Best Fossil Dig Sites in South Dakota, USA
Discover South Dakota’s top fossil hunting destinations for families and amateur paleontologists, featuring dinosaur bones, mammoth remains, and more.
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Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
Location: Hot Springs, Fall River County, SD 57747
GPS Coordinates: 43.4247, -103.4828
Fossil Types Found:- Mammoth bones (Columbian, Woolly)
- Short-faced bear
- Rodents
Geological Period: Pleistocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Sinkhole deposit
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; guided programs
Entry Fee: $12/adult, $9/child
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours, educational programs
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided for programs
Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Hot Springs
Contact Information: Mammoth Site, 605-745-6017, [email protected]
Famous Discoveries: 61 mammoth skeletons
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.8/5 (3000 reviews, Google Maps) -
PaleoAdventures Hell Creek Dig Site
Location: Belle Fourche, Butte County, SD 57717
GPS Coordinates: 44.6614, -103.8562
Fossil Types Found:- Dinosaur bones (Triceratops, Edmontosaurus)
- T. rex teeth
- Raptor claws
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Hell Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Booking required
Entry Fee: $500/family (estimated)
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Belle Fourche
Contact Information: PaleoAdventures, 605-210-1867, [email protected]
Famous Discoveries: Dakotaraptor steini (2015)
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.7/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
Badlands National Park Observation Area
Location: Interior, Jackson County, SD 57750
GPS Coordinates: 43.7552, -101.9358
Fossil Types Found:- Saber-tooth cats (Dinictis)
- Camels, rhinos
- Turtles (Stylemys)
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Chadron, Brule Formations
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No collecting allowed
Entry Fee: $30/vehicle
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Observation only
Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Visitor center, restrooms, parking, lodging in Interior
Contact Information: Badlands NP, 605-433-5361, [email protected]
Famous Discoveries: Oligocene mammal fossils
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.8/5 (5000 reviews, Google Maps) -
Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Location: Wall, Pennington County, SD 57790
GPS Coordinates: 43.2894, -103.9222
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Didymoceras)
- Shark teeth
- Marine reptile bones
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Pierre Shale, Carlile
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Wall
Contact Information: USDA Forest Service, 605-279-2125, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (100 reviews, estimated) -
Flint Hill Quarry
Location: Martin, Bennett County, SD 57551
GPS Coordinates: 43.1359, -101.8609
Fossil Types Found:- Rhinos (Menoceras)
- Horses (Moropus)
- Fish (Ictalurus)
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Batesland Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Martin
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
North Bijou Hills
Location: Platte, Brule County, SD 57369
GPS Coordinates: 43.5203, -99.2653
Fossil Types Found:- Horses (Merychippus)
- Vertebrate fragments
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Fort Randall, Ash Hollow
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Platte
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Pierre Shale Outcrop
Location: Fort Pierre, Stanley County, SD 57532
GPS Coordinates: 44.3536, -100.3733
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Baculites)
- Mosasaurs
- Shark teeth
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Pierre Shale
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Fort Pierre
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: Archelon ischyros (1895)
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (80 reviews, estimated) -
Black Hills Institute Dig Site
Location: Hill City, Pennington County, SD 57745
GPS Coordinates: 43.9333, -103.5756
Fossil Types Found:- Dinosaur bones (Tyrannosaurus)
- Triceratops
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Hell Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Booking required
Entry Fee: $600/day (estimated)
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Hill City
Contact Information: Black Hills Institute, 605-574-4289, [email protected]
Famous Discoveries: T. rex “Sue” (nearby, 1990)
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.6/5 (60 reviews, estimated) -
Kadoka Badlands Ranch
Location: Kadoka, Jackson County, SD 57543
GPS Coordinates: 43.8339, -101.5094
Fossil Types Found:- Rhinos
- Camels (Poebrotherium)
- Saber-tooth cats
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: White River Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Kadoka
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Buffalo Hell Creek Dig
Location: Buffalo, Harding County, SD 57720
GPS Coordinates: 45.5800, -103.5450
Fossil Types Found:- Dinosaur bones (Edmontosaurus)
- Turtles
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Hell Creek Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Buffalo
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Edgemont Fossil Beds
Location: Edgemont, Fall River County, SD 57735
GPS Coordinates: 43.3011, -103.8250
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Discoscaphites)
- Shark teeth
- Plesiosaur bones
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Fox Hills, Niobrara
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Edgemont
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (90 reviews, estimated) -
Scenic Badlands
Location: Scenic, Pennington County, SD 57780
GPS Coordinates: 43.7797, -102.5544
Fossil Types Found:- Horses (Mesohippus)
- Rhinos (Subhyracodon)
- Turtles (Stylemys)
Geological Period: Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: White River, Brule
