Fossil Butte National Monument

National Monument · WY

In the ridges of southwest Wyoming are some of the best-preserved fossils in the world. They tell the story of ancient life in a warm, wet environment in and around a freshwater lake. Stingrays swam in the lake. Turtles basked in the sun. Leaves rustled in the breeze while early horses darted between the trunks. We reveal more of the past with each fossil found.

What you’ll hear

14 places to explore in this park.

  • Fossil Birds Exhibit
  • Fossil Butte
  • Fossil Fishes Exhibit
  • Fossil Plants Exhibit
  • Wayside: Dynamic Lake
  • Wayside: Erosion (Roadside)
  • Wayside: Geology's Effect on Ecology
  • Wayside: Plan Your Visit to Fossil Butte
  • Wayside: Slump or Debris Flow (Roadside)
  • Wayside: The Eastern Edge of Fossil Lake
  • Wayside: The Southern End of Fossil Lake
  • Wayside: Where is Fossil Butte?
  • Wayside: Where's the Lake?
  • Wayside: Why the Rocks of Rubey Point are Curved

Hear it on Trailtold

Download the app and let Fossil Butte National Monument narrate itself as you walk — GPS-triggered audio, hands-free.

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