• Knightia eocaena mass mortality

    Fossil Butte

    National Monument Wyoming

Getting Around

Map of Fossil Butte National Monument including road, trail, picnic area and visitor center locations.
 

The visitor center, Historic Quarry trailhead, and picnic parking areas accommodate automobiles, pickup trucks, SUV's, RV's, motorbikes, bicycles, and commercial tour buses.

The upper Chicken Creek Nature (previously Fossil Lake) trailhead parking area is small and buses, RV's and vehicles pulling trailers have difficulty turning around. We recommend parking at the picnic area and hiking from there.

The narrow and steep road beyond the Chicken Creek Nature trailhead makes it difficult or impossible for buses, RV's and vehicles pulling trailers to complete the scenic drive. You may unhook and leave trailers in the visitor center or picnic area parking lots and continue.

Bicycles must remain on designated roads.

All motorized vehicles are restricted to the main park road. Operators and vehicles must be properly licensed.

Snowmobiles and ATV's are not allowed.

  • Bicycling Information Bicycling Information

    The scenic drive provides bicyclists access to scenic areas in the monument. Read More

  • Your Safety Your Safety

    The sun, lightning, elevation, and insects can affect the enjoyment of your visit. Read More

  • Visitor Center Activities Visitor Center Activities

    Over 300 fossils are displayed at the visitor center including a 13-foot crocodile. Read More

  • Outdoor Activities Outdoor Activities

    If you have an appetite to explore, venture into the monument's high desert landscape. Read More

Did You Know?

Diplomystus dentatus, NPS photo of Fossil Country Museum specimen

Railroad workers played a major role in the discovery of fossils from the Green River Formation. In the late 1860's, Union Pacific workers uncovered the first major fossil fish beds (Lake Gosiute) near the town of Green River, Wyoming.