Roadside Attraction Fossil Mountain

Delta

Overview

( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

8 Todo Lists / 0 Ticks

RATING: Roadside Attraction

LENGTH: Less than an hour

MAPS: The Barn, UT

Wed

93 | 69

Thu

91 | 68

Fri

88 | 69

Sat

90 | 66

Sun

91 | 68

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SEASON: Any, hot in the summer

WATER: None

NOTES: There is good primitive camping near the trailhead. The road to the trailhead is generally passable by all vehicles except the last 1-1.5 miles which can be walked if needed.

Wed

93 | 69

Thu

91 | 68

Fri

88 | 69

Sat

90 | 66

Sun

91 | 68

View Full Weather Details

roadside

family friendly

access: high clearance

fossilized sea shells

World renowned, Fossil Mountain is one of the West Desert gems that many Utah locals don't even know exists. In the far western edge of Millard County, Fossil Mountain is home to a variety of fossilized shells and other invertebrates. This particular layer of fossils and sediment from ancient times also contains cephalopods, though it will take a fairly well-trained eye to find them. This is a must do place to visit for rock hounds and those interested in fossils.

To be fair, and set expectations, on our visit we wandered around for an hour or two, hunched over peering at the ground. Diane found quite a few fossilized snail shells, and we both found a plethora of fossilized see shells, but it does take time and patients to find them. You are not likely to make any great discoveries as the areas (particularly near the trailhead) seem to have been fairly picked over.

Note: This is just across the road from Ibex. If in the area, I definitely recommend visiting it as well.

fossilized snail shell

Getting There

From Delta, head west on US-50. After about 50 miles, at mile post 39.2, a dirt road heads south off the highway.

Reset your odometer as you leave the highway. ( 12S 295468E 4322012N / 39°01'24"N 113°21'46"W )
0.9 miles - left onto main dirt road. ( 12S 294456E 4320973N / 39°00'49"N 113°22'26"W )
8.4 miles - Junction. Go right onto the lesser used road. ( 12S 294230E 4309123N / 38°54'25"N 113°22'23"W )
14.0 miles - junction - go right and reset your odometer. The road merges onto a road heading north. ( 12S 287594E 4304389N / 38°51'46"N 113°26'53"W )
1.7 miles - 4-way junction. Go right here on a lesser used road. ( 12S 287241E 4306846N / 38°53'05"N 113°27'10"W )
2.8 miles - Road enters the wash. This is the trailhead. ( 12S 285937E 4306526N / 38°52'54"N 113°28'04"W )

fossilized sea shell

Route

From the trailhead, your best bet is to wander south up the slope of Fossil Mountain 200 or see feet of elevation gain should put you in the fossil zone. The map is purposely vague to encourage wandering.

Note: I would discourage collecting as I think most of the time fossils are best left for future generations to view where they were deposited. If collecting, be sure to read the BLM's policy on collecting fossils. ( http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/CRM/paleontology/fossil_collecting.html )