Fossil Lake, Protected dry lakebed in Lake County, Oregon.
The Fossil Lake area contains thousands of preserved animal remains within the largest inland shifting sand dune system in the Pacific Northwest.
Governor John Whiteaker introduced this site to scientists in 1876 after discovering numerous fossils during his camping expedition in the region.
Scientists have identified hundreds of species from the site, with specimens now displayed at the University of Oregon Museum and Smithsonian Institution.
Access to Fossil Lake requires a 16-mile drive from Christmas Valley, followed by a mandatory 150-yard walk as vehicles remain prohibited.
The lake sediments contain fossilized remains dating between 10,000 and 400,000 years old, including mammoths, dire wolves, and giant beavers.
Location: Oregon
Location: Lake County
GPS coordinates: 43.32580,-120.49100
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:26
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