Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a protected nature reserve featuring remains of Ice Age animals preserved within exposed rock layers along the Upper Las Vegas Wash. The site displays fossils from different time periods stacked in visible geological formations that visitors can observe from marked pathways.

The area was once a wetland habitat around 200,000 years ago where large animals like mammoths and lions roamed before becoming fossilized over millennia. Systematic excavations starting in the 1960s uncovered the extent of this ancient animal community and documented the shifts that led to today's desert landscape.

The name comes from tule plants that once grew here and marked the presence of water in this desert landscape. Walking through the area, you can observe how different rock layers tell the story of environmental changes over thousands of years.

The site is accessible year-round through marked trails with free parking along Decatur Boulevard and no entrance fees. Morning visits work well since the area sits in full sun, making afternoon exploration warm and exposed.

The site contains rare soil deposits that preserved thousands of fossils over tens of thousands of years, making it possible to reconstruct an almost complete picture of the ancient animal community. These exceptional preservation conditions rarely occur in the region and draw researchers studying how environments change over deep time.

Location: North Las Vegas

Operator: National Park Service

Website: https://nps.gov/tusk

GPS coordinates: 36.40444,-115.35820

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:57