Stonerose Interpretive Center / Boot Hill Fossil Site
Approximate — check official site before visiting
One of the premier fee-dig fossil sites in the Pacific Northwest. The Boot Hill Fossil Site preserves a 48-million-year-old Eocene lake-bed deposit (Tom Thumb Tuff Member of the Klondike Mountain Formation). Visitors pay a fee, receive instruction, and split shale layers to expose leaves, flowers, seeds, and insects with extraordinary detail. Keep up to 3 non-research-significant specimens per visit. The Interpretive Center features a museum and gift shop. Located at 15 N Clark Ave in downtown Republic.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Eocene Plant Fossils
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Eocene Insect Fossils
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Metasequoia
Also found at:
- No other locations listed yet
Fossils
From shark teeth in Florida to dinosaurs in Montana, the US offers world-class fossil hunting for all skill levels.
Also found at:
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⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Stonerose Interpretive Center / Boot Hill Fossil Site 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