THE FOSSIL EXPLORATION TOUR

$150

Almost everywhere one goes in Cochise County, there is evidence of the geologic past.  Some places are, however, better than others. In this expedition into the Whetstone Mountains North of Sierra Vista, you are guaranteed to find to find fossils of ancient marine life and petrified wood.   It's also possible that you may find a dinosaur fossil. Not likely, however, because these mountains which are also home to the Kartchner Caverns, have already been scoured by many professional and amateur paleontologists.  

While at the site, the tour guide will direct your attention to the location at which world's first and only sonorasaurus find was made.   A sonorasaurus is a type of dinosaur which existed from around 112 to 93 million years ago.  Its fossilized remains were discovered in November 1994 by geology student Richard Thompson in the same Whetstone Mountains in which you will be digging. Thompson, in the course of investigating a previously almost unexplored region, where fossils proved to be plentiful and directly accessible on the surface, found a relatively complete skeleton of the sonorasaurus which was weathering out on a rock wall.   

The sonorasaurus is estimated to have been about 15 meters (49 feet) long, 8 meters (26 feet) tall, and weighed 10 metric tons (11 short tons).  Despite numerous efforts, the head has not been found. The sonorasaursus has been adopted by the State of Arizona as its official state dinosaur. 

Each tour participant will, in addition to a backpack, water and snacks, be provided with a fossil hammer, a pick, measuring ruler and bucket to carry their finds in. 

On the way back to Bisbee, tour participants will receive a personal tour of the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology which is located at the Sierra Vista Mall. In such tour, each participant will be able to see and touch many of the fossils which have been found in our state.  Tour participants can get lunch on their own at the food court. 

This tour is by special reservation which is preferably made at least two weeks in advance of the requested date.  Although less than 4 reservations can be requested, the tour may be cancelled if less than a total of four reservations are made prior to the tour dated. The tour commences at 7:00 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes early so we can check you in.) Tour participants will meet at the Grassy Park in old town Bisbee where they will be transported to and from the tour sites. Approximate total time including transportation is 6 - 7 hours.  

Tour participants will be outfitted with hiking sticks, day packs, two liters of water and snacks. Hiking shoes and long pants are required.  Sunscreen and gloves are recommended.  This does not require mountain climbing equipment or technical climbing expertise, but some uneven ground and/or loose rock may be encountered.

Click on the picture to learn more about the tour and view photographs and videos taken by our team and tour participants.  

Click below to book your tour.

Please review the following statement of prohibited conduct / release of liability that each tour / hike participant agrees to as a condition of participation in this tour / hike.