Fossil Butte National Monument

Fossil Butte National Monument encompasses a total area of about 8,198 acres of land that is located in southwestern Wyoming and near the intersection of US 189 and US 30. The national monument was proclaimed on October 23, 1972, and is governed by the National Park Service.

Several features make Fossil Butte National Monument a great place to visit for all sorts of people. To begin with, visitors who love the outdoors can get to enjoy recreational activities like hiking, horseback riding, and guided tours. Some of the amenities in the park to facilitate these activities include a museum/exhibit, a visitor center, picnic area, and a self-guided trail.

Besides these recreational activities, most people going to the national monument will be going to see the 50-million-year-old lake bed which is one of the richest fossil localities in the world. In fact, the most notable data of freshwater fossil fish ever found in the United States is preserved at this national monument. 

Additionally, visitors to the park can also get to see fossils of many different creatures including snails, turtles, birds, bats, insects, and plants. These remains are also found in the 50-million-year-old rock layers. Besides these attractions, Fossil Butte’s semi-arid landscape of flat-topped buttes and ridges that are covered by sagebrush, other desert shrubs, and grasses is also a sight to behold.

If you want to hike through Fossil Butte National Monument and see all the exciting things with your dog, you can do so although you will have to follow the parks strict rules to avoid causing destruction or disruption to other park visitors, wildlife, habitat, or pets. As such, dogs should be kept on a leash at all times, and when your dog is not on a leash, then your pooch should be kept in a safe and secure enclosure.