EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Fossils & living Lakota connections
Nebraska
Scenic header: From the Fossil Hills Trail the Visitor Center is a ship in a sea of prairie grasses. · NPS Photo · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

Fossils & living Lakota connections

Prairie hills preserve the remains of ancient mammals, while museum collections introduce both paleontology and the history of relationships with Lakota people. The open landscape rewards a slower walk beyond the exhibits.

The visitor center sits in the middle of mixed grass prairie.
From the Fossil Hills Trail the Visitor Center is a ship in a sea of prairie grasses.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
Tipis and Fossil Hills represent the two subjects that Agate Fossil Beds interprets.
One of the first impressions that visitors have are the tipis and the Fossil Hills.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Fossil exhibits
  • 02Daemonelix Trail
  • 03Niobrara River prairie

Before you go

Trails are exposed to wind and sun. Allow time for both the fossil exhibits and the James H. Cook collection.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.