Fossil Butte National Monument
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Fossil Butte at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, September–October
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Eagle Nest Point Trail
- Nearby city
- Kemmerer, WY
Explore this park
About Fossil Butte National Monument
In the ridges of southwest Wyoming are some of the best-preserved fossils in the world. They tell the story of ancient life in a warm, wet environment in and around a freshwater lake. Stingrays swam in the lake. Turtles basked in the sun. Leaves rustled in the breeze while early horses darted between the trunks. We reveal more of the past with each fossil found.
Weather Information
Expect a variety of weather conditions no matter what time of year you visit.
- Spring
fall and winter can be very cold with snow and icy conditions.
- Summer
daytime temperatures range from 60 F to 90 F.
- Fall
daytime temperatures range from 45 F to 70 F.
- Winter
daytime temperatures range from -20 F to 30 F.
Operating Hours
Visitors may enter the park any day sunrise to sunset, but visitor services and motor vehicle access vary throughout the year. Camping is not available.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
- WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
- ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
- FridaySunrise to Sunset
- SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
- SundaySunrise to Sunset
Common questions
Planning Fossil Butte National Monument
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Fossil Butte. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
