Fossil Butte National Monument
Nowhere can a more complete, more exquisitely
preserved record of a primeval lake be seen than
in Fossil Butte National Monument.
For several million years - about fifty million years
ago - Fossil Lake gradually filled with sediments,
burying and fossilizing dead plants, fish and
animals that had sunk to the bottom.
Today, erosion and human activity have exposed
that fossil-rich limestone, providing a look into
a lost world.
Explore the life of Fossil Lake
by touring the visitor center,
and by hiking the Historic
Quarry Trail and the Fossil
Lake Quarry Trail.
Don't miss the rest of our virtual tour of United States National Monuments in 5244 images.