Oak Springs Trilobite Area
Caliente
Overview
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Wed 51 | 31 |
Thu 50 | 28 |
Fri 50 | 28 |
Sat 49 | 28 |
Sun 50 | 32 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Wed 51 | 31 |
Thu 50 | 28 |
Fri 50 | 28 |
Sat 49 | 28 |
Sun 50 | 32 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
View from the fossil hunting area.
Just north of US-93, west of the small town of Caliente, is the Oak Springs Trilobite site. The geology of the area, which comprises shale deposits, has fossilized plants and six types of trilobites in the deposited rock layers.
The BLM has created a trailhead and trail to an area where, with a fair bit of persistence, you can find fossilized plants and trilobites. The trailhead has picnic tables and a pit toilet.
This short outing makes a great stop when passing through the area, and was a fun “treasure-hunt” for the whole family, Our kindergartener loved hunting for fossils.
A few of our finds.
Getting There
From the town of Caliente Nevada, head west on US-93 for about 13 miles to mile marker 81.25. A side road on the north side of US-93 here is signed for Oak Springs Trilobite area. Follow the dirt road 0.4 miles to a large parking area with a pit toilet. This is the trailhead and is signed. Reaching the trailhead should be possible by all vehicles in most conditions.
Heading on a fossil hunt!
Route
From the trailhead, the trail heads west for about 1/4 of a mile to where the area becomes disturbed with digging pits from other visitors. The hunt begins! In talking to a group of locals that were visiting at the same time we were, the best strategy appears to be wash bottoms for trilobites, though we found fossilized plants in many places we dug.
Photos
Maps
| MP81.25 |
11S 702372mE 4164905mN N37° 36' 32" W114° 42' 26" |
| Trailhead |
11S 701961mE 4165456mN N37° 36' 51" W114° 42' 42" |