Gem! Or, fossil (yuk yuk). This place is FREE to visit, very remote, but at the time of our multiple visits in 2017-2019 it was free to bring home fossils. They even keep tools to borrow at the trail register. You can find fossils without having to dig if you sort through the shale pieces discarded by other hunters. Lots of trilobite heads and ferns. Good information at the trailhead (you can even compare your fossils to the pictures to identify the species of your trilobite!). It's a short detour by car, short and clearly-marked trail, and quick way to get hands on fossil experience! The surrounding area is also fun for high clearance 4wd vehicles or hiking. Bring water and sun/rain protection (we got rained on in summer and it was a bit chilly).

Very, very cool place! I got lucky too, and found a 500 million year old Trilobite fossil! The sign onsite says I can keep it! What a fantastic souvenir!

It's a nice designated walking trail through the shrubs and desert foliage. At the parking area there is a porter potty, and three picnic tables. did not find any fossils though, and there were TWO LOUD BOOMS LIKE AN EXPLOSION IN THE AREA. VERY LOUD, SUDDEN, AND JUMP SCARING. At first it sounded like thunder, but the skies were completely clear... Probably just some blast mining , or the aliens.......

We had so much fun here! We have never successfully hunted for fossils until here. The information board is very helpful and we met some knowledgeable people who assisted us. At first it seems hard to find but once you get an eye for what you are looking for, it becomes easier. Only take what you will use personally so others will have success too.

What an amazing experience to be able to see, touch, and take home 500 million year old fossils! We were told these were even older than the ones you can find in UDIG in Utah. Which is super cool. We were even able to find some amazing specimens, and even a few complete trilobite casts. There is more than one way to get to the dig. But going by the trail is the easiest if you have never been before. This place is not accessible for those in a wheelchair, however, but super great for active children. BE careful though because as the rocks fracture they become as sharp as knives and we needed more than a few bandaids.

Skeptical at first; trailhead display provided helpful info, and rock tools are available in a box to use and return. After an hour of searching thru shale, I found fossils! Awesome

I wish there were more public sites like this in the US. Easy to find, the trail is short, and the shale is plentiful. We found some good keepers.

Stopped here with some hammers and rock chisels and smashed open some rocks for a few hours and actually had a little luck with a partial fossil. It has a nice picnic area to eat at and its a enjoyable area to hike around and explore. There is a steel box that may have left behind hammers incase you dont have one.

Not too rugged, some decent trails, great day trip to get out of Vegas. Come on out to the rest of NV and enjoy the beautiful state we have. The OHV trails around this area were not serious, but there were times we appreciated higher clearance and skid plates. Pop over the hill and get a bite at in Caliente or further up in Pioche.

Cool little spot right off the highway! You are greeted by a big parking lot with restrooms (very clean ones at that!) and from there you can take any of the many trails around the land. There's a box at the trailhead with a hammer that you can use for digging around. I didn't find anything during my stop but hiked around a bit and the views are absolutely stunning! It is BLM land as well so you can camp out in the area. Just be aware that the road to the west of the parking lot is all loose sand, I didn't trust to take my SUV down it personally, but the road entering from the east is all packed down dirt and gravel - smooth drive in!