Saturday & Sunday | April 11 & 12, 2026
Diving Into The Cretaceous
on Old state route 24
Presented by the Emery County Travel Bureau
Led by Utah State Paleontologist Jim Kirkland
Old State Route 24 was once the main route in and out of Green River. Upon the construction of I-70, portions of SR-24 were abandoned. We’ll explore a disused stretch of the old highway leading south of Green River that provides extraordinary access to much of the medial into late Mesozoic stratigraphic section.
In translation: the majority of rocks along old SR-24 comprise the infamous Mancos Shale. Sediments of the Mancos were deposited in the long-gone Western Interior Seaway as it transgressed and regressed across western North America during the second half of the Mesozoic. Some of the strata along old SR-24 contain calcareous shale horizons and marine fossils such ammonites and bivalves.
This half-day field trip stays close to Green River and is excellent for fans of Jim Kirkland or anyone interested in diving deep into Cretaceous stratigraphy. To get the most out of this trip, some fluency in geological terminology is recommended.
See below for important trip information.
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Participants are required to drive their own vehicles.
Any vehicle can make the trip. The route is both dirt and paved. Dirt roads are well-graded, but the pavement on old SR-24 is unmaintained. Anticipate potholes.
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Lunch, a geology glossary, water, and snacks, camera.
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Dr. Jim Kirkland
State Paleontologist–Utah State Geological SurveyDr. Jim Kirkland has been the Utah State Paleontologist with the Utah Geological Survey over 20 years. He issues permits for paleontological research on Utah state lands, keeps tabs on paleontological research and issues across the state, and promotes Utah’s paleontological resources for the public good. An expert on the Mesozoic, he has spent more than forty-five years excavating fossils across the southwestern US and Mexico.
The striking beds of the Mancos Shale. Photo CC-BY 2.0 James St. John via Flickr