A Colorado high school science teacher has identified the first known Tyrannosaurus rex trackway, a series of footprints left by the iconic predator roughly 68 million years ago. The find occurred during a volunteer research trip to the badlands of southwestern North Dakota and is now being prepared for display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The discovery adds a rare behavioral record to the fossil record of one of the most studied dinosaurs. ([1])
A Routine Search Yields an Extraordinary Result
Kent Hups, who teaches at Northglenn High School and serves as a research associate with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, joined colleagues and volunteers on a summer expedition in July 2025. The group was surveying exposed rock layers for any signs of ancient life. Hups noticed a distinct impression while climbing a small rise, then spotted additional prints in alignment behind it.
Four tracks were eventually documented. Researchers created three-dimensional digital models of each print to analyze stride length, foot size, and estimated speed. The trackway provides direct evidence of how a large tyrannosaur moved across the landscape, details that body fossils alone cannot supply.
Why Trackways Matter
Isolated T. rex footprints have been reported only twice before, one in Montana and one in New Mexico. A continuous sequence of prints is far more informative because it records movement rather than a single moment. Museum scientists note that such finds can reveal gait, posture, and even possible social behavior when multiple trackways are present in the same area.
The North Dakota specimens are being transported to Denver for further preparation. Staff hope to recover skin impressions or other fine details that could show the texture of the animal’s feet. The work will be conducted in a public lab where visitors can observe the process.
Connecting Travelers with Deep Time
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science already displays notable Cretaceous fossils, including a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and a large Triceratops specimen recovered on earlier expeditions. The new trackway will join these exhibits, offering a tangible link between the animals that once roamed the region and the landscapes travelers can visit today.
Many visitors to the badlands of North Dakota and eastern Montana explore public lands where dinosaur remains continue to surface. Responsible fossil hunting on private or permitted land, guided by professionals, remains one way curious travelers can engage with the science that produced this discovery.
Looking Ahead at the Museum
Once preparation begins in Denver, the tracks will be studied for any additional clues about the animal’s size and pace. The museum plans to make the specimens available for viewing during the conservation process, giving the public a direct view of how paleontologists work with new material.
Hups has kept a three-dimensional replica of one print in his classroom to share the experience with students. The broader effort underscores how sustained fieldwork and museum collections continue to expand what is known about life in the Late Cretaceous.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.