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Pay-to-Dig

Pay-to-Dig Fossil Parks and Quarries

Pay-to-dig fossil parks and quarries remove the permit paperwork from the equation. You pay a site fee, the operator holds the collection permit, and you keep everything you find. The sites in this list span Germany's Jurassic limestone quarries, Ohio's Ordovician parks, the Green River Formation fish beds in Wyoming, and several other countries and geological periods.

30 fossil sites

How the pay-to-dig model works

Most fossil collecting on public land in the US and Australia requires navigating permit systems that differ by state, land type, and fossil category. Pay-to-dig sites sidestep this by operating on private land or under a single commercial permit. The fee you pay covers your right to collect for the day, and the operator has already dealt with whatever state or national paperwork applies. This makes pay-to-dig the most straightforward entry point for collectors who want to take fossils home without researching local laws.

The quality of the experience varies considerably. The best sites prepare material for visitors, have staff who can identify finds, and concentrate exposure areas to give beginners a realistic chance of success. Commercial operations in Germany's Altmühltal are the benchmark: small fees, well-maintained quarry faces, and on-site expertise from operators who have been running the same site for decades. US sites range from purpose-built fossil parks run by counties (Trammel Fossil Park in Ohio, free to enter) to commercial quarry operations where you work alongside trained preparators. Each site listing in this guide notes what to expect and what you are likely to find.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pay-to-dig fossil park?
A pay-to-dig fossil park is a site — usually a working or former quarry — where you pay an admission or day fee and are allowed to search for fossils and keep what you find. The landowner or operator holds any permits required by state or national law, so you can collect without navigating the permit process yourself. Most sites provide basic tools or allow you to bring your own, and staff are usually available to help identify finds. The model is common in Germany's Altmühltal limestone quarries, several US states including Ohio, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and parts of Australia.
What fossils can I find at pay-to-dig sites?
It depends entirely on the site's geology. German Jurassic limestone quarries produce fish, ammonites, crinoids, and occasionally Archaeopteryx-bearing strata. US sites span a wide range: Ohio's quarry parks produce Ordovician trilobites and brachiopods; U-Dig in Utah yields Cambrian trilobites; the Green River Formation sites near Kemmerer, Wyoming, produce complete Eocene fish. In the US, operators like Fossil Safari run permitted guided digs at Cretaceous sites where participants keep everything they find. Each site listing in this guide includes the fossil types documented there.
How much does it cost to visit a fossil park?
Fees vary significantly. US county and city fossil parks (Trammel Fossil Park in Ohio, Fossil Park Sylvania) are often free or charge a nominal vehicle entry fee. Commercial quarry operations in Germany and the US typically charge between 10 and 30 euros or dollars for a half-day or full-day session, sometimes with tools included. Australian commercial dig operations are more expensive, often 50 to 150 Australian dollars, because access is more limited and the geology is more complex to work. Guided tour sites at the premium end (Schamhaupten, Bavaria) may charge more.
Do I need any experience to visit a pay-to-dig site?
No. Pay-to-dig sites are specifically designed for visitors with no prior fossil hunting experience. The fee model includes access to guidance from on-site staff who can show you where to look and what you are finding. Most sites have structured areas where material has been pre-prepared or concentrated to give beginners a reasonable chance of finding something. Bringing a hand lens, a small brush, and newspaper or tissue paper to wrap finds is enough preparation for most visits.
Can I take fossils home from pay-to-dig sites?
Yes — keeping finds is the point of the pay-to-dig model. The operator's permit covers personal collection at the site, so you leave with whatever you find. The main exception applies to scientifically significant specimens: most reputable sites ask you to flag unusual or complete vertebrate finds to on-site staff before packing them, and some have a right-of-first-refusal arrangement for exceptional specimens. In Germany, Archaeopteryx and other scientific-grade finds from Solnhofen-area quarries are protected under Bavarian Natural Heritage Law regardless of the collection context.

Recommended resources

  • Fossil Safari — US guided fossil dig operator at Cretaceous sites in South Dakota and Montana; participants keep all finds and no prior experience is required.