9-14-2026 - Fort Laramie, Oregon Trail sites, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

Monday, September 14, 2026, I drove to Fort Laramie National Historic Site, stops along the Oregon National Historic Trail, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. The day started out in the fog and rain, but by the time I got to the Fort, the weather lifted and turned out to be a good day at the sites. At Fort Laramie, I did the self-guided walking tour which is available on the National Parks Service App and I have ordered my photos to be in the stop order. After the Fort I made a couple of quick stops along the Oregon/California/Morman trails to see ruts and names carved into sandstone from those who emigrated from the east out to the west. It is amazing that you can still see the ruts in the prairie and sandstone 150+ years after the settlers made their way west. Rather than drive back along HWY-26 (the more direct route), I decided to take the more scenic route to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Agate doesn’t have fossils of dinosaurs, but does have more recent fossils (~20 million years ago, Cenozoic Era). Map of the drive: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VuDn9DJhdcwoc... 0:00:00 – Five Rocks Rd/Beltline HWY north 0:02:00 – HWY-26 west 0:14:10 – Fort Laramie National Historic Site 0:28:38 – RD 92 to Old Bedlam Ruts and Register Cliff 0:36:43 – Guernsey Rd to Guernsey Ruts 0:39:58 – HWY-26 to WY-270 north 0:48:12 – HWY-18/HWY-20 east 0:55:48 – NE-29 south 0:59:52 – Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 1:10:00 – NE-29 south 1:16:52 – HWY-26 east 1:18:34 – through Scottsbluff and Gering back to campground