were deeper than the others and had unusual patterns. Puzzling out exactly what happened took some work, but the current consensus is that a dinosaur was walking in a muddy area and slipped, causing its foot to sink in more than in the other tracks. It’s not clear what species left behind the track, but from the footprint, it’s a good bet that it was a theropod. Theropods are a large group of bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs that included Tyrannosaurus rex, so just be glad you weren’t here on the day the tracks were made. When you visit the area, please remember that this is private property and respect the land and the tracks accordingly.
Gift Shop Finds: There is no gift shop here, but at nearby Black Mesa Preserve, you can bag something else. The preserve is home to the highest point in Oklahoma (4,973 feet), and this is a great way to introduce kids to “high-pointing,” the somewhat random hobby of visiting the highest points in each state. It’s a bit of an odd hobby, but it certainly is fun.
