2021 Map of Fossil

About this map

Fossil Butte National Monument anchors the northwestern corner of this Wyoming landscape, preserving a world-renowned paleontological site known for its exceptionally preserved Eocene-era fish. The terrain is dramatically split by the Colorado River Divide Great Basin, a continental hydrologic boundary that separates the waters of the Pacific from the interior drainage. Below the heights of Fossil Butte and Fossil Ridge, the settlement of Fossil sits along the banks of Twin Cr, reflecting the region's long association with both the railroad and early fossil collection. The intricate drainage network of N Fork Twin Cr, S Fork Twin Cr, and E Fork Twin Cr converges here, while the C H Smith Reservoir and the Historic Quarry Trl highlight the human history of land use, from ranching to scientific excavation in the high desert.