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“.
Click here for park website.
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...
