OVERVIEW

Ice Age Fossils State Park was established in 2017 and opened to the public in 2024. This small (315 acre) state park is tucked up against the much larger (22,650 acres) Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Together, they protect the paleontologically rich Upper Las Vegas Wash, but in particular, the State Park protects the major excavation sites.

During the Pleistocene Epoch, also referred to as the Ice Age, a geological period that lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,000 years ago, springs in the Las Vegas Wash sustained green, marshy habitat. The vegetation, in turn, supported several species of large herbivorous mammals, including Columbian mammoths, camels, bison, and ground sloths. These herbivores attracted predators, including American lions and dire wolves. Collectively, these large mammals are referred to as “megafauna,” where “mega” means “big,” and “fauna” means “animals.”

During the Pleistocene, the climate warmed and cooled over the eons. During warmer periods, the landscape here dried and the animals may have left, but during the wetter periods, water returned and so did the animals.

Link to Area Map or Park Map.

The last glacial maximum (the most recent coldest and wettest time) occurred about 25,000 years ago. Since then, the globe has been warming, our landscape has been drying out, and the North American megafauna went extinct. The bones of these creatures can be found inside the State Park.

The discovery of abundant fossils in mud hills along Las Vegas Wash triggered scientific research starting in the early 1900s. The Tule Springs Expedition (1962-63), referred to as the Big Dig, was the largest multi-disciplinary paleontological expedition up to that time. The Tule Springs Expedition found that the mud hills recorded biological history spanning 500,000 years, but they didn't find what they were really looking for: evidence that Ace Age humans, who arrived here just before the megafauna went extinct, were actively hunting these animals.

Ice Age Fossils State Park protects and celebrates the lives of the megafauna and the discovery and recovery of their bones. As such, there are very strict rules prohibiting digging or collecting fossils, including walking off-trail because the ground surface still holds tiny fragments of fossilized bones. As a ranger mentioned to me: just leave your shovels and pith helmets at home.

Ice Age Fossils State Park includes several amenities, including parking with EV charging stations, a visitor center with lots of interesting displays, outdoor covered picnic tables, drinking water, restrooms, and three trails, but it is not particularly wheelchair friendly.

Megafauna Trail: This 0.3-mile loop trail has information signs and life-sized sculptures of the massive animals that once roamed Tule Springs. The trail begins and ends at the visitor center. This is the most accessible trail.

Las Vegas Wash Trail: This 1.5-mile trail begins and ends at the Monumental Mammoth (parking lot entrance). Visitors hike through the Upper Las Vegas Wash to experience the natural forces that created and reshaped this landscape over the millennia.

Big Dig Trail: This 2.2-mile trail begins and ends at the visitor center rest rooms. The trail runs out, then loops through Trench K and other Big Dig sites. Signs provide information about scientific discoveries made by the Tule Springs Expedition.

GETTING TO ICE AGE FOSSILS STATE PARK

The state park is located on the north edge of the Las Vegas urban area.

From downtown, drive north on Highway 95 towards Reno. Towards the northwest edge of town, take Exit 91A right onto Clark County 215 (Northern Beltway). Now driving east, continue about 3 miles to Exit 41 (Decatur Blvd).

Turn onto Decatur and drive north about 3.2 miles to Ice Age Fossils State Park, on the right. There is no big entrance sign, but watch for the Monumental Mammoth. Turn right into the parking lot.

Address: 8660 N Decatur Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV 89085.

The parking lot is not large, and park staff will close the entrance gate when the park gets crowed. They even leave the gate closed when some parking spaces are open to give time for more people to leave before reopening the entrance gate.

HOURS

Wednesday to Sunday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. The entire park is closed Monday and Tuesday.

ENTRANCE FEES

$3.00 per person aged 13 and older. Various passes are available.

CAMPING

None.

WATCH OUT

Ice Age Fossils State Park is a very safe park, so long as visitors obey the rule of staying on designated trails. There are places to trip or slam your finger in a door, but there seem to be no unusual hazards.

The parking lot is accessible with reserved parking near the front for people with ambulatory issues, but doors to the visitor center and restrooms are not particularly friendly to visitors in wheelchairs or using other assistive devices.

SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS

Removing, disturbing or damaging any historic structure, artifact, rock, plant life, fossil, or other feature is prohibited. State and federal laws protect this area and its resources. The flying of drones and other unmanned aircraft in the park is prohibited. Operating an OHV, UTV, or any other type of motorized vehicle is prohibited. Camping and campfires are prohibited within the park boundaries. Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit the State Park website, call (702-478-9300), or email (iafsp@parks.nv.gov) park staff for more information.