Our Visit to the Ashfall Fossil Beds
When we set out on our two week adventure westward, we purposefully planned to travel to Nebraska, since we have not yet been there. I’m not really certain what I expected out of Nebraska, but I do know that I did not expect it to be so beautiful! We have a lot of corn fields in Indiana, but Nebraska’s gorgeous fields flow upon rolling hills that span for miles and miles.
Where We Went
We decided to make the Ashfall Fossil Beds Historical Park our Nebraska destination. Upon doing quick research, I knew this stop would be super fun for our family! The Ashfall Fossil Beds are located near Royal, Nebraska and the entire park covers 360 acres of picturesque rangeland.
Our visit was in the middle of the global pandemic so we did not get to see the laboratory where they prepare the fossils, or the interpretive displays. Instead, we started our time by walking the trail to see where the rhino fossils were first discovered, and the different sediment layers.
The Ashfall Fossil Beds were formed when a super volcano erupted in Idaho millions of years ago and the ashfall affected the entire continent. This Nebraska park used to be a watering hole for hundreds of animals, and their skeletons are some of the best-preserved fossils scientists have seen. Different species of horses, camels, rhinos, deer, dogs, turtles, and birds have all been discovered so far.
You can actively see the staff carefully excavating bones inside the rhino barn, which has been built around the uncovered volcanic ash layers. The kids loved pointing out different types of fossils and learning about all the animals that used to exist! You can walk around the entire excavated area and see it from different viewpoints, including from a loft above.
When To Visit
Because of the global pandemic, be sure to check their current operating hours. Advanced tickets are required to limit capacity. We bought our tickets 5 days in advance and we had no trouble buying tickets for the time we needed.
Good To Know
From what we seen of Nebraska, you do not want to let your gas tank get low, as gas stations are few and far between.
There are quite a few roadside motels, but if you are looking for something a little more frillier, you will need to stay in a bigger city a couple hours away. We chose to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Sioux City, Iowa.
We did not stop here since they were only offering dessert at the time, but Green Gables of Pleasant Valley is a quaint little restaurant only 7 minutes from the park entrance.
If you stop at the Ashfall Fossil Beds, be sure to let us know how your trip was! We thoroughly enjoyed this unique, budget-friendly attraction.