Fossil Hill
Walk across an ancient seabed
Description
Millions of years ago, Fossil Hill lay beneath a shallow sea. Today, Fossil Hill offers one of the most fascinating walks in Walnut Creek, where fossilized marine shells remain embedded in the rocks along the trail.
This easy loop begins at the Sutherland Drive entrance and winds through rolling grasslands, seasonal wildflowers, and scenic overlooks while revealing the geologic history that gave Shell Ridge its name. Along the way, you'll discover ancient seabeds lifted hundreds of feet by tectonic forces, native plants, birds of prey, and remnants of the area's natural history.
It's one of the best places in Walnut Creek to see how dramatically the landscape has changed over millions of years.
Did You Know?
🌊 Everything around you was once underwater.
The rocks throughout Fossil Hill were formed from sediments deposited in a shallow sea roughly 6–12 million years ago. Tectonic forces later lifted the ancient seabed hundreds of feet above today's sea level, leaving fossilized shells embedded throughout the landscape—including near the highest points of Shell Ridge.
