Durango Long Loop

Set inside the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, the Durango Long Loop trail is an easy trail with self guided tour stops allowing visitors to check out the fossil bed areas.

Overlapping with a portion of the Durango Short Loop, this trail forks away from the shorter trail and heads deeper into the interior of the National Monument, climbing atop a landscape formed in the Ice Age. Multiple sign posts offer those with a phone the chance to scan a QR code to access pages with further information about the landscape and its natural history.

From the trailhead at the far north end of the Las Vegas Valley, the trail quickly descends into the landscape, with the geologic features obscuring the nearby neighborhoods, and visitors feel worlds away from the adjacent urban metropolis. Views of the Sheep Range to the north and the Spring Mountains to the west compose scenic backdrops to the badlands of the fossil beds. 

The tour posts along the trail are set up in a counter clockwise sequence. The trail itself is a mix of soft and hard gravel.

Visitors should be aware that there are no amenities located at the trailhead or along the hike, and there is no shade or protection from the elements. An informational kiosk marks the start point of the trail beside the parking area.