A peaceful family vacation at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort turned unforgettable when Shala Holm and her daughter encountered a massive snapping turtle while kayaking on the Mississippi River.

The pair were fishing for crappies out of a tandem kayak when they noticed a nose and a large, prehistoric-looking head emerge from the riverbank.

The formidable reptile swam directly toward the kayak, clearly interested in a basket of caught fish that was suspended in the water beside the boat.

Holm quickly pulled the fish basket out of the river, causing the turtle to lose interest and calmly swim away before she could snap a photo.

Hoping for a second chance to observe the creature, the mother and daughter returned to the exact same river location the following day.

Their patience paid off when the large snapping turtle reappeared, allowing Holm to capture several close-up photographs of its thick limbs and massive claws.

While the turtle was never officially measured, Holm estimated that each of its front legs was roughly as thick as a human wrist.

After reviewing the viral images, wildlife experts from the Department of Natural Resources estimated the mature turtle was between 15 and 30 years old.

Minnesota DNR specialists noted that despite their intimidating looks, snapping turtles prefer avoiding humans in the water and are vital to cleaning up decaying organic matter in the river ecosystem.

The stunning close-up image was shared on the resort’s Facebook page, quickly going viral with thousands of shares from amazed viewers fascinated by the dinosaur-like creature.