BISBEE WALKING TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Walk the Tracks of Thunder Beasts: A Day among Brontosaurs, Movie Sets and Museum Collections in Bisbee Country
A nine-hour guided walking and motorized tour from historic Bisbee that visits well-preserved brontosaur footprints, the Gammons Gulch film set, and a hands-on fossil collection at the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology.
Walk the Tracks of Thunder Beasts: A Day among Brontosaurs, Movie Sets and Museum Collections in Bisbee Country.
Adventure brief
Walk the Tracks of Thunder Beasts: A Day among Brontosaurs, Movie Sets and Museum Collections in Bisbee Country
From the red-washed washes of Cochise County to a carefully reconstructed Old West town and a museum table piled with fossils, The Land Before Time Tour stitches paleontology, local history and accessible fieldwork into a single day-long outing out of Bisbee.
Set against the sweeping backdrop of Cochise County in southeastern Arizona, The Land Before Time Tour offers an immersive journey into one of the most significant prehistoric landscapes in the United States. This nine-hour adventure starts in Bisbee, a historic mining town that serves as a gateway to a region known for its remarkable Ice Age fossil sites, including well-preserved brontosaurus footprints dating back 33.9 million years. Unlike the dinosaurs often associated with ancient giants, these "thunder beasts" were massive mammals that roamed the Earth long before humans arrived.
The tour takes you approximately 80 miles north of Bisbee near the small town of Cascabel, where you will hike three miles up a sandy wash to a rock ledge showcasing the herd footprints of these colossal creatures. Walking alongside these ancient tracks provides a rare, tactile connection to prehistoric life—perfect for families with children who can literally step in the footsteps of long-extinct giants. These well-preserved impressions are a highlight for both photo opportunities and learning as your guide explains the geological history that shaped this extraordinary landscape.
Adding a cultural layer to the tour, a visit to Gammons Gulch reveals a meticulously reconstructed Old West movie set sprawled over 10 acres. This townscape includes 17 historic buildings relocated from ghost towns and has served as the backdrop for over 65 films, capturing the spirit of cowboys, saloons, and frontier life. It’s a vivid detour into Arizona’s cinematic and historical heritage.
On the return trip, the tour passes through Benson, where guests can stop for a casual lunch (not included) at R & R Pizza, famous for its salad and pizza buffet—perfect fuel for the day’s explorations. The journey culminates at the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology in Sierra Vista. Here, a paleontologist-led hands-on tour reveals a curated collection of locally found fossils, enriching the experience with expert insights into the area's paleontological riches.
What makes this tour unique is its blend of natural history, geology, paleontology, and cultural storytelling that showcases Cochise County’s diverse outdoor offerings. The tour includes hiking sticks, day packs, two liters of water, and snacks, ensuring you’re well-equipped to navigate uneven terrain. Participants should wear hiking shoes and long pants; sunscreen and gloves are advised for comfort and protection.
For travelers seeking an educational but active day out with a strong connection to Arizona’s natural and historic past, The Land Before Time Tour delivers an unforgettable exploration. Whether you’re a family, history buff, or outdoor enthusiast, this trip offers rare access to prehistoric footprints, fascinating fossil insights, and a genuine Old West experience all in one day.
Route Schematic
Route & Key Stops
A series of field and interpretive stops from Bisbee that mix fossil sites, a film-set town and a museum visit.
Cascabel brontosaur site
Approximately 80 miles north, the tour proceeds about three miles up a sandy wash to a rock ledge bearing the footprints of a herd of brontosaurs from roughly 33.9 million years ago.
Gammons Gulch movie set
A stop at the 10-acre film town with 17 historic buildings relocated from ghost towns, a site that has hosted over 65 film productions.
R & R Pizza, Benson
A scheduled pause in Benson where the tour stops at R & R Pizza; lunch is on your own and is not included in the tour.
Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology, Sierra Vista
The final stop where the museum curator — a paleontologist — gives a hands-on tour of the fossil specimens in the collection.
The Cascabel site requires walking up a sandy wash (about three miles) to reach the footprint ledge; participants are required to wear hiking shoes and long pants, with sunscreen and gloves recommended.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Brontosaur Footprints at Cascabel
About 80 miles north of Bisbee, the route reaches a rock ledge bearing very well-preserved footprints from a herd of brontosaurs — thunder-beast mammals from roughly 33.9 million years ago — reached after about three miles up a sandy wash; the prints offer direct, photogenic contact with deep time and let children and adults literally walk in giant footprints.
Gammons Gulch: Ten Acres of Movie History
The tour pauses at Gammons Gulch, a meticulously constructed 10-acre Old West movie set made up of 17 relocated historic buildings that has hosted more than 65 film productions, giving a vivid look at cinematic and regional history amid the landscape.
Hands-on Paleontology at the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology
The tour’s final stop is the museum in Sierra Vista where the curator — a practicing paleontologist — leads a hands-on tour of fossil specimens assembled from Cochise County, tying the field visits to curated context and interpretation.
What the day feels like
What the Day Feels Like
The Land Before Time Tour unfolds as a balance of motorized transit and short but purposeful field walks: interpretive stops point out fossil-bearing localities across Cochise County, a rugged walk up a wash brings you to fossilized hoofprints, an atmospheric pause at a film set punctuates the route, and the day closes with a curator-led, hands-on session at the Southern Arizona Museum of Science and Technology.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour works for.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The full program runs about nine hours.
Departures begin at The Grassy Park in old town Bisbee.
Hiking shoes and long pants are required. Sunscreen and gloves are recommended.
The tour stops in Benson at R & R Pizza for its daily salad/pizza buffet; lunch is on your own and not included in the tour price.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
The tour is nine hours in duration.
Where do we meet the guide?
Meeting is at The Grassy Park in old town Bisbee.
Are meals included?
Lunch is on your own; the tour stops at R & R Pizza in Benson for a buffet but the meal is not included.
What should I wear or bring?
Hiking shoes and long pants are required; sunscreen and gloves are recommended.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes — the tour is described as suitable for all ages and includes child-friendly experiences like walking in preserved brontosaur footprints and a hands-on museum visit.
Where are the brontosaur footprints located and what is involved getting there?
The footprint site is roughly 80 miles north near Cascabel; the route proceeds about three miles up a sandy wash to a rock ledge where the prints are exposed.
How this guide was prepared
This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.
- Verified: 2026-09-14T12:08:27.256Z
Some booking links may generate revenue for ADV Guides or The Adventure Collective.
Availability, pricing, schedules and operating details can change.
Trip details and contextual sources were reviewed by ADV Guides Editorial.