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Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Harrison, NE

Photo: Urban at French Wikipedia ., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeHistory BuffOutdoor Adventure

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

301 River Rd · Harrison, NE

Why you should go…

Agate Fossil Beds preserves Miocene mammal fossils about 20 million years old in the Niobrara River valley of northwest Nebraska. The visitor center has a diorama of Miocene mammals and the James H. Cook Collection of gifts from Chief Red Cloud and other Plains Indian leaders. The 2.8-mile Fossil Hills Trail leads to the historic dig sites, and the 1-mile Daemonelix Trail passes the corkscrew-shaped burrows of ancient land beavers.

  • #national monument
  • #fossils
  • #hiking trails
  • #lakota artifacts
  • #prairie

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    History Buff

    Fort Robinson State Park

    Under $25

    Tour a frontier Army post turned 22,000-acre state park, with museums, Jeep and stagecoach rides, and bison and longhorn herds.

    23 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Museum of the Fur Trade

    Under $25

    A history museum near Chadron on the site of an original 1837 fur trading post, with over 6,000 authentic artifacts.

    47 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Carhenge

    Free

    Walk around a full-size replica of Stonehenge built from gray-painted vintage cars on the Nebraska plains.

    50 mi awayMore like this