Place

Rio Grande Village Nature Trail Stop #8

Hundreds of small fossilized shells are embedded in limestone
Fossils in limestone

NPS/CA Hoyt

Quick Facts
Location:
Rio Grande Village Nature Trail

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

This section of the trail winds over and alongside limestone benches. Look carefully at the gray rocks you are walking over - can you see the small shells and other fossil remains of marine creatures? This limestone consists of rock produced from fine sediments that sank to the bottom of an ancient ocean that once covered Big Bend National Park. The sediments formed over millions of years, and the fossils serve as a reminder that Big Bend has not always been a desert.

Big Bend National Park, Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

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Last updated: July 26, 2022