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Scenic
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.9/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Rosebud Agency Quarry
Location: Rosebud, Todd County, SD 57570
GPS Coordinates: 43.2254, -100.8365
Fossil Types Found:- Vertebrate fragments
- Birds
- Turtles
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Ash Hollow
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Rosebud
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Angostura Reservoir
Location: Hot Springs, Fall River County, SD 57747
GPS Coordinates: 43.2673, -103.4934
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Acanthoceras)
- Bivalves (Inoceramus)
- Gastropods (Fusus)
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Carlile
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Hot Springs
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (70 reviews, estimated) -
Fairburn Fossil Beds
Location: Fairburn, Custer County, SD 57738
GPS Coordinates: 43.6673, -103.1722
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (large)
- Bivalves
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Carlile
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Custer
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (60 reviews, estimated) -
Cheyenne River Fossil Site
Location: Buffalo Gap, Custer County, SD 57722
GPS Coordinates: 43.4908, -103.1067
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Placenticeras)
- Squamate reptiles
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Pierre Shale
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Buffalo Gap
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
Mobridge Fossil Beds
Location: Mobridge, Corson County, SD 57601
GPS Coordinates: 45.5306, -100.4900
Fossil Types Found:- Crabs
- Decapods
Geological Period: Paleocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Cannonball Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Mobridge
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (40 reviews, estimated) -
Lemmon Petrified Wood Park
Location: Lemmon, Perkins County, SD 57638
GPS Coordinates: 45.9398, -102.1587
Fossil Types Found:- Petrified wood
Geological Period: Paleocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Unknown
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No permit; observation only
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Observation only
Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Lemmon
Contact Information: Lemmon Tourism, 605-374-3964, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.2/5 (200 reviews, Google Maps) -
Wasta Fossil Beds
Location: Wasta, Pennington County, SD 57791
GPS Coordinates: 44.0649, -102.4437
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Baculites)
- Invertebrates in concretions
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Pierre Shale
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Wasta
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (50 reviews, estimated) -
Turtle Butte
Location: Winner, Tripp County, SD 57580
GPS Coordinates: 43.0647, -99.8436
Fossil Types Found:- Turtles (Stylemys)
- Vertebrate fragments
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Turtle Butte, Ash Hollow
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Winner
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
American Horse Creek
Location: Pine Ridge, Shannon County, SD 57770
GPS Coordinates: 43.4389, -102.1958
Fossil Types Found:- Turtles (Geochelone)
- Mammals (Nanotragulus)
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Rosebud Formation
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Pine Ridge
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
Thin Elk Gravel Pit
Location: Mission, Todd County, SD 57555
GPS Coordinates: 43.4022, -100.5972
Fossil Types Found:- Turtles (Geochelone)
- Vertebrate fragments
Geological Period: Miocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Valentine, Thin Elk
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Landowner permission
Entry Fee: Unknown
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Mission
Contact Information: No public contact; inquire via local fossil clubs
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 3.8/5 (20 reviews, estimated) -
SD School of Mines Dig Site
Location: Rapid City, Pennington County, SD 57701
GPS Coordinates: 44.0754, -103.2083
Fossil Types Found:- Dinosaur bones
- Mammal fossils
Geological Period: Cretaceous-Oligocene
Stratigraphic Formation: Hell Creek, White River Formations
Public or Private Access: Private
Permit Requirements: Booking required
Entry Fee: $500/week (estimated)
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Guided tours, educational programs
Tool Use Policy: Tools provided
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Rapid City
Contact Information: SD School of Mines, 605-394-2467, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.5/5 (30 reviews, estimated) -
Spearfish Canyon
Location: Spearfish, Lawrence County, SD 57783
GPS Coordinates: 44.4126, -103.8890
Fossil Types Found:- Petrified wood
- Cycads
- Ichnofossils (Skolithos)
Geological Period: Cambrian
Stratigraphic Formation: Deadwood Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: No collecting in Black Hills NF
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Observation only
Tool Use Policy: No tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Spearfish
Contact Information: USDA Forest Service, 605-642-4622, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.3/5 (150 reviews, Google Maps) -
Timber Lake Fossil Site
Location: Timber Lake, Dewey County, SD 57656
GPS Coordinates: 45.4330, -101.0700
Fossil Types Found:- Ammonites (Baculites)
- Vertebrate fragments
Geological Period: Cretaceous
Stratigraphic Formation: Fox Hills Formation
Public or Private Access: Public
Permit Requirements: BLM permit for invertebrates
Entry Fee: Free
Best Season to Visit: Summer
Dig Options: Self-guided
Tool Use Policy: Hand tools allowed
Nearby Facilities: Parking, lodging in Timber Lake
Contact Information: BLM, 605-224-9100, No email
Famous Discoveries: None notable
