Paleontology In & Around the Bighorn Basin

The Bighorn Basin preserves one of the most complete records of Earth's history anywhere in the world. Rocks as old as 2.5 billion years can be found here, as well as units of rock representing nearly every geologic period since. And in those layers are the fossilized remains of the plants, animals, and ecosystems that existed here for hundreds of millions of years.  The Bighorn Basin just might be the world's single best classroom for studying and learning about the history of our planet!  Be sure to check out these great resources for more information about the fascinating geologic and paleontological history of the Bighorn Basin and the surrounding region.  

If you are interested in finding fossils on your own, be sure you are familiar with the many important laws and regulations governing the collection of fossils on public lands.  

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center

The Wyoming Dinosaur Museum is one of the premier dinosaur museums in the country.  The WDC features world class specimens, exciting exhibits, and opportunities for the general public to excavate Jurassic dinosaurs.

• Location: Thermopolis, Wyoming

Red Gulch Dinosaur Trackways

The Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite preserves the footprints of dinosaurs walking along the shoreline of a long-vanished sea, 167 million years ago.  You can see and walk among hundreds of footprints, and it is the largest tracksite in Wyoming.

• Location: near Shell, Wyoming