Marsh Quarry Trail Restoration

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Location

The site on which we’ll be working is a paleontological excavation site (quarry). The geology of the area is extraordinary. It is comprised of the Morrison Formation, which is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimentary rock that is found in the western United States, which has been the most fertile source of dinosaur fossils in North America. Most of the fossils occur in the green siltstone beds and lower sandstones, relics of the rivers and floodplains of the Jurassic period. In the 1870’s, the Morrison Formation near Cañon City became the center of the Bone Wars, a fossil-collecting rivalry between early paleontologists Marshall Felch, Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Cope. As such, this site became the center of the science of modern paleontology.
Marsh (Felch) Quarry
Cañon City , CO, 81212
Fremont County County

Description

Marsh Quarry Trail Restoration & Geological Exploration

Marsh (Felch) Quarry has produced the largest number of vertebrate type specimens of any single Morrison formation dinosaur locality. The interpretative trail that exists in Marsh Quarry was built by Volunteer for Outdoor Colorado in 1996 and is undergoing new trail work to re-route and update the original trail. Maintenance and closure will comprise about 50% of the project. This component will also involve construction of drainage structures and extension of existing steps. The Cañon City regional office of the BLM has a resident geologist who uses this trail for experiential education for youth and adults alike. In addition to maintenance, we’ll be building lecture/seating facilities to improve the educational experience. This portion will involve creativity and intense rock relocation.

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