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Box Canyon Trail: A Hidden Oasis in Dinosaur National Monument

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The Box Canyon Trail in the Utah section of Dinosaur National Monument is an easy short hike that’s perfect for non-hikers, families with small children, and anyone looking for a shaded, scenic walk in the monument. The trail begins at the historic Josie Morris Cabin — where Josie lived in the early 1900s — and leads into a small dead-end canyon she once used as a natural corral for her livestock. The original fence is still standing today.

And if you’re tempted to write it off as “just a walk,” hear me out: the trail may be short, but it offers a surprising mix of scenery and Cub Creek valley history, with plenty of shade to keep the walk comfortable even on a hot summer day.

Overhead view from the end of Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, looking back toward the trailhead along the sandy path, with canyon walls and green vegetation lining the way.
Box Canyon – Dinosaur National Monument, Utah

Box Canyon Trail: Quick facts

Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 0.5 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 20 minutes
Trailhead: Josie Morris Cabin
Dog-friendly: No (service dogs only)
Fee: Yes (U.S. National Park Service entrance fee)

Trail description

The Box Canyon Trail is located at the historic Josie Morris Cabin area, about 10 miles from the Quarry Visitor Center (Dinosaur National Monument visitor center for the Utah section and the gateway to the famous dinosaur quarry). It sits at the very end of Cub Creek Road, the last stop on the scenic Tour of the Tilted Rocks.

If you’re staying at the monument’s Green River Campground, the Box Canyon Trailhead is an easy 15-minute drive (about 6 miles) without stops.

Historic one-story log cabin of Josie Morris in the lush Cub Creek Valley of Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, surrounded by trees.
Josie Morris Cabin

Pro tip:
Who was Josie Morris??? Before exploring the historic cabin and the surrounding canyons, brush up on Josie Bassett Morris and her life in the Cub Creek valley. It makes this trail feel even more special.

The trail starts at the north end of the Josie Morris Cabin parking area and follows a sandy, tree-lined path that’s enjoyable even in the summer. Unlike the desert scenery along Cub Creek Road, this part of the monument feels unexpectedly green and vibrant.

Not far from the trailhead, you’ll come across the historic wooden fence that Josie built across the narrow canyon entrance to contain her livestock. Just to the east, Hog Canyon served a similar purpose, where Josie once corralled hogs.

Father and daughter on the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, passing Josie Morris’s historic wooden fence with trees lining both sides of the shaded path.
Original wooden fence built by Josie Morris to corral livestock

The Box Canyon Trail continues past the fence and winds deeper into the canyon, shaded by a mix of trees and other vegetation.

Father and small child walking along the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, pausing to look at tall shrubby plants growing beside the sandy path, with trees and canyon walls in the background.

The path is mostly flat, with just a few steps to navigate around the midpoint, making it accessible for nearly everyone.

Mother hiking with two children on the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, walking up a few sandy steps with trees, vegetation, and colorful canyon walls in the background.

As you approach the canyon’s end, the tree canopy thins, but patches of greenery remain, and the walk still feels refreshing compared to the monument’s desert sections.

Mom and two young daughters resting in the shade along the narrow, sandy Box Canyon Trail, surrounded by trees, shrubs, and a canyon in the background.
Man walking along the sandy Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, surrounded by lush trees and vegetation, with a tall rock wall rising ahead.
As you get closer to the trail’s end, the canyon walls begin to narrow in
Sandy path near the end of Box Canyon Trail, where the shade trees have disappeared, leaving the trail exposed to sun with scattered green vegetation still visible along the way.
A look back on the trail on the approach to the hike’s end

There is no official trail marker at the end. The sheer rock wall at the back of the canyon marks the trail’s end, though you can scramble over some of the boulders if you’d like to explore a bit further or get a different perspective.

The end of Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, where the path winds between boulders, framed by sheer canyon walls with scattered rocks, trees, and shrubs.
View from inside Box Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, showing lush greenery framed by towering canyon walls.
Box Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument

Nearby trail option:
If you have some extra time, this easy half-mile hike pairs perfectly with the Hog Canyon Trail, just across the parking lot past Josie’s cabin and chicken coop. Hog Canyon adds about a mile (1.5 miles round trip), is just as easy and scenic, and winds through the canyon where Josie corralled the rest of her animals — a fun little combo for a relaxed afternoon on the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument.

Know before you go:

  • Location: The Box Canyon Trail is on the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument — the section with dinosaur fossils (Quarry Exhibit Hall). The monument also extends into Colorado, but there’s no direct access to the Colorado side from Utah.
  • Access: The trail may be inaccessible in winter if Cub Creek Road (Tour of the Tilted Rocks scenic drive) is covered with snow. The road transitions from paved to a dirt road, which is generally accessible to most vehicles, though snow isn’t cleared on the last few miles.
  • Best timing: This short, mostly shaded trail is easy on the legs and perfectly fine for a midday stroll — even in the summer heat!
  • Visitor info: Stop by the Quarry Visitor Center (the main Dinosaur National Monument visitor center for the Utah side) to check current road and trail conditions and pick up a pamphlet for the scenic drive and points of interest.
  • Highlights along the way: Don’t miss the Cub Creek Petroglyph Panels, showcasing some of the most stunning Fremont-era rock art in the Southwest USA! The Fremont people lived in what is now Dinosaur National Monument centuries ago, and these carvings are a striking glimpse into their presence in the Cub Creek valley.

Related:

Scenic views along the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah — a hiker walking the lush, tree-lined path toward towering canyon cliffs, and the view from the canyon’s end with sheer rock walls, scattered greenery, and sandy terrain. Text overlay - Easy scenic hike in Utah's Dinosaur National Monument.
Colorful scenery at the lush beginning of the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah, with vibrant vegetation and rising canyon walls. Text overlay - The perfect short hike in Dinosaur National Monument (scenic, easy + shady!).
Scenes from the Box Canyon Trail in Dinosaur National Monument, Utah — a mom with two young kids walking from the lush grounds near the Josie Morris Cabin toward the trailhead, a sandy tree-lined path winding deeper into the canyon with cliffs rising ahead, and a view looking back toward the greener beginning of the canyon. Text overlay - Short + scenic Box Canyon Trail in Utah's Dinosaur National Monument.

Hi, I’m Marketa!

Mom of two, Malinois wrangler, and the voice behind this blog. I share places worth the detour across the U.S., from remote backroads to favorite Chicago-area finds. Always chasing good views, great memories, and dog-friendly stops. More about us →

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