Fossils rockhounding sites in Missouri

Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.

40 fossils destinations in Missouri.

Rockhounding sites in Missouri — fossils: 40 spots in our directory. Sort live from your phone with near me, or browse all U.S. fossils rockhounding sites and the Missouri state page.

Guides & hubs: Missouri rockhounding guide

Fossils collecting in Missouri

Trilobites, brachiopods, petrified wood, and other paleontological collecting on public land.

We currently document 40 fossils collecting sites in Missouri. Each listing includes original descriptions, visitor notes, and last-updated dates when available.

What to know before you collect

Fossils destinations in Missouri vary widely in access, season, and legality. Some are official recreation areas; others are informal gravel bars. Read the access and safety sections on each listing — never assume collecting is allowed without checking current signage.

For trip planning beyond this filter, browse the full Missouri state page, our guides, or use near me to sort by distance from your location.

How we research listings · Report a correction · Safety disclaimer

What to pack for fossil hunting

Splitting shale and hiking exposures — gear we compare for paleontology field trips.

Chisels & Wedges — Split matrix cleanly and protect your specimens

Chisels & Wedges

Split matrix cleanly and protect your specimens

5 products compared

Safety Glasses — Non-negotiable eye protection when hammering rock

Safety Glasses

Non-negotiable eye protection when hammering rock

4 products compared

Specimen Bags & Wrap — Get your finds home without chips and scratches

Specimen Bags & Wrap

Get your finds home without chips and scratches

4 products compared

Field Gloves — Cut and abrasion protection for sharp rock and tools

Field Gloves

Cut and abrasion protection for sharp rock and tools

4 products compared

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Disclosure: Gear links may earn a commission as an Amazon Associate — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Ash Grove — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Ash Grove

Fossil collection site in the Burlington, Greene County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Barnhart Quarry — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Barnhart Quarry

Fossil collection site in the Fern Glen, Jefferson County, Missouri. Environment: offshore. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Big Springs — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Big Springs

Fossil collection site in the Mineola, Montgomery County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Brickeys — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Brickeys

Fossil collection site in the Fern Glen, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Carboniferous Basins Of Southwestern Missouri — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Carboniferous Basins Of Southwestern Missouri

Fossil collection site, Missouri. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

England Strip Pit — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

England Strip Pit

Fossil collection site in the Cherokee, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Ewing Strip Pit — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Ewing Strip Pit

Fossil collection site in the Cherokee, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Fulton — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Fulton

Fossil collection site in the Snyder Creek Shale, Callaway County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Glen Park Quarry — fossil rockhounding site near The Cape Limestone, MO

FossilMO

Glen Park Quarry

Fossil collection site in the Cape Limestone, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Cape Limestone

Greenfield Pinnid — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Greenfield Pinnid

Fossil collection site in the Keokuk, Dade County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Herculaneum Fissure — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Herculaneum Fissure

Fossil collection site, Jefferson County, Missouri. Environment: fissure fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Houston Strip Pit — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Houston Strip Pit

Fossil collection site in the Cherokee, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

King's Butte — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

King's Butte

Fossil collection site in the Northview, Greene County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Knight's Locality #12 — fossil rockhounding site near The Henrietta, MO

FossilMO

Knight's Locality #12

Fossil collection site in the Henrietta, Missouri. Environment: offshore indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Henrietta

Knight's Locality #37 — fossil rockhounding site near The Henrietta, MO

FossilMO

Knight's Locality #37

Fossil collection site in the Henrietta, Missouri. Environment: offshore indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Henrietta

Knight's Locality #38 — fossil rockhounding site near The Henrietta, MO

FossilMO

Knight's Locality #38

Fossil collection site in the Henrietta, Missouri. Environment: offshore indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Henrietta

Knight's Locality #7 — fossil rockhounding site near The Henrietta, MO

FossilMO

Knight's Locality #7

Fossil collection site in the Henrietta, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Henrietta

Laredo Coal — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Laredo Coal

Fossil collection site in the Nowata, Grundy Co. County, Missouri. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Leeds Quarry, Kansas City — fossil rockhounding site near The Dennis, MO

FossilMO

Leeds Quarry, Kansas City

Fossil collection site in the Dennis, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Dennis

Loc. 14. Bank Of Hackberry Branch, Just West Of Bridge Where North-south Country Road Crosses Stream 500’ North Of Hackberry School, 6 Miles Southwest Of Nevada — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 14. Bank Of Hackberry Branch, Just West Of Bridge Where North-south Country Road Crosses Stream 500’ North Of Hackberry School, 6 Miles Southwest Of Nevada

