Fossil Butte
Fossil Butte National Monument preserves one of the richest Eocene fossil lagoons on Earth, with well-preserved fish, insects, and plants.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Fremont County |
| District | Fossil Butte |
| City | Kemmerer |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 41.755 |
| Longitude | -109.617 |
| Maps |
7:12 PM LOCAL TIMEFossil Butte National Monument protects a remarkable Eocene freshwater lake and its fossil-rich deposits; a must-see for vertebrate fish, insects, mollusks, and ancient plant leaves. The site lies just south of Kemmerer and offers short visitor trails, a visitor center with exhibits, and fossil displays; you'll also find nearby fishing and camping in the surrounding basin. The fossils originate from about 50 million years ago and include high-quality, articulated fish, crustaceans, and preservation of cell-level detail in some plant remains—providing a window into paleoenvironments and ancient marine-influenced freshwater ecosystems.
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