Roadside Attraction Fossil Mountain
Delta

Overview

( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Roadside Attraction

LENGTH: Less than an hour

MAPS: The Barn, UT

Sat

38 | 25

Sun

39 | 24

Mon

43 | 26

Tue

40 | 26

Wed

42 | 26

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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.

Sat

38 | 25

Sun

39 | 24

Mon

43 | 26

Tue

40 | 26

Wed

42 | 26

View Full Weather Details

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.

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 295468mE 4322012mN / N39° 01' 24" W113° 21' 46" )
0.9 miles - left onto main dirt road. ( 12S 294456mE 4320973mN / N39° 00' 49" W113° 22' 26" )
8.4 miles - Junction. Go right onto the lesser used road. ( 12S 294230mE 4309123mN / N38° 54' 25" W113° 22' 23" )
14.0 miles - junction - go right and reset your odometer. ( 12S 287594mE 4304389mN / N38° 51' 46" W113° 26' 53" )
1.7 miles - 4-way junction. Go right here on a lesser used road. ( 12S 287241mE 4306846mN / N38° 53' 05" W113° 27' 10" )
2.8 miles - Road enters the wash. This is the trailhead. ( 12S 285937mE 4306526mN / N38° 52' 54" W113° 28' 04" )

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 )