Best Fossil Dig Sites in Oregon, USA
Discover Oregon’s top fossil hunting destinations for families, beginners, and amateur paleontologists, featuring leaf imprints, marine fossils, and rare vertebrates.
-
Wheeler High School Fossil Beds
Location: Fossil, Wheeler County, OR 97830
GPS Coordinates: 45.0015, -120.2136
Fossil Types Found:- Leaf imprints (Metasequoia, maple, chestnut)
- Insects
- Salamanders (rare)
- Fish (rare)
Geological Period: Oligocene-Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: John Day Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; donation required
Entry Fee: $5/individual, $15/family of 4, $25/group of 20
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided, educational programs
Tool Use Policy: Tools (hammers, chisels) sometimes provided; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Oregon Paleo Lands Center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Fossil
Contact Information: Oregon Paleo Lands Center, 541-763-4303, No email
Famous Discoveries: Plesiosaur skeleton
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.6/5 (200 reviews, Google Maps) -
Nehalem River
Location: Pittsburg, Columbia County, OR 97064
GPS Coordinates: 45.9010, -123.1518
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Macrocallista, Spisula)
- Gastropods (Polinices, Bruclarkia)
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Pittsburg Bluff Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer (low water levels)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in St. Helens
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (80 reviews, estimated) -
Succor Creek State Natural Area
Location: Rockville, Malheur County, OR 97913
GPS Coordinates: 43.4725, -117.1221
Fossil Types Found:- Petrified wood
- Leaf imprints
- Vertebrates (rare)
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Sucker Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limited collecting
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Camping, no facilities, lodging in Ontario
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (100 reviews, Google Maps) -
Beverly Beach
Location: Newport, Lincoln County, OR 97365
GPS Coordinates: 44.7206, -124.0564
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Anadara, Macoma)
- Gastropods
- Vertebrate bones (rare)
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Astoria Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Restrooms, parking, lodging in Newport
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.4/5 (150 reviews, Google Maps) -
Moolack Beach
Location: Newport, Lincoln County, OR 97365
GPS Coordinates: 44.6975, -124.0623
Fossil Types Found:- Clams
- Snails
- Petrified wood
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Astoria Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Newport
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (120 reviews, Google Maps) -
Lost Creek
Location: Newport, Lincoln County, OR 97366
GPS Coordinates: 44.5462, -124.0698
Fossil Types Found:- Marine invertebrates
- Petrified wood
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Astoria Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Newport
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (90 reviews, estimated) -
Cape Sebastian State Park
Location: Gold Beach, Curry County, OR 97444
GPS Coordinates: 42.3292, -124.4244
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Inoceramus)
- Ammonoids (Pachydiscus)
- Hadrosaur bone (fragment)
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Unknown
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Gold Beach
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Hadrosaur sacrum fragment
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (110 reviews, Google Maps) -
Mitchell Dig Site
Location: Mitchell, Wheeler County, OR 97750
GPS Coordinates: 44.6147, -120.1888
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonoids
- Dinosaur bones (ornithomimid)
- Ichthyosaur remains
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Hudspeth Formation
Public or Private Access: Private (permission required)
Permit Requirements: BLM permit or landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Guided with permission
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided with guided digs
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Mitchell
Contact Information: No contact info
Famous Discoveries: Ornithomimid bones, ichthyosaur remains
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (30 reviews, estimated) -
Suplee Limestone
Location: Suplee, Crook County, OR 97752
GPS Coordinates: 43.8971, -119.7636
Fossil Types Found:- Conodonts
- Corals
- Brachiopods
Geological Period: Devonian
Stratigraphic Formation: Unknown
Public or Private Access: Private (permission required)
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided with permission
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools with permission
Nearby Facilities: None; lodging in Prineville
Contact Information: No contact info
Famous Discoveries: Devonian marine fossils
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Wallowa Mountains
Location: Joseph, Wallowa County, OR 97846
GPS Coordinates: 44.9659, -117.3515
Fossil Types Found:- Brachiopods
- Corals
- Ammonoids
Geological Period: Triassic
Stratigraphic Formation: Martin Bridge Formation
Public or Private Access: Private (permission required)
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided with permission
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools with permission
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Joseph
Contact Information: No contact info
Famous Discoveries: Shastasaurus remains
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (25 reviews, estimated) -
Hampton Butte
Location: Brothers, Crook County, OR 97712
GPS Coordinates: 43.8832, -120.3875
Fossil Types Found:- Petrified wood (colorful)
- Leaf imprints
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Unknown
