点评:This national monument is a hidden treasure with so much history and information. When driving in we stopped at the Bone Cabin overlook and snapped a few photos. At the visitor center next we walked through the displays learning about the unique animals that risked the area many millions of years ago, how they lived, evolved and met their demise.
Then we went outside and hiked the Fossil Hill Trail… my Apple Watch clocked 2.95 miles (took us 1 hr 15 minutes) . The trail is paved, easy to hike (slight uphill hiking to the mounds), has benches with shelter from the heat scattered maybe every 1/2 mile on the trail. The trail goes up to the University Hill and Carnegie Hill, loops around Carnegie Hill then you return by the same trail. There are placards with information at each of the dig sites. The views are fantastic, but because the trail is exposed, be sure to dress appropriately for heat or cold, use sunscreen and take water.
We then drive to the entry to the park and hiked the Daemonelix trail and saw enclosed fossils that had been discovered in the early 1900s in digs. The hike was scenic and had lots of information. I learned so much at the park through all the displays, hikes and by talking to the rangers. We had most of the place to ourselves with few other people at the park and even less actually out doing the hikes.
翻译:这座国家纪念碑是一座隐藏的宝藏,蕴藏着丰富的历史和信息。开车前往时,我们在“骨屋”观景台停了下来,拍了几张照片。接下来,我们来到游客中心,参观了展览,了解了数百万年前曾危及这片区域的独特动物,了解它们是如何生存、进化和灭绝的。
然后,我们走出去,徒步穿越了化石山小径……我的 Apple Watch 记录了 2.95 英里(耗时 1 小时 15 分钟)。小径铺砌良好,易于徒步(前往土丘需要稍微上坡),沿途大约每隔半英里就设有可以避暑的长椅。小径通往大学山和卡内基山,绕过卡内基山后,再沿原路返回。每个挖掘地点都有标牌,上面写着相关信息。景色美不胜收,但由于小径暴露在外,请务必穿着合适的防寒或防暑衣物,涂抹防晒霜并携带饮用水。
然后我们开车到公园入口,沿着 Daemonelix 小径徒步,看到了 20 世纪初在考古发掘中发现的封闭式化石。徒步途中风景优美,信息量很大。通过参观各种展览、徒步以及与护林员的交流,我在公园里学到了很多东西。公园里大部分时间都是我们自己玩的,几乎没有其他人,真正出去徒步的人就更少了。