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Vernon County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 15. Bank Of Hackberry Branch, 800' West Of Bridge Where Road Crosses Stream, 5.5 Miles Southwest Of Nevada — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 15. Bank Of Hackberry Branch, 800' West Of Bridge Where Road Crosses Stream, 5.5 Miles Southwest Of Nevada

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Vernon County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 16. Old Quarry Just Sout Of The Marmaton River, West Side Of County Highway H, ½ Mile North Of Deerfield — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 16. Old Quarry Just Sout Of The Marmaton River, West Side Of County Highway H, ½ Mile North Of Deerfield

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Vernon County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 1a. Waste Banks Of Strip Mine 1.5 Miles West Of Mindenmines, 1 Mile North From Ks-mo State Line Road — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 1a. Waste Banks Of Strip Mine 1.5 Miles West Of Mindenmines, 1 Mile North From Ks-mo State Line Road

Fossil collection site in the Cabaniss, Barton County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 2. Second Nicolson Creek Tributary, 300 Ft. Upstream Of Where Creek Crosses Road, 1 Mile West Of Liberal — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 2. Second Nicolson Creek Tributary, 300 Ft. Upstream Of Where Creek Crosses Road, 1 Mile West Of Liberal

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Barton County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 27a. Small Strip Pit On West Side Of The County Road, Just East Of Bear Creek, ~2.5 Miles East Of Montrose — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 27a. Small Strip Pit On West Side Of The County Road, Just East Of Bear Creek, ~2.5 Miles East Of Montrose

Fossil collection site in the Cabaniss, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 32. Waste Banks Of The Power Compnay Mine, Just East Of County Hwy. K, 2¾ Miles North Of Germantown — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 32. Waste Banks Of The Power Compnay Mine, Just East Of County Hwy. K, 2¾ Miles North Of Germantown

Fossil collection site in the Cabaniss, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 36. Waste Banks Of The Black Diamond Coal Company Mine On The East Side Of Us Hwy. 69, Just South Of Brush Creek, ~5.0 Miles South Of Pittsburg — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 36. Waste Banks Of The Black Diamond Coal Company Mine On The East Side Of Us Hwy. 69, Just South Of Brush Creek, ~5.0 Miles South Of Pittsburg

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Cherokee County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 8. Old Quarry On The East Side Of County Hwy. H, Just Before It Crosses Marmaton River, ½ Mile Northwest Of Deerfield — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 8. Old Quarry On The East Side Of County Hwy. H, Just Before It Crosses Marmaton River, ½ Mile Northwest Of Deerfield

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Vernon County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Loc. 9. Waste Banks Of Old Wastell Mine On The East Side Of Dumping Creek, ~3 Miles Southeast Of Clinton — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Loc. 9. Waste Banks Of Old Wastell Mine On The East Side Of Dumping Creek, ~3 Miles Southeast Of Clinton

Fossil collection site in the Krebs, Vernon County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Locality 6. 200 Ft. North Of Clayton Rd., 1st Street West Of Kirkwood-ferguson Trolly Tracks, "davis Place" Subdivision, Clayton — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Locality 6. 200 Ft. North Of Clayton Rd., 1st Street West Of Kirkwood-ferguson Trolly Tracks, "davis Place" Subdivision, Clayton

Fossil collection site in the Pawnee, St. Louis County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Locality D — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Locality D

Fossil collection site in the Chemung, Callaway County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Lucas, Cherokee Shale — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Lucas, Cherokee Shale

Fossil collection site, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

New Florence — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

New Florence

Fossil collection site in the Mineola, Montgomery County, Missouri. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Overby Strip Pit — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Overby Strip Pit

Fossil collection site in the Cherokee, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Ovid Coal Bed — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Ovid Coal Bed

Fossil collection site in the Hertha, Ray Co. County, Missouri. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Peerless Park — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Peerless Park

Fossil collection site in the Warsaw, St. Louis County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Shideler Strip Pit — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Shideler Strip Pit

Fossil collection site in the Cherokee, Henry County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Sl-1. Headwaters Of Feefee Creek, North Of Olive St. & West Of Lindberg Blvd., 1.5 Km Northwest Of Stratmann (olivette) — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Sl-1. Headwaters Of Feefee Creek, North Of Olive St. & West Of Lindberg Blvd., 1.5 Km Northwest Of Stratmann (olivette)

Fossil collection site in the Appanoose, St. Louis County, Missouri. Environment: offshore indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Upper St. Louis Limestone — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Upper St. Louis Limestone

Fossil collection site, Missouri. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri

Weston, Platte County — fossil rockhounding site near Missouri, MO

FossilMO

Weston, Platte County

Fossil collection site, Platte County, Missouri. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesMissouri