If you want to know why Nevada‘s state fossil is the shonisaurus popularis, you should visit Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Here, you can take a trip into the remote wilderness where you can see the largest concentration of ichthyosaur fossils in the world and visit the ghost town of Berlin. The location on the western side of the Shoshone Mountains is in the Toiyabe National Forest, filling the area with a variety of trees at 6,840 feet in elevation, with the highest point being 7,880 feet. There is a day use area with picnic tables and a camping section for overnight stays.
Coming from Carson City, the hike takes about three hours and is only a couple of turns once you hit US Highway 50 (turn right on Middlegate onto Highway 361, then turn left onto Highway 844 in Gabbs).
FOSSILS
Ichthyosaurs swam the oceans more than 225 million years ago and have been found all over the world. This state park is unique because it has the highest concentration of the species, with 37 specimens.
Conservation is also unique. Instead of taking out all the bones to display, they kept them all on the ground. Archaeologists worked to remove the surrounding soil and rocks and then finished the job with chisels and planes.
A large “Fossil House” was built around the site for its preservation. Now visitors can come in and see the bones and read much more information on display. There are scheduled tours where you will be able to conduct a more in-depth analysis of the fossils and have the opportunity to ask any questions. Park Supervisor Jeff Morris gave the tour and said he has been working at the park for 20 years.
DEAD CITY
When you first arrive at the park, you will pass through the ghost town known as Berlin. Established in 1897, the town was opened to mining and the population peaked at around 300 people. Mining companies maintained many buildings until the state of Nevada acquired the property in 1970, keeping them in excellent condition. There are some houses and offices, but many of the houses where the inhabitants lived have disappeared.
There are many interpretive signs telling you what was located where and the names of the people who lived there.
A little outside the city, within walking distance, is also the Diana mine.
Between the city and the fossils there is a lot of history to take in and learn, so it would be smart to do a little research before you go and it might help to understand everything when it’s in front of you.
NATURE AND CAMPING
Camping was very nice at Berlin Ichthyosaur State Park. It is a large campsite, with a total of 14 places. There is a lot of space and solitude from the neighbors.
One of the most interesting things about being so far away in the remote wilderness is the darkness and silence. When it’s quiet, it becomes very quiet. If wildlife makes noise, you will hear it from miles away. At night the sky becomes very dark. On a clear night, you will feel like all the stars in the sky are visible.
As for wildlife, you never know what you might come across. There are many animals, birds and reptiles within the area, but there are many hiding places. You may be lucky or simply have better skills at finding what you want to see. In the big valley in front of the town, there were a couple of pronghorns around, but no flocks were seen.
Campground amenities include on-site parking (there are some sites that can accommodate larger RVs and campers). There is a picnic table with shade/rain structure and a fire pit. There is non-drinking water (there is drinkable water from April to October) and there are latrines that were very well maintained.
There is a hiking trail that is a loop that starts at the Fossil House (there is a 1/3 mile connector trail from the campground, or you can drive to the Fossil House). This trail is rated moderate to difficult as it goes up quite a bit in elevation and the terrain is a little rough at times. It’s about 2.7 miles for the full loop. This trail will give you a great view from the top of the valley to the west. It will also take you through another mine, the Richmond Mine. Along the road there are some remains of the mining exploitation.
The other marked hiking/walking trails are mainly around Berlin and where the townspeople lived.
TO BE PREPARED
If you want seclusion in nature, this is a great trip. But as the Boy Scout motto says: Be prepared. Bring everything you need because you will be far from civilization. And that means water, food, gas, and anything else you need for your trip. The nearest town is Gabbs, about 20 miles away. There was cell service at the campground, so it’s helpful in case of emergency.
You’ll travel along “America’s Loneliest Highway” part of the way and back down even more desolate roads and poor service most of the way.
According to parks.nv.gov, summer temperatures rarely exceed 90 degrees and late spring and early fall are usually the best times of the year. Winter visits to the park are possible, but check weather and road conditions before visiting.
The last stretch of paved road before the park was very bumpy, so be careful when driving on that stretch of road. But for the most part the roads were easy for any vehicle to navigate.
MORE INFORMATION
Visit online: https://parks.nv.gov/parks/berlin-ichthyosaur
Day-use entry fee is $5 per vehicle (non-Nevada vehicles are $10).
Camping is $15 per vehicle, per night (non-Nevada vehicles are $20, per night)
Bike admission: $2 per bike.
Tours: Adults: $5. Children under 12 years: Free.
Bring cash or check only. The park does not accept credit cards.
Kyler Klix is a designer at Nevada News Group. He also writes about outdoor activities and entertainment. Send an email to kklix@nevadanewsgroup.com
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