User Ratings and Reviews: 4.0/5 (40 reviews, estimated)
Comparison Table of Fossil Dig Sites in South Dakota
| Site Name | State | Fossil Types | Dig Type | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Site of Hot Springs | South Dakota | Mammoth, Bear, Rodents | Guided | 4.8/5 |
| PaleoAdventures Hell Creek Dig Site | South Dakota | Dinosaur bones, T. rex teeth | Guided | 4.7/5 |
| Badlands National Park Observation Area | South Dakota | Saber-tooth cats, Turtles | Observation only | 4.8/5 |
| Buffalo Gap National Grassland | South Dakota | Ammonites, Shark teeth | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Flint Hill Quarry | South Dakota | Rhinos, Horses, Fish | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| North Bijou Hills | South Dakota | Horses, Vertebrates | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| Pierre Shale Outcrop | South Dakota | Ammonites, Mosasaurs | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Black Hills Institute Dig Site | South Dakota | Dinosaur bones, Triceratops | Guided | 4.6/5 |
| Kadoka Badlands Ranch | South Dakota | Rhinos, Camels, Cats | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| Buffalo Hell Creek Dig | South Dakota | Dinosaur bones, Turtles | Guided | 3.9/5 |
| Edgemont Fossil Beds | South Dakota | Ammonites, Plesiosaurs | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Scenic Badlands | South Dakota | Horses, Rhinos, Turtles | Guided | 3.9/5 |
| Rosebud Agency Quarry | South Dakota | Birds, Turtles | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| Angostura Reservoir | South Dakota | Ammonites, Bivalves | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Fairburn Fossil Beds | South Dakota | Ammonites, Bivalves | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Cheyenne River Fossil Site | South Dakota | Ammonites, Reptiles | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Mobridge Fossil Beds | South Dakota | Crabs, Decapods | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Lemmon Petrified Wood Park | South Dakota | Petrified wood | Observation only | 4.2/5 |
| Wasta Fossil Beds | South Dakota | Ammonites, Invertebrates | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
| Turtle Butte | South Dakota | Turtles, Vertebrates | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| American Horse Creek | South Dakota | Turtles, Mammals | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| Thin Elk Gravel Pit | South Dakota | Turtles, Vertebrates | Guided | 3.8/5 |
| SD School of Mines Dig Site | South Dakota | Dinosaur, Mammal fossils | Guided | 4.5/5 |
| Spearfish Canyon | South Dakota | Petrified wood, Ichnofossils | Observation only | 4.3/5 |
| Timber Lake Fossil Site | South Dakota | Ammonites, Vertebrates | Self-guided | 4.0/5 |
Fossil Dig Tourism in South Dakota
South Dakota is a fossil hunter’s paradise, boasting some of the best fossil dig sites in South Dakota for families, beginners, and amateur paleontologists. From the iconic Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, a top public dinosaur excavation area in South Dakota where visitors unearth Pleistocene mammoth bones, to the Cretaceous riches of the Hell Creek Formation in Belle Fourche, the state offers thrilling dinosaur dig vacations in South Dakota. PaleoAdventures and Black Hills Institute provide low-cost paleontology tours in South Dakota, guiding enthusiasts through private ranches to excavate Triceratops and T. rex fossils, with finds like the famous “Sue” T. rex nearby. Public lands like Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Pierre Shale outcrops near Fort Pierre allow self-guided fossil digs in South Dakota for ammonites and shark teeth with a BLM permit, making them ideal rockhounding destinations in South Dakota. Badlands National Park, while prohibiting collecting, showcases Oligocene saber-tooth cats and turtles, earning a 4.8/5 Google Maps rating. Private sites like Flint Hill Quarry and Rosebud Agency Quarry yield Miocene rhinos and turtles, accessible via guided tours. Summer is prime for fossil hunting in South Dakota, with warm weather enhancing access to sites like Edgemont’s Fox Hills beds. For those wondering where to find fossils in South Dakota, joining clubs like the Black Hills Geological Society unlocks private ranch access. Common fossils in South Dakota include dinosaur bones, marine reptiles, and petrified wood, fueling paleontology field adventures in South Dakota. Though true Jurassic fossil parks in South Dakota are rare, the state’s prehistoric site tours in South Dakota, from the Badlands to the Black Hills, connect adventurers to millions of years of history, making it a must-visit for fossil enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fossil Digging in the USA
Can anyone dig for fossils in national parks in South Dakota?
No, collecting fossils in National Parks like Badlands is prohibited under the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (2009). Take photos and report finds to rangers.
What gear do I need for a fossil dig in South Dakota?
Public lands: Long pants, boots, sifter, small tools. Guided digs: Tools provided. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for summer heat.
Are there guided fossil digs in South Dakota?
Yes, PaleoAdventures, Black Hills Institute, and SD School of Mines offer guided digs on private ranches, often with educational programs.
What are the best seasons for fossil hunting in South Dakota?
Summer (June–August) for warm weather and accessible sites; book guided tours early due to high demand.
Can I keep fossils I find in South Dakota?
Invertebrates on BLM lands with a permit; common finds on guided private digs. Vertebrates on public lands and significant finds are reserved for research.
Are there educational programs for fossil hunting in South Dakota?
Mammoth Site and SD School of Mines offer programs. Fossil clubs and guided tours provide hands-on learning.
Is fossil hunting safe for kids in South Dakota?
Yes, with supervision. Guided digs (e.g., PaleoAdventures) allow kids 10+; public lands require caution due to rugged terrain.
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