Photo: TigerScientist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Fossil Butte National Monument
Chicken Creek Rd off Lincoln County Rd 300, US-30 west of Kemmerer · Kemmerer, WY
Why you should go…
Fossil Butte protects part of ancient Fossil Lake in the Green River Formation, one of the richest records of freshwater life from about 52 million years ago. The visitor center displays more than 80 fossils and casts, from Knightia fish to bats, turtles, crocodiles and early horses. In summer you can watch rangers prepare fossils, then hike the Historic Quarry Trail or take the scenic drive among the colorful buttes.
- #fossils
- #national monument
- #paleontology
- #hiking trails
- #visitor center
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.