Fossil Ridge Far East, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Fossil Ridge is located in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge of Nevada. In this adventure, begin to explore the far Eastern end of Fossil Ridge, which extends far beyond the more familiar Western end. There may even be a faint trail spanning the summit of Fossil Ridge. Route Details: 16 Miles RT from DNWR HQ – 4WD Road, Wilderness; Some Class 3 Climbing. Climb Click image or title above for more…
Fossil Ridge North | Sheep Range, Nevada
The Northern side of Fossil Ridge is a pretty amazing place. There are fossils embedded in the rocks all along the base of the ridge. These can be seen even without climbing the ridge, especially in the darker rocks beginning in Yucca Gap which skirts the North side of Fossil Ridge. The fossils only get more varied and abundant as you select a spot along Fossil Ridge, ascend and wander around. The scene expands into an upper valley with the largest Joshua Tree forest I’ve ever seen (officially the “Yucca Forest”), extending beyond the Southern tip of the Sheep Range on one side and along the Northern side of Fossil Ridge on the other. Route Details: 12 Miles RT from DNWR HQ **4WD Road** Click image or title above for more…
Fossil Ridge End to End | Sheep Range | Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
The summit of Fossil Ridge is like a scene from The Land That Time Forgot. I don’t think many humans walk the summit of Fossil Ridge…I saw absolutely no sign of human passage…no rock cairns, no camp fires, no foot prints…nothing. Yet, the summit is around a half mile in length and at least 200ft wide. It’s a total, unique world up there with its own Joshua Trees and other vegetation along with some sparse but obvious fossils embedded in the darker rocks. Either the ancient seas here were 2000-4000ft deep or the seas were more shallow and the land has risen. Probably a little of both. I felt like the only human to have ever stood on that place. Route details: Approx. 15 Miles (RT from DNWR HQ); Some Road, Some Wilderness, Cl 3 Climb Click image or title above for more…
