Fossils rockhounding sites in Virginia

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

45 fossils destinations in Virginia.

Rockhounding sites in Virginia — fossils: 45 spots in our directory. Sort live from your phone with near me, or browse all U.S. fossils rockhounding sites and the Virginia state page.

Fossils collecting in Virginia

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

We currently document 45 fossils collecting sites in Virginia. Each listing includes original descriptions, visitor notes, and last-updated dates when available.

What to know before you collect

Fossils destinations in Virginia 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 Virginia 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

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Safety Glasses — Non-negotiable eye protection when hammering rock

Safety Glasses

Non-negotiable eye protection when hammering rock

4 products compared

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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

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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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Austinville — fossil rockhounding site near The Shady, VA
FossilVA

Austinville

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

Fee variesThe Shady
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Back Creek Cave #1 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Back Creek Cave #1

Fossil collection site, Bath County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Back Creek Cave #2 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Back Creek Cave #2

Fossil collection site, Bath County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Back Creek Cave #3 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Back Creek Cave #3

Fossil collection site, Bath County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Bill Neff Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Bill Neff Cave

Fossil collection site, Rockingham County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Broadwater — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Broadwater

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Chesapeake Bay Mouth — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Chesapeake Bay Mouth

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Chesapeake City — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Chesapeake City

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Creeks And Harbors — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Creeks And Harbors

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Denniston — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Denniston

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Dover Mines — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Dover Mines

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Endless Caverns — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Endless Caverns

Fossil collection site, Rockingham County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Front Royal — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Front Royal

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Gardner's Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Gardner's Cave

Fossil collection site, Wythe County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Hagan Sample 2 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Hagan Sample 2

Fossil collection site, Lee County, Virginia. Environment: peritidal. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Keyser Farm — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Keyser Farm

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Klotz Quarry Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Klotz Quarry Cave

Fossil collection site, Giles County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Kumis — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Kumis

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

Fee variesVirginia
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M 288 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

M 288

Fossil collection site in the Aquia, Stafford County, Virginia. Environment: marine indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Meadowview Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Meadowview Cave

Fossil collection site, Washington County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Mosely — petrified wood rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
Petrified woodVA

Mosely

Mosely is a documented mineral occurrence near VA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesVirginia
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Natural Chimneys — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Natural Chimneys

Fossil collection site, Augusta County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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New Castle — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

New Castle

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

Fee variesVirginia
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New Quarry Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

New Quarry Cave

Fossil collection site, Smyth County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Newport — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Newport

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Paspotansa — fossil rockhounding site near The Aquia, VA
FossilVA

Paspotansa

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

Fee variesThe Aquia
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Potomac Creek — fossil rockhounding site near The Aquia, VA
FossilVA

Potomac Creek

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

Fee variesThe Aquia
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Pq-bh9812 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Pq-bh9812

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Quantico — petrified wood rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
Petrified woodVA

Quantico

Quantico is a documented mineral occurrence near VA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesVirginia
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Ruffner's Cave #2 — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Ruffner's Cave #2

Fossil collection site, Page County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Saltville — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Saltville

Fossil collection site, Smyth County, Virginia. Environment: lacustrine - small. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Skinquarter — petrified wood rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
Petrified woodVA

Skinquarter

Skinquarter is a documented mineral occurrence near VA. Reported specimens include Petrified wood, Opalized wood. Verify land access and collecting rules before visiting.

Fee variesVirginia
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Skyline Caverns — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Skyline Caverns

Fossil collection site, Warren County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Spring Hill — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Spring Hill

Fossil collection site, Augusta County, Virginia. Environment: carbonate indet.. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Spurey Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Spurey Cave

Fossil collection site, Spurey Cave County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Thessalia — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Thessalia

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Varner's Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Varner's Cave

Fossil collection site, Highland County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Vickers Cave — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Vickers Cave

Fossil collection site, Washington County, Virginia. Environment: cave. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesVirginia
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Wade Site — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Wade Site

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Warrenton — fossil rockhounding site near Virginia, VA
FossilVA

Warrenton

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

Fee variesVirginia
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Womack Pit — fossil rockhounding site near The Kempsville, VA
FossilVA

Womack Pit

Fossil collection site in the Kempsville, Virginia. Environment: estuary/bay. Source: Paleobiology Database (PBDB), CC BY 4.0.

Fee variesThe Kempsville
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Woodstock — fossil rockhounding site near The Nanjemoy, VA
FossilVA

Woodstock

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

Fee variesThe Nanjemoy
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Wytheville — fossil rockhounding site near The Beekmantown, VA
FossilVA

Wytheville

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

Fee variesThe Beekmantown
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