Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a new National Park Service area that was designated in December 2014. The National Monument stretches some 43 miles from the northeast edge of Las Vegas northwest along Highway 95, and much of this interfaces with urban Las Vegas. At the widest point, it is about 7 miles across, although much of it is fairly narrow, with the narrowest point about 1 mile wide, but still provides plenty of hiking opportunities for people willing to walk into the desert without designated trails. In many places, old roads serve as trails. Hikers should stay away from active paleontological sites, and never collect fossils in this area.
Link to Tule Spring Fossil Beds Map.
Services inside the National Monument are nonexistent. The National Park Service and State of Nevada have plans to build a visitor center and trails, and these are in the works. This is wild country, so bring what you need and beware of high temperatures with little shade.
For More Information on Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, visit the Tule Springs area overview webpage. |