Ice Age Fossils State Park

Ice Age Fossils State Park is a 315-acre protected area in North Las Vegas that displays fossil remains of extinct mammals from the Pleistocene period. The land sits within the upper Las Vegas Wash and showcases discoveries made by scientists who excavated the ground over the years.

The first major scientific excavation took place in 1962 and led to the discovery of mammoth and American lion fossils. These digs established the foundation for what would later become an educational park.

The Megafauna Trail displays life-sized sculptures of animals that roamed this region tens of thousands of years ago. These figures help visitors picture the frozen landscape that once covered this place.

The site is accessible through three interconnected walking trails that pass by old excavation areas. These paths lead across the land and let visitors explore the landscape and dig sites on foot.

The fossils at this location come from animals that lived during the last Ice Age, including Columbian mammoths and American lions. These species disappeared thousands of years ago and are known today only through their petrified remains.

Location: Nevada

Website: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/ice-age-fossils

GPS coordinates: 36.31861,-115.20611

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:03