Roadside Geology Field Trip: The Mesozoic

In this roadside geology field trip with the Draper Natural History Museum, we'll explore the Mesozoic Era, an amazing time on Earth, bracketed by two mass extinctions. We'll look at local rocks that formed during this time, observe lots of fossils, and contemplate inland seas and deserts that alternately appeared and disappeared during the era.

This four-hour field trip is designed for the student in all of us, starting and ending at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and transporting you through the Mesozoic era in the interim. Intended for an audience of age 18 and older, this programmatic offering is more than just a field trip—it’s an opportunity to gain intimate knowledge of your backyard!

Topics include local Mesozoic geology as it relates to the petroleum industry; the extinction event that opened a world of opportunity for mammals; the greatest landslide in Earth’s history; and the reign of the dinosaurs, for which the Mesozoic is probably best known.

Although there is limited hiking or walking on this tour, be prepared to get in and out of vehicles at six geologic stops.

Limited to a maximum of 8 people, so register as soon as possible. $85 for non-members; $65 for Center of the West members and for students