The fossil beds date back 390 million years to the Devonian Period, when the area was covered by a shallow tropical sea.
Over 600 species of fossils have been identified within the park's limestone layers.
Lewis and Clark recruited three men for their Corps of Discovery expedition at the Falls of the Ohio in 1803.
The exposed rock shelf covers approximately 220 acres during low water periods.
The park's interpretive center is built directly into the side of the limestone bluff.
The Ohio River at this site contains a complex series of bedrock ledges that created a natural hazard for early riverboat travel.
The park is part of the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area.
Falls of the Ohio State Park features one of the world's largest naturally exposed Devonian-age fossil beds. The park sits on the banks of the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky. Visitors can walk directly onto the 390-million-year-old limestone rock shelf when river levels are low. The site contains a state-of-the-art interpretive center detailing the geological history and the expedition of Lewis and Clark. The fossil beds include brachiopods, crinoids, and horn corals preserved in the sediment. The park serves as a protected area for observing diverse river bird populations and migratory waterfowl. The George Rogers Clark home site is located within the park grounds. The river levels fluctuate significantly, dictating the accessibility of the fossil beds on the lower bank.
The edge of the fossil beds looking back toward the Louisville skyline.
Check the official river level website before visiting; high water renders the fossil beds inaccessible.
Wear sturdy, water-resistant footwear as the limestone is uneven, slippery, and occasionally muddy.
Bring binoculars for birdwatching, as the river environment attracts diverse avian species.
Attempting to walk on the fossil beds during high water periods or when river levels are rising quickly.
The fossil beds are seasonally submerged and inaccessible during periods of high river flow.
Collecting fossils or rocks is strictly prohibited; take only photographs.
