There’s a lack of information about Fossil Butte National Monument online, probably because there’s a lack of tourists visiting it. I like tourist attractions that lack tourists, so I am going to share my experience and advice about this one.
Fossil Butte National Monument is near Kemmerer at elevations between 6,600 feet and 8,000 feet. Why does that matter? Studies have found that for every 1,000 feet of altitude you ascend, you gain an 8-10% increase in ultraviolet ray intensity. Translation? Expect to get more sunburned at Fossil Butte.
The electrolyte and fluid makeup of the body changes at higher altitudes prompted in part by hormonal alterations and fluid metabolism modifications. These changes can lead to increased urination. Translation? Dehydration is more likely at Fossil Butte. While I feel I should share those cautions, they aren’t the inconveniences we noticed most at the monument. The mosquitoes, on the other hand, we definitely noticed.
The average amount of time a visitor that’s “really into fossils” spends at Fossil Butte, according to Trip Advisor, is 40-45 minutes. We spent nine hours there. Does that mean we are completely bonkers about fossils? Maybe, or maybe we just don’t have TikTok-sized attention spans. Either way, if you like to explore, it’s easy to spend a day at the monument.
At the monument’s visitor center, impressive fossils are on display. There are even coprolite exhibits in the bathroom. If you understand why that’s hilarious, this monument should be on your must-see list. There are also ample opportunities to learn at the center. We went to a ranger program, If Rocks Could Talk, and watched a couple short videos on the park’s fossils and quarries.
Afterward, we went hiking on a few of the monument’s five trails. There is next to no information on the internet about the hiking trails in the park, so here’s my contribution to online knowledge. There are two maintained trails in the park, the Fossil Butte Nature Trail and the Historic Quarry Trail. The park’s three unmaintained paths are Cundick Ridge, Eagle Nest Point, and Rubey Point. Here are the deets on the three paths we did… and another great opportunity for me to remind you to bring your DEET.
Fossil Butte Nature Trail
We were expecting this trail to be overly tame and lame, as “nature trail” is often code for a route that barely qualifies as hiking. Instead, we found a delightful path through an aspen grove and up a sagebrush steppe that was draped in emerald and rainbowed by ample wildflowers. We counted 34 distinct flowering species as we climbed, including sego lily, larkspur, flax, arnica, and Indian paintbrush. The trail is 1.5 miles and leads to a viewpoint overlooking the monument. While it is short, it heads uphill for a significant portion of its length, making it a decent workout. The mosquitos are persistent in a few sections, even in the middle of the day, so spray yourself down! This was our favorite of the hikes we completed at the monument. It was also the only footpath there we saw other people on. We came across two groups on it. So crowded! Not!
Cundick Ridge Trail
Although we couldn’t find much information on the unmaintained trails in the monument, we decided to attempt one of them. All three paths are on old dirt roads. Two, Cundick Ridge and Eagle Nest Point, start at the same spot and later branch. Rubey Point begins just a few minutes from the others. We drove by all three, and Rubey looked more overgrown, so we opted to try one of the others. As we began walking down the road for the other two, we commented that it was in pretty good shape for an “unmaintained” path. That opinion didn’t last.
The Eagle Nest Point fork looked overrun and faint, so we opted to head toward Cundick Ridge. Although the path remained obvious during the entire hike, sections were being reclaimed by tall grasses very successfully. The trail passes a power station or cell tower or something along those lines about a third of a mile from its end. After that, it becomes much less distinct, probably because the only vehicles that have traveled it in years have come to access that technological apparatus.
The overlook at the terminus of Cundick Ridge, a windy endpoint, provides extensive views of the area. We saw no hint of humans from that vantage point or anywhere in route, which was a plus.
This trail is mostly flat, with just a few small hills. If you want a laid-back, secluded path and don’t mind wandering through vegetation, this could be a great option for you. As I have some issues with grasses, my calves became itchy from brushing against them repeatedly, but the reaction was manageable. Although the monument’s website claims this path is two miles, it turned out to be 2.5. This was the only hike we did at Fossil Butte on which we didn’t get bombarded by mosquitoes, probably either because of the higher elevation, wind, or lack of water.
Historic Quarry Trail
This hike is 2.8 miles if you include the spur to the quarry, which I’d recommend doing. If you are intrigued by the history of fossil collecting in and near the park, this is a terrific trail choice. If you hate mosquitoes, you may like it a little less. They swarmed us in certain spots undeterred by our layers of repellent.
The quarry accessed by this route was excavated for three years prior to the creation of the monument in 1972. The path also passes the tiny cabin of a fossil collector named David Haddenham who made a living off that pastime for 50 years starting in the 1910s. Plenty of informative signs and the chance to visit a genuine quarry make this a compelling path. Like the trek before, we encountered no other hikers.
Fossil Butte is fantastically uncrowded. If you prefer a peaceful hike to a flashy one, this might be your kind of place. I’d plan for more than 45 minutes though… like 8 hours and 15 minutes more. And don’t forget the repellent!
Thus ended our outing to Kemmerer. If you are the curious sort, it’s a magnificent place to go fishing.