Black Mesa Dinosaur Trackway

The Black Mesa region preserves fossil evidence from a time when dinosaurs moved through what is now the Oklahoma Panhandle. Trackways and other paleontological finds in the area reveal that the high, dry landscape visible today was once part of a very different environment. Dinosaur footprints are especially compelling because they record behavior rather than simply anatomy. A track captures an animal moving across a surface at a particular moment, and groups of tracks can provide clues about direction, size and gait. Specific track locations may be fragile, seasonal, privately managed or subject to access restrictions, so visitors should verify current conditions before attempting to reach them. Fossils and tracks should never be removed or damaged. The Black Mesa area is already remarkable for its volcanic geology and high point; the dinosaur record adds a much older layer of history. A visit to the Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City can provide useful paleontological context before exploring the region.