
Geology of the Hill Country and Paleontology of North Texas
For those looking to hike, learn and appreciate nature, this is the trip for you. We visit three state parks and some of my secret spots in the Texas Hill Country!
This trip is also great if you are looking to collect rock samples from road cuts.


Ankylosaurs

Triceratops

Brachiosaurus


Iguanodon

Parasaurolophus
Click here for park website.

McKinney Falls State Park waterfall

Turtle in the river

Karst Limestone

Inoceramid clams in limestone matrix

Natural potholes in weathered limestone

Geology students on the limestone falls
Click here for park website.

Pedernalers Falls vista veiw

Crinoid column in limestone matrix

Cross section of crinoid column in the matrix

Limestone carved by the Pedernales River

Raging river waters of the falls

Geology students on the trail to the falls
Click here for park website.

Lifesize Pterosaur Quetzocoatalus

Life-size bronze statue of a saber tooth cat

Ground Sloth and Enteledont

Petrified Log

Cretaceous Fish

Dimetrodon skeleton
Click here for park website.

Fossil snail cast in limestone matrix

Geology students collecting from the outcrop

Weathered Limestone with fossil clam cast

Fossil pectin and sea urchins

Fossil snail internal cast

Fossil clams and oysters
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.









Click here for park website.
〉 Roadside exposure of the Llanite Blue Quartz Rhyolite we will stop north of the town of Llano to see and sample this rare rock type. This is a stop every geology student must see in Texas.


Jurassic James on igneous intrusion

Geology students at The Slab

The “Granite” Slab

Llano Bridge dam

Geology students at The Slab

Hoover Point Cambrian Glaucenite

Llano Bridge, northwest side of the dam
〉 Longhorn Cavern we often visit the entrance and surrounding area of the cavern (time permitted).
A special three hour tour can be provided by the park tour guides, but needs an additional cost and will reduce other stops.
Click here for park website.

Leander (possibly) Acrocanthosaurus tracks

Excavation surface

Whiskey Bridge

East face of the outcrop

Gastropod (snails) fossils

Bivalve (clams) fossils

Fossiliferous shale matrix
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.






Click here for park website.
〉 The Waco Pit is a seasonal stop that requires a special permit. It is also a research site and is not always available.

Cretaceous Oysters

Pectin fragments and worm tubes on shells

Possibly pyrirtized ammonite and snail fossils
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.

Dilophosaurus

Main Gate

Postosuchus

Triceratops

Maiasaura

Saltosaurus
Click here for park website.

110 million-year-old Sauropod track

Park’s Main Sign


1964 World’s Fair Tyrannosaurus rex and “Brontosaurus“.

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Fossil Brachiopods

Fossil Snails

Fossil sponges and Crinoids
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.
Click here for park website.

Fossil Nautiloids (Squid relatives) Shells

Fossil Brachiopods, Ammoites, Snails and Clams

Fossil Sponges, Coral, Crinoids and Sea Urchins with spines and plates
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.

Dimetrodon outside art

Fossil Dimetrodon

Edaphosaurus model

Diadectes skull

Fossil Dimetrodon jaw

Xenocanthus fossil spine
Click here for museum website.




Fossil Ammonites, Clams, Crinoids, and Corals

Fossil Nautiloids and Snails

Fossil Brachiopods
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.

Fossil Ammonite Cast

Fossil Pectin and Oysters

Fossil Snails and Sea Urchin
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.




Fossil Ammonites and Baculites

Fossil Bone Fragment

Fossil Clam Imprint
Click here for a more detailed list of fossils from this site.
〉 Perot Museum in Dallas, Texas to see how the Geology of Texas affects the Paleontology (Time Permitted).






Click here for museum website.
- The entire trip has eight to ten stop depending on season and flooding.
- Appropriate clothing should be worn during all hikes based on temperature and time of year.
- Note: It is illegal to collect vertebrate fossils in Texas, we will only keep marine invertebrate shells.
- To book a trip or inquire more details, email me at: jurassicjames65@gmail.com
- Self-provided transportation, park fees, hotel, food and beverages.
- Logistics: Jurassic James will issue a schedule and meet your group at designated sites and time.
- Includes: Educator(s), driver, park fees, hotel and museum tickets provided.
- Transportation provided in the form of a 12 to 15 passenger van.
- Breakfast (provided by hotel), Lunch and Dinner.
Dinosaur Toy Inaccuracy- What’s Up With That??
Images by: Ms. Corey Green With the exception of our feathered friends, dinosaurs are all but gone today. So what are the ways to connect to these long lost creatures? Well as a child I had three options, museums, media and models. Going to the Houston Museum of...