Where to Find Fossils in the Dayton Area

Summer is fast approaching and with it comes extra daylight, warmer weather and plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors.

Finding enough activities to keep kids (and adults alike) entertained in the summer months can be challenging, especially if you’re looking at cost-effective options. Luckily, southwest Ohio has a number of gorgeous parks which are often totally free to explore.

These destinations make it easy to turn a trip to the park into an educational, fossil-hunting adventure.

Caesar Creek State Park
4020 N. Clarksville Road, Waynesville, OH  (approximately 40 minutes from downtown Dayton)
(513) 897-1050 | http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/caesarcreek | http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=H202350

Oakes Quarry Park
Entrance and parking located on State Route 235 just east of I-675 in Fairborn (approximately 25 minutes from downtown Dayton)
(937) 754-3090 | http://www.beavercreekwetlands.org

Hueston Woods State Park
6301 Park Office Road, College Corner, OH (approximately 1 hour from downtown Dayton)
(513) 523-6347 | http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/huestonwoods

Trammel Fossil Park
Trammel Drive, Sharonville, OH (approximately 1 hour from downtown Dayton)
(513) 563-2985 | http://oh-sharonville.civicplus.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Trammel-Fossil-Park-13

Stonelick State Park
2895 Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain, OH  (approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes from downtown Dayton)
(513) 734-4323 | http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/stonelick

Fossil Fast Facts

• Ohio’s state fossil is Isotelus, a type of trilobite from the Ordovician period.
• Fossil collecting sites like the ones listed above are along what’s known as the Cincinnati Arch, and attract paleontologists from all over the US.
• Always make sure to contact the sites ahead of time to confirm where fossil collecting is allowed and whether there are any site-specific rules to consider