In the ridges of southwest Wyoming are some of the best-preserved fossils in
the world. They tell the story of ancient life in a warm, wet environment in
and around a freshwater lake. Stingrays swam in the lake. Turtles basked in
the sun. Leaves rustled in the breeze while early horses darted between the
trunks. We reveal more of the past with each fossil found.

In the ridges of southwest Wyoming are some of the best-preserved fossils in the world. They tell the story of ancient life in a warm, wet environment in and around a freshwater lake. Stingrays swam in the lake. Turtles basked in the sun. Leaves rustled in the breeze while early horses darted between the trunks. We reveal more of the past with each fossil found.

Bird's eye view of the park

Fossil Butte National Monument

The Viva Naughton Cross-country ski trail is located 16 miles north of
Kemmerer, Wyoming. The trail offers 4 miles of groomed trail for beginner and
intermediate skiers. The Trailhead also provides access to 343 miles of
groomed snowmobile trails in the Wyoming Range. This area offers deep snow,
beautiful scenery and off-trail riding.

The Viva Naughton Cross-country ski trail is located 16 miles north of Kemmerer, Wyoming. The trail offers 4 miles of groomed trail for beginner and intermediate skiers. The Trailhead also provides access to 343 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the Wyoming Range. This area offers deep snow, beautiful scenery and off-trail riding.

A cross-country skier skis across an open snow covered field on a sunny day.

BLM Wyoming

Viva Naughton Ski Trail

Viva Naughton Trail

Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a relatively new addition to the
public lands of Wyoming. In 1992 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed
the studies and assessments needed to fulfill NEPA (National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969) requirements to start a wildlife refuge. The first land
purchase from a private rancher in 1994 officially established Cokeville
Meadows as a unit within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service was authorized to acquire up to 27,000 acres within the
Bear River Valley south of Cokeville to the Utah border. Today the refuge has
grown to just under 6,500 acres of wet meadows, riparian area, farm ground and
sagebrush uplands. These acres are managed primarily for wildlife, with other
uses - such as hunting, hiking, wildlife observation, interpretation, and
wildlife photography being allowed as long as those uses are compatible with
or help us achieve wildlife habitat goals. Another 2,800 acres are held in
conservation easements, which will preserve the land as a working landscape
and ensure its value as open space remain available to wildlife.

The value of the wildlife habitat provided along the Bear River through
Lincoln County is top notch waterbird habitat for Wyoming. This type of
shallowly flooded wet meadow and semi-permanent water habitat might not have
been so extensive had it not been for the area's early settlers, who build the
extensive water delivery system. Dave Lockman explained it best in his 1984
paper which assessed wetland wildlife values along the Bear River in Lincoln
County, Wyoming.

“Prior to development of the water conveyance systems, it was surmised that
the zone of seasonal flooding was much less than that observed today. Based on
flow data from more recent years, flooding from the Bear River channel
occurred for only a short time in late May through mid-June in most years. A
high water table and short periods of flooding probably resulted in extensive
acres of alkali flats dominated by greasewood, saltgrass, and basin wild rye.

Following the development of the conveyance systems, the period of seasonal
flooding was extended from late April through early July in most normal run-
off years. The extent of seasonally flooded acres was also increased to
include all land between the conveyance systems and the river. Extending the
period of flooding allowed the encroachment of extensive stands of native and
nonnative perennial rushes and sedges and prevented the build-up of surface
alkalinity. The high water table on the relatively broad and level floodplain
prevented tillage and planting of domestic crops. The native rush and
nonnative tame grass communities provide palatable late summer and fall forage
for livestock. Today, when the river level drops by early July, ranchers stop
taking water into most of the canal systems and let the water leave the
flooded acres largely through evapo-transpiration. By mid- to late July and
early August haying equipment is moved onto the extensive seasonally flooded
acreages and the forage is harvested for winter livestock feed. In most years
about 70% of the seasonally flooded acres become dry enough to harvest for
hay. The canal systems have a relatively level gradient and hold water into
the fall and, in some areas, year long. Therefore, the semi-permanent water
conditions in the canals and associated impounded areas are conducive to the
development of tall emergent communities, and open water areas produce
luxurious growth of rooted aquatic vegetation. Livestock graze some of the cut
emergent communities in the fall/winter; however, some years many of the acres
are reflooded in the fall.”

