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Gabbs, Nevada: Ichthyosaur Photo Op and Bone Site

Embossed into the side of an outdoor cement wall, a life-size coal-black goggle-eyed Ichthyosaur stretches 50 feet from beak to tail. A state park building shelters several fossil Ichthyosaurs.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Address:
Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park Rd, Gabbs, NV
Directions:
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Take Hwy 361 to Gabbs, either 33 miles north of US Hwy 95 in Luning, or 46 miles south of US Hwy 50 in Middlegate. Once in Gabbs, turn east off of Hwy 361 on Hwy 844. Drive 16.5 miles. As Hwy 844 bends left, continue straight onto unpaved road, then turn left onto Hwy 120 (also unpaved). Drive 2.5 miles, then bear right onto Hwy 024/Kammu Drive 6/Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park Rd. This is the ghost town of Berlin. Drive a little over one mile, then turn right to get to parking area, photo op, and bone site building.
Phone:
775-964-2440
Admission:
Honor system entrance fee: $5.
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Visitor Tips and News About Ichthyosaur Photo Op and Bone Site

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Fossils.

Ichthyosaur Fossil Site

The fossil site is inside a structure at 7,000 ft elevation, so it was a great stop on a summer afternoon. The park ranger was very friendly and provided insights into the history of the site and pointed out the fossils. These are still in the ground where they were found, so you have to work to see the bones, but the park provides a great guidebook that helps you to see them.

Plan some time and take a lunch because this is a bit out of the way, but it is a great place to spend a couple hours exploring the fossil site and the nearby ghost town of Berlin. We wish we would have had more time to walk the trails.

[John Lescenski, 06/18/2019]

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

The park was established in 1957 to protect and display North America's most abundant concentration of its largest-known ichthyosaur fossils. The park also preserves the turn-of-the-20th-century mining town of Berlin, as well as the Diana Mine. This is not a commercial site that is going to sell you something. You can look at and into some of the original structures, and there are a number of hiking trails and great photo ops. If you have time, bring a lunch and spend a couple hours exploring the town and the nearby fossil site.

[John Lescenski, 06/18/2019]
Ichthyosaur Photo Op and Bone Site

Also a great little campground with hiking trails all around. Dirt roads will be encountered! Daily fossil museum tours start at 10 AM.

[Mary, 08/12/2018]

Ichthyosaur.

Ichthyosaur Photo Op and Bone Site

Berlin is a wonderfully preserved ghost town and the ichthyosaur fossils are fascinating.

[Christy Shelton, 11/25/2016]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Shoe Tree: Chopped Down, RebornShoe Tree: Chopped Down, Reborn, Middlegate, NV - 36 mi.
Herman the MouseHerman the Mouse, Manhattan, NV - 36 mi.
Stokes CastleStokes Castle, Austin, NV - 51 mi.
In the region:
Gridley Store: Famous Flour Sack, Austin, NV - 51 mi.

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