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limited collecting
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: None; lodging in Bend
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Colorful petrified wood
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
McDermitt
Location: McDermitt, Malheur County, OR 89421
GPS Coordinates: 42.0089, -117.7210
Fossil Types Found:- Petrified wood
- Leaf imprints
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Unknown
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limited collecting
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: None; lodging in Winnemucca, NV
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (40 reviews, estimated) -
Fossil Point
Location: Coos Bay, Coos County, OR 97420
GPS Coordinates: 43.3527, -124.3149
Fossil Types Found:- Mollusks (90 species)
- Marine vertebrate bones
Geological Period: Miocene-Pliocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Empire Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Coos Bay
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Diverse mollusk fauna
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (90 reviews, estimated) -
Coquille Point
Location: Bandon, Coos County, OR 97411
GPS Coordinates: 43.1141, -124.4362
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Hiatella, Macoma)
- Gastropods (Fusitriton)
- Crustaceans
Geological Period: Pleistocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Coquille Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Bandon
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: 58 taxa of invertebrates
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (100 reviews, Google Maps) -
Vernonia – Keasey Formation
Location: Vernonia, Columbia County, OR 97064
GPS Coordinates: 45.8433, -123.2027
Fossil Types Found:- Crinoids (Isocrinus)
- Bivalves (Acila, Glycymeris)
- Gastropods (Bruclarkia)
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Keasey Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Vernonia
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Well-preserved crinoids
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.1/5 (70 reviews, estimated) -
Agness – Rogue River
Location: Agness, Curry County, OR 97406
GPS Coordinates: 42.5470, -124.0543
Fossil Types Found:- Crustaceans (Hoploparia)
- Ammonoids
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Days Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer (low water levels)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Gold Beach
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
Riddle – Cow Creek
Location: Riddle, Douglas County, OR 97469
GPS Coordinates: 42.9447, -123.3650
Fossil Types Found:- Crustaceans (Hoploparia)
- Ammonoids
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Days Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Myrtle Creek
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
Eugene – Spencer Creek
Location: Eugene, Lane County, OR 97401
GPS Coordinates: 44.0198, -123.2546
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Glycymeris, Venericardia)
- Gastropods (Turritella)
Geological Period: Eocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Spencer Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer (low water levels)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Eugene
Contact Information: Travel Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.1/5 (70 reviews, estimated) -
Fossil Lake
Location: Fort Rock, Lake County, OR 97735
GPS Coordinates: 43.3250, -120.4914
Fossil Types Found:- Freshwater mollusks
- Fish (Chasmistes, Gila)
- Mammals (Equus, Camelops)
Geological Period: Pleistocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Silver Lake Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for vertebrates; limit 1 gallon/day for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: None; lodging in Fort Rock
Contact Information: BLM Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Diverse mammal and bird fossils
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.1/5 (60 reviews, estimated) -
Dallas – Ellendale Quarry
Location: Dallas, Polk County, OR 97338
GPS Coordinates: 44.9277, -123.3696
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Ostrea, Pecten)
- Gastropods (Turritella)
- Corals (Caryophyllia)
Geological Period: Eocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Siletz River Formation
Public or Private Access: Private (permission required)
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided with permission
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools with permission
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Dallas
Contact Information: No contact info
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Yaquina Bay
Location: Newport, Lincoln County, OR 97365
GPS Coordinates: 44.6021, -124.0087
Fossil Types Found:- Bivalves (Acila, Macrocallista)
- Gastropods (Bruclarkia, Turritella)
- Crustaceans
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Alsea Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; limit 1 gallon/day
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Winter/Spring (low tides)
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Newport
Contact Information: Oregon State Parks, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Diverse mollusk fauna
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (100 reviews, Google Maps) -
Juntura – Black Butte
Location: Juntura, Malheur County, OR 97911
GPS Coordinates: 43.3760, -117.4339
Fossil Types Found:- Freshwater invertebrates
- Vertebrates (fish, birds)
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Juntura Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for vertebrates; limit 1 gallon/day for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Spring/Fall
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed; bring your own
Nearby Facilities: None; lodging in Ontario
Contact Information: BLM Oregon, No phone, No email
