Falls of the Ohio Fossil Beds

Clarksville, Indiana
๐ŸŒ Land Type: State Park
๐Ÿ’ฐ Fee: $5 parking
Approximate โ€” check official site before visiting
๐Ÿ“… Season: April-October (low water)
๐Ÿ“Š Difficulty: easy

World-famous Devonian fossil beds exposed on the Ohio River. Over 600 species identified. Some of the largest exposed coral reefs from the Devonian period.

๐ŸŒ Visit Official Site โ†’
Fossils ๐Ÿฆด Fossil Hunting ๐Ÿ‘ช Family-Friendly

๐Ÿชจ What You Can Find Here

Fossils

From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.

Also found at:

๐Ÿ“ Nearby Locations in Indiana

Indiana Geode & Fossil Beds

Bedford, Indiana ยท Public Land

Southern Indiana creek beds and road cuts for geodes, calcite crystals, and crinoid fossils. Part of the prolific Mississippian bedrock.

GeodesCalciteFossils

Indiana Fluorspar District

Rising Sun, Indiana ยท Public Land

Historic fluorite mining district in southeast Indiana. Mine dumps produce colorful fluorite, calcite, and sphalerite crystals along the Ohio River.

FluoriteCalciteSphalerite

โ›๏ธ Recommended Gear

Make the most of your visit to Falls of the Ohio Fossil Beds with the right equipment.

Rock Hammer

The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.

Typical: $25-45

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Safety Glasses

Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.

Typical: $10-20

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Chisel Set

Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.

Typical: $15-30

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Geologist's Pick

A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.

Typical: $35-60

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Sifting Screen

Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.

Typical: $20-40

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UV Flashlight

Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.

Typical: $15-35

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