Iowa City, Iowa: Devonian Fossil Gorge
No actual dinosaurs, but lots of fossilized sea life on this outdoor ocean floor that you can walk on. Exposed after recent floods. Official and free.
- Address:
- 2850 Prairie du Chien Rd NE, Iowa City, IA
- Directions:
- I-80 exit 244. Turn north onto N. Dubuque St. Drive 2.5 miles. Turn right at the Coralville Lake sign onto W. Overlook Rd NE. Drive one mile. Turn right at the two stop signs onto Prairie du Chien Rd NE. Drive a quarter-mile. Turn right at the Fossil Gorge sign.
- Phone:
- 319-338-3543
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Walk around and look for different numbered plaques. They represent what the fossils are. You can call a number and learn about each one or use one the pamphlets they have on site.
[Bianca Giron, 11/15/2019]Nearby Offbeat Places
World's Largest Wooden Nickel, Iowa City, IA - 2 mi.
Hamburg Inn: Booths of Reagan and Clinton, Iowa City, IA - 4 mi.
Firefighter and 9/11 Memorial, Coralville, IA - 3 mi.In the region:
Happy Chef - Now an Umpire, Ryan, IA - 44 mi.
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The Gorge appeared after the Iowa River floods of 1993 and 2008. Water washed away tons of soil, huge trees, and part of a road, exposing a 375-million-year-old fossilized Devonian ocean floor. Now visitors can walk on the floor and see fossils at their feet. Until there's another flood.