Famous Discoveries: Bird fossils (Eremochen, Oxyura)
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (40 reviews, estimated)
Comparison Table of Fossil Dig Sites in Oregon
| Site Name | State | Fossil Types | Dig Type | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler High School Fossil Beds | Oregon | Leaf imprints, Insects, Salamanders, Fish | Self-guided | 4.6/5 |
| Nehalem River | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods | Self-guided | 4.2/5 |
| Succor Creek State Natural Area | Oregon | Petrified wood, Leaf imprints, Vertebrates | Self-guided | 4.3/5 |
| Beverly Beach | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods, Vertebrate bones | Self-guided | 4.4/5 |
| Moolack Beach | Oregon | Clams, Snails, Petrified wood | Self-guided | 4.3/5 |
| Lost Creek | Oregon | Marine invertebrates, Petrified wood | Self-guided | 4.2/5 |
| Cape Sebastian State Park | Oregon | Bivalves, Ammonoids, Hadrosaur bone | Self-guided | 4.3/5 |
| Mitchell Dig Site | Oregon | Ammonoids, Dinosaur bones, Ichthyosaur | Permit-only | 4.0/5 |
| Suplee Limestone | Oregon | Conodonts, Corals, Brachiopods | Permit-only | 3.8/5 |
| Wallowa Mountains | Oregon | Brachiopods, Corals, Ammonoids | Permit-only | 3.9/5 |
| Hampton Butte | Oregon | Petrified wood, Leaf imprints | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| McDermitt | Oregon | Petrified wood, Leaf imprints | Self-guided | 3.9/5 |
| Fossil Point | Oregon | Mollusks, Vertebrate bones | Self-guided | 4.2/5 |
| Coquille Point | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods, Crustaceans | Self-guided | 4.3/5 |
| Vernonia – Keasey Formation | Oregon | Crinoids, Bivalves, Gastropods | Self-guided | 4.1/5 |
| Agness – Rogue River | Oregon | Crustaceans, Ammonoids | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Riddle – Cow Creek | Oregon | Crustaceans, Ammonoids | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Eugene – Spencer Creek | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods | Self-guided | 4.1/5 |
| Fossil Lake | Oregon | Mollusks, Fish, Mammals | Self-guided | 4.1/5 |
| Dallas – Ellendale Quarry | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods, Corals | Permit-only | 3.8/5 |
| Yaquina Bay | Oregon | Bivalves, Gastropods, Crustaceans | Self-guided | 4.2/5 |
| Juntura – Black Butte | Oregon | Invertebrates, Vertebrates | Self-guided | 3.9/5 |
Fossil Dig Tourism in Oregon
Oregon is a haven for fossil hunting enthusiasts, offering some of the best fossil dig sites in Oregon for families, beginners, and amateur paleontologists. The Wheeler High School Fossil Beds in Fossil, OR, is a standout public dinosaur excavation area in Oregon, where visitors can legally collect Oligocene-Miocene leaf imprints and rare salamander fossils for a small fee. Coastal hotspots like Beverly Beach, Moolack Beach, and Yaquina Bay near Newport are ideal for family fossil hunting trips in Oregon, yielding Miocene clams, gastropods, and petrified wood along scenic shores. For low-cost paleontology tours in Oregon, Succor Creek State Natural Area and Fossil Lake provide self-guided fossil digs in Oregon, rich with petrified wood, freshwater mollusks, and Pleistocene vertebrate remains. Oregon’s diverse geology, from ancient lakebeds to Cretaceous seaways, makes it a top rockhounding destination in Oregon. Sites like Cape Sebastian and the Mitchell Dig Site offer Cretaceous ammonoids and rare dinosaur bones, though some require permits. The state’s fossil hunting in Oregon spans Devonian conodonts in Suplee to Triassic ammonoids in the Wallowa Mountains, catering to those seeking Jurassic fossil parks in Oregon or paleontology field adventures in Oregon. Spring and fall are optimal for fossil hunting, with low tides and mild weather exposing treasures. Public sites are free or low-cost, with facilities like parking and restrooms at coastal locations, while remote areas like McDermitt offer rugged dinosaur dig vacations in Oregon. High user ratings (3.8–4.6/5 on Google Maps) highlight the appeal of these prehistoric site tours in Oregon. Whether you’re wondering where to find fossils in Oregon or seeking common fossils in Oregon like ammonites, bivalves, or petrified wood, the state’s beaches, rivers, and fossil beds promise thrilling discoveries for all ages, making Oregon a must-visit for aspiring paleontologists.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fossil Digging in the USA
Can anyone dig for fossils in national parks in Oregon?
No, collecting fossils in National Park Service areas, like John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, is prohibited under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (2009). View fossils and report finds to rangers.
What gear do I need for a fossil dig in Oregon?
Long pants, closed-toe shoes, gloves, rock hammer, chisel, trowel, bucket, knee pads, sun protection, water. Some sites provide tools; check rules.
Are there guided fossil digs in Oregon?
Guided digs are rare. Wheeler High School offers self-guided digging with educational programs via Oregon Paleo Lands Institute. Mitchell Dig Site may have guided options with permits.
What are the best seasons for fossil hunting in Oregon?
Spring and fall for mild weather; winter/spring for coastal sites due to low tides exposing fossils.
Can I keep fossils I find in Oregon?
Yes, on public lands (e.g., Wheeler High School, beaches) with limits (1 gallon/day for invertebrates). Vertebrates require BLM permits; private sites need permission; collecting is illegal in National Monuments.
Are there educational programs for fossil hunting in Oregon?
Oregon Paleo Lands Institute offers programs at Wheeler High School Fossil Beds. Thomas Condon Paleontology Center provides displays and lab tours, no digging.
Is fossil hunting safe for kids in Oregon?
Yes, with supervision. Sites like Wheeler High School are family-friendly. Avoid cliffs, check tides, and watch for rattlesnakes in Eastern Oregon.
“`
Leave a Reply