NDGS Public Fossil Digs (Friends of NDGS Paleo)
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Public fossil dig program run by Friends of NDGS Paleo in partnership with the North Dakota Geological Survey. Three dig locations: Bismarck Area (Hell Creek Formation — dinosaurs), Pembina Gorge (Pierre Formation — mosasaurs, sea turtles, giant squid), and Dickinson (White River Formation — mammal fossils). Full-day (ages 15+) and family half-day (ages 10+) options. Dig season late June through August.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Tyrannosaurus
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Mosasaur
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Marine Reptile Fossils
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Mammal Fossils
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
📍 Nearby Locations in North Dakota
North Dakota Petrified Wood Beds
Amidon, North Dakota · Public Land
Slope County badlands for petrified wood and agate. The Little Missouri River gravels produce beautiful specimens.
North Dakota Carnotite Beds
Bismarck, North Dakota · Public Land
Carnotite-bearing sandstones and gravel pits in western North Dakota for agate, jasper, and unusual uranium-mineral specimens.
Hell Creek Formation (ND)
Marmarth, North Dakota · BLM Land
World-famous dinosaur fossil beds of the Late Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation (67 million years old). T. rex, triceratops, Edmontosaurus, crocodiles, ...
Little Missouri River Agates
Medora, North Dakota · Public Land
River gravels and badlands exposures for agate, petrified wood, and chalcedony in the Little Missouri River valley.
Hell Creek Fossils LLC
Marmarth, North Dakota · Fee Dig
All-inclusive public dinosaur paleontology dig in the badlands of North Dakota near Marmarth. Participants work alongside paleontologists to discover,...
Lynch Knife River Flint Quarries
Dunn Center, North Dakota · Fee Dig
Historic Native American flint quarry site east of Dunn Center off Hwy. 200. Native Americans camped and harvested Knife River Flint for tools and wea...
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to NDGS Public Fossil Digs (Friends of NDGS Paleo) 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
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35