The best camping near Fossil Butte National Monument

Do you have an aspiring geologist or dinosaur-lover in your family? Then this national monument along the Green River in southwestern Wyoming is perfect for you and your family. Rolling hills and valleys sweep upward towards a flat-topped butte that harbors some of the most abundant fossils on the planet.

You may not find any T. Rex skeletons roaming the grounds, but you might discover ancient fish, horses, bats and alligators. Each new discovery at the park tells a story of a time before humans. At one time, the Green River was a shallow, warm lake teeming with life tens of millions of years ago. It's a far cry from the dry sagebrush and almost desert-like appearance you see today.

In addition to the beautiful views on the butte and multicolored rock formations, several hiking trailheads near the scenic drive offer a chance to get out and explore the scraggy area on foot. During the summer, make sure to bring water to drink and sunscreen. Summertime also gives you an opportunity to dig for fossils thanks to the Fossil Butte Quarry Program. Every Friday and Saturday from mid-June to late August, you and your family can spend a few hours as a geologist hunting for fossils. Anything you find goes towards actual ongoing research.

If the weather didn't cooperate for your hike, the visitor's center has plenty to see an do. A mock-up of a fossil lab gives your children a chance to take rubbings of fossils as a souvenir, while more than 300 fossils are on display.

It's not Jurassic Park, but it's one of America's hidden treasures when it comes to a rich time period in Earth's ecological history. If you want to see what life was like on Earth without humans, this park brings it all together.