Fossils rockhounding sites in North Dakota

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

47 fossils destinations in North Dakota.

Rockhounding sites in North Dakota — fossils: 47 spots in our directory. Sort live from your phone with near me, or browse all U.S. fossils rockhounding sites and the North Dakota state page.

Fossils collecting in North Dakota

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

We currently document 47 fossils collecting sites in North Dakota. Each listing includes original descriptions, visitor notes, and last-updated dates when available.

What to know before you collect

Fossils destinations in North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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

All gear categories →

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

13275'-287', Amerada Petrol. Corp, Herman May, Fryburg Area — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

13275'-287', Amerada Petrol. Corp, Herman May, Fryburg Area

Fossil collection site in the Deadwood, Billings County, North Dakota. Environment: lagoonal. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Almont — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Almont

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Morton County, North Dakota. Environment: lacustrine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Arco Wunderlich #1 - North Dakota Geo Survey Well #8803 — fossil rockhounding site near The Stony Mountain, ND

FossilND

Arco Wunderlich #1 - North Dakota Geo Survey Well #8803

Fossil collection site in the Stony Mountain, North Dakota. Environment: deep subtidal indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Stony Mountain

Brisbane — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Brisbane

Fossil collection site in the Slope, Grant County, North Dakota. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj8404 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj8404

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86103 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86103

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86108 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86108

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86110 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86110

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: crevasse splay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86119 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86119

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86158 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86158

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj86163 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj86163

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87103 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87103

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87109 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87109

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87110 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87110

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: crevasse splay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87133 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87133

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Bowman County, North Dakota. Environment: wet floodplain. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87151 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87151

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Bowman County, North Dakota. Environment: wet floodplain. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj87152 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj87152

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Bowman County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj88107 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj88107

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Bowman County, North Dakota. Environment: crevasse splay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj88114 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj88114

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fine channel fill. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Kj88124 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Kj88124

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: wet floodplain. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Medora Badlands Petrified Wood — petrified wood rockhounding site near Medora, ND

Petrified WoodND

Medora Badlands Petrified Wood

Theodore Roosevelt National Park badlands display petrified wood stumps; collecting banned in park but region has specimens on private land.

Fee variesMedora

Ndgs L301 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Ndgs L301

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Morton County, North Dakota. Environment: estuary/bay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Ndgs96-23.1 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Ndgs96-23.1

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: "channel". Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Petrified Log & Stumps At Capitol Grounds — petrified wood rockhounding site near ND, ND

Petrified WoodND

Petrified Log & Stumps At Capitol Grounds

Petrified Log & Stumps at Capitol grounds is a documented rockhounding destination in ND. Collectors visit for petrified wood, agate and related material. Access rules and land ownership vary — confirm current status with the managing agency or landowner before collecting.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Ptrm V92002 — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Ptrm V92002

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: "channel". Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Tanis — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Tanis

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Bowman County, North Dakota. Environment: terrestrial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Teredo Petrified Wood — fossil rockhounding site near ND, ND

FossilND

Teredo Petrified Wood

Teredo Petrified Wood is a documented rockhounding destination in ND. Collectors visit for fossils, trilobites, dinosaur bone and related material. Access rules and land ownership vary — confirm current status with the managing agency or landowner before collecting.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Unnumbered Mrf Locality 6.7 Km Nw Of Turtle Graveyard Locality — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Unnumbered Mrf Locality 6.7 Km Nw Of Turtle Graveyard Locality

Fossil collection site in the Hell Creek, Slope County, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Usgs Locality 2422, 2 Miles East Of Gladstone, Nd, Upper Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 2422, 2 Miles East Of Gladstone, Nd, Upper Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 2424, Near Medora, Nd Half Mile From Little Misouri, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 2424, Near Medora, Nd Half Mile From Little Misouri, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 4256, Northwest Of Coleharbor, Nd, Upper Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 4256, Northwest Of Coleharbor, Nd, Upper Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, McLean County, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Usgs Locality 4334, Sentinel Butte, Nd, Lower Fort Union Fm Sentinel Butte Mb — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 4334, Sentinel Butte, Nd, Lower Fort Union Fm Sentinel Butte Mb

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 5437, North River Bank At Mccord Coal Bank, Nd, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 5437, North River Bank At Mccord Coal Bank, Nd, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6215, Along Little Missouri River South Of Yule, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6215, Along Little Missouri River South Of Yule, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6219, West Of Little Missouri River, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6219, West Of Little Missouri River, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6225, 8 Miles South Of Dakota Natural Forest, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6225, 8 Miles South Of Dakota Natural Forest, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6376, 10 Miles South Of Bentley, Hettinger Project, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6376, 10 Miles South Of Bentley, Hettinger Project, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6377, About 1 Mile South Of Kayser, Hettinger Project, Fort Union — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6377, About 1 Mile South Of Kayser, Hettinger Project, Fort Union

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6382, About 3 Miles East Of Scranton, Marmarth Project, Fort Union — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6382, About 3 Miles East Of Scranton, Marmarth Project, Fort Union

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6525, South Bank Of Heart River 1/2 Mile South Of Mandan — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6525, South Bank Of Heart River 1/2 Mile South Of Mandan

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 6892, Oliver County Lignite Field, Fort Union Fm? — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 6892, Oliver County Lignite Field, Fort Union Fm?

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union?, Oliver County, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Usgs Locality 8202, On Road Towards Hoflund Along Missouri River, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 8202, On Road Towards Hoflund Along Missouri River, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 8212, About 4 Miles North Of Mouth Of Rising Water Creek — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 8212, About 4 Miles North Of Mouth Of Rising Water Creek

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 8222, At First Of Blue Buttes, South Of Keene, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 8222, At First Of Blue Buttes, South Of Keene, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Powell County, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota

Usgs Locality 8224, Brittian Coal Mine, 6 Miles Southeast Of Mott, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 8224, Brittian Coal Mine, 6 Miles Southeast Of Mott, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 8230, North Of Road; +/- 5 Miles West Of Grassy Butte, Fort Union — fossil rockhounding site near The Fort Union, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 8230, North Of Road; +/- 5 Miles West Of Grassy Butte, Fort Union

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Fort Union

Usgs Locality 9202, 3 Miles East Of Fort Stevenson, Fort Union Fm — fossil rockhounding site near North Dakota, ND

FossilND

Usgs Locality 9202, 3 Miles East Of Fort Stevenson, Fort Union Fm

Fossil collection site in the Fort Union, Ward County, North Dakota. Environment: fluvial indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesNorth Dakota