Fossil Ridge Trail – Berlin Ichthyosaur Sp

Distance: 1.0 miles Elevation Gain: 200 ft Difficulty: Moderate Type: Out-and-Back Surface: dirt, gravel Activity: Hiking Best Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Typical Time: 1-2 hours Fee: $10/vehicle Dogs: False Permit: False

The Fossil Ridge Trail leads to one of the most extraordinary paleontological sites in the world at Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in central Nevada. This 1-mile out-and-back hike climbs through high desert terrain to the Fossil House shelter, which protects the in-situ remains of ancient ichthyosaurs, massive marine reptiles that swam in the seas covering Nevada approximately 225 million years ago during the Late Triassic period.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is home to the largest concentration of ichthyosaur fossils ever discovered, and the specimens preserved here include some of the largest individuals of the species Shonisaurus popularis, Nevada's official state fossil. The Fossil House contains exposed skeletal elements of multiple individuals, offering a rare opportunity to see these ancient creatures in the exact position where they were buried.

Ranger-led tours of the fossil shelter are available during the park's operating season, providing fascinating context about ichthyosaur biology and the geological history of the region. The trail itself climbs 200 feet through sagebrush and pinyon-juniper woodland in the Shoshone Range at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet. The $10 per vehicle park entry fee applies. Dogs are not permitted on this trail to protect the sensitive fossil resources. Visitors should wear layers, as temperatures at elevation can be significantly cooler than at lower desert elevations.