Ashfall Fossil Beds
The Ashfall Fossil Beds of Antelope County in northeastern Nebraska are rare fossil sites of the type called lagerstätten that, due to extraordinary local conditions, capture an ecological "snapshot" in time of a range of well-preserved fossilized organisms. Look for it 11 mi southwest of Verdigre Township. It dates from 1991.
A park & preserve, 11 mi southwest of Verdigre Township
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is O'Neill, 25 miles west. Where to stay ↓
No airline airport nearby
The closest airport with airline service is Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX), 91 miles away.
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 12°, with about 36" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Aug and Sep
May, June, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 71–84°. When to go ↓
Established in 1991
Ashfall Fossil Beds dates from 1991. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Every month near Ashfall Fossil Beds is set out below.
Ashfall Fossil Beds
The Ashfall Fossil Beds of Antelope County in northeastern Nebraska are rare fossil sites of the type called lagerstätten that, due to extraordinary local conditions, capture an ecological "snapshot" in time of a range of well-preserved fossilized organisms. Ash from a Yellowstone hotspot eruption 10-12 million years ago created these fossilized bone beds. The ash depth was up to 1 foot. At the Ashfall Fossil Beds site, the ash depth is instead 8 to 10 feet due to the depression of a watering hole.
The site is protected as Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, a 360-acre (150 ha) park that includes a visitor center with interpretive displays and working fossil preparation laboratory, and a protected ongoing excavation site, the Hubbard Rhino Barn, featuring fossil Teleoceras (native hippo-like ancestral rhinoceros) and ancestral horses.
- Type
- Park & preserve
- Established
- 1991
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 12K a year
Overnight near Ashfall Fossil Beds
Nearest for a night are O'Neill (6) and Niobrara Township (3).
Verdigre Township
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
622 people
11 mi northeast of Ashfall Fossil Beds
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Ashfall Fossil Beds | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdigre Township | 11 mi northeast | 15 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B | 622 | $87K |
| Verdigre | 13 mi northeast | 20 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B | 532 | $87K |
| O'Neill | 25 mi west | 40 min | 6 3 hotels · 3 motels | 3,567 | $153K |
| Niobrara Township | 23 mi north | 35 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 413 | $98K |
| Niobrara | 23 mi north | 35 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 362 | $95K |
| Ewing | 15 mi southwest | 20 min | 1 1 motel | 373 | $78K |
| Neligh | 22 mi south | 30 min | 2 2 motels | 1,551 | $151K |
| Ewing Township | 17 mi southwest | 25 min | 1 1 motel | 412 | $84K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Close to Ashfall Fossil Beds
Every place here is under 68 miles away.
67 mi MuseumNational Music Museum
49 mi National park siteMissouri National Recreational River166K visitors a year
36 mi GardenGilman Park ArboretumPhoto credits
National Music Museum: Charvex, Public domain · Missouri National Recreational River: Dugan Smith, Public domain · Gilman Park Arboretum: Ammodramus, CC0
_arboretum_2.JPG){kind=link}
Visiting Ashfall Fossil Beds
What town is Ashfall Fossil Beds near?
Verdigre Township, NE, about 11 miles northeast.
When is the best time to visit Ashfall Fossil Beds?
May, June, August and September, with highs of 71–84°.
What is the closest airport to Ashfall Fossil Beds?
Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX), about 91 miles away. The nearest big hub is Eppley Airfield (OMA), about 140 miles.
Where should I stay near Ashfall Fossil Beds?
O'Neill (25 mi, 6 places to stay), Niobrara Township (23 mi, 3 places to stay) and Niobrara (23 mi, 3 places to stay).
Tips from Verdigre Township
Start the conversation in Verdigre Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.