The habitat around the Bear River south of Cokeville was greatly improved for
water birds because of the irrigation infrastructure the local farmers and
ranchers built in the 1880s and early 1900s to effectively move water across
the flat open valley. This type of irrigation, called flood irrigation,
provides ideal feeding and nesting habitat for many water birds. The shallowly
flooded meadows and farmed small grains and alfalfa provide important food for
migrating birds - especially waterfowl and Sandhill cranes during their
flights north in the spring and south in the fall. During the late spring and
early summer, the large expanses of wetlands provide ideal areas for secretive
marsh birds (such as the American bittern, sora, Virginia rail and pied-billed
grebe) and colonial nesting birds (like Franklin's gulls, black terns, white-
faced ibis and black-crowned night herons) to build nests and raise their
young. Many other waterbirds such as ducks, geese, coots, cranes and great
blue herons call the meadows home as well, more than 70 species. Pronghorn
antelope, elk, deer and the occasional moose can often be seen in the valley
too.

Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a relatively new addition to the public lands of Wyoming. In 1992 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed the studies and assessments needed to fulfill NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act of 1969) requirements to start a wildlife refuge. The first land purchase from a private rancher in 1994 officially established Cokeville Meadows as a unit within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was authorized to acquire up to 27,000 acres within the Bear River Valley south of Cokeville to the Utah border. Today the refuge has grown to just under 6,500 acres of wet meadows, riparian area, farm ground and sagebrush uplands. These acres are managed primarily for wildlife, with other uses - such as hunting, hiking, wildlife observation, interpretation, and wildlife photography being allowed as long as those uses are compatible with or help us achieve wildlife habitat goals. Another 2,800 acres are held in conservation easements, which will preserve the land as a working landscape and ensure its value as open space remain available to wildlife.            The value of the wildlife habitat provided along the Bear River through Lincoln County is top notch waterbird habitat for Wyoming. This type of shallowly flooded wet meadow and semi-permanent water habitat might not have been so extensive had it not been for the area's early settlers, who build the extensive water delivery system. Dave Lockman explained it best in his 1984 paper which assessed wetland wildlife values along the Bear River in Lincoln County, Wyoming.  “Prior to development of the water conveyance systems, it was surmised that the zone of seasonal flooding was much less than that observed today. Based on flow data from more recent years, flooding from the Bear River channel occurred for only a short time in late May through mid-June in most years.  A high water table and short periods of flooding probably resulted in extensive acres of alkali flats dominated by greasewood, saltgrass, and basin wild rye.Following the development of the conveyance systems, the period of seasonal flooding was extended from late April through early July in most normal run-off years. The extent of seasonally flooded acres was also increased to include all land between the conveyance systems and the river. Extending the period of flooding allowed the encroachment of extensive stands of native and nonnative perennial rushes and sedges and prevented the build-up of surface alkalinity. The high water table on the relatively broad and level floodplain prevented tillage and planting of domestic crops.  The native rush and nonnative tame grass communities provide palatable late summer and fall forage for livestock. Today, when the river level drops by early July, ranchers stop taking water into most of the canal systems and let the water leave the flooded acres largely through evapo-transpiration.  By mid- to late July and early August haying equipment is moved onto the extensive seasonally flooded acreages and the forage is harvested for winter livestock feed.  In most years about 70% of the seasonally flooded acres become dry enough to harvest for hay. The canal systems have a relatively level gradient and hold water into the fall and, in some areas, year long. Therefore, the semi-permanent water conditions in the canals and associated impounded areas are conducive to the development of tall emergent communities, and open water areas produce luxurious growth of rooted aquatic vegetation.  Livestock graze some of the cut emergent communities in the fall/winter; however, some years many of the acres are reflooded in the fall.”The habitat around the Bear River south of Cokeville was greatly improved for water birds because of the irrigation infrastructure the local farmers and ranchers built in the 1880s and early 1900s to effectively move water across the flat open valley.  This type of irrigation, called flood irrigation, provides ideal feeding and nesting habitat for many water birds. The shallowly flooded meadows and farmed small grains and alfalfa provide important food for migrating birds - especially waterfowl and Sandhill cranes during their flights north in the spring and south in the fall.  During the late spring and early summer, the large expanses of wetlands provide ideal areas for secretive marsh birds (such as the American bittern, sora, Virginia rail and pied-billed grebe) and colonial nesting birds (like Franklin's gulls, black terns, white-faced ibis and black-crowned night herons) to build nests and raise their young. Many other waterbirds such as ducks, geese, coots, cranes and great blue herons call the meadows home as well, more than 70 species.  Pronghorn antelope, elk, deer and the occasional moose can often be seen in the valley too.

Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

The Pine Creek Camp Area is located outside of Cokeville and offers camping,
wildlife viewing, OHV riding (on designated roads) and snowmobiling. It is
just past the Pine Creek Ski Area. There are 7 campsites and one vault toilet.

The Pine Creek Camp Area is located outside of Cokeville and offers camping, wildlife viewing, OHV riding (on designated roads) and snowmobiling. It is just past the Pine Creek Ski Area. There are 7 campsites and one vault toilet.

Fossil Butte National Monument

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Nearby Parks

Viva Naughton Trail

Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Pine Creek Camp Area