Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is a premier fossil collecting location in Emery County, Utah. The site exposes Late Jurassic fossils where visitors can hunt for dinosaurs, particularly Allosaurus.
Collecting is strictly prohibited – BLM protected site, viewing only. Excellent visitor center and museum on site. View actual quarry through windows in the quarry building where bones remain in place. Interpretive displays explain the site’s significance and paleontology. Small entrance fee. One of the densest dinosaur bone concentrations ever found.
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry is one of the most important Jurassic dinosaur sites in the world. Over 70 individual dinosaurs have been identified from the quarry, with Allosaurus dominating the assemblage. The quarry has been actively excavated since the 1920s and has produced specimens for museums worldwide. The site represents a mass death assemblage, possibly a predator trap.
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about fossil collecting at Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur, including directions to the site, collecting rules and regulations, the types of fossils you can find, and what to expect during your visit. Cleveland provides the nearest services and amenities for visiting collectors.
Location and Directions
You can find Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur in Emery County, Utah.
Directions to Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur
To reach Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur: Turn off Highway 10 near Cleveland and follow BLM signs to quarry and visitor center (approximately 30 miles from highway). When you arrive, the visiting area is located at the BLM visitor center and protected quarry building.
What Fossils You’ll Find
Fossils at Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur date to the Late Jurassic. Dinosaur bones are the most commonly found fossils at this Cleveland, Utah site.
Geologic History
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur exposes the Morrison Formation, a significant Late Jurassic geological unit in Emery County, Utah.
Millions of years ago, the area that is now Cleveland, Utah was an ancient floodplain or waterhole accumulation site. The climate was semi-arid to seasonal with distinct wet and dry periods.
As these ancient organisms died, sediments buried and preserved their remains. Over millions of years, geological processes transformed these sediments into the fossil-bearing rocks visible at Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur today.
How Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Became a Fossil Collecting Site
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur originally operated as an industrial site where commercial activities exposed fossil-bearing rock layers. Quarrying, mining, or excavation operations removed overlying sediments and revealed ancient deposits that had been buried for millions of years.
After industrial operations ceased, Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur transitioned to a location where fossil enthusiasts could view specimens. The legacy of this industrial activity created the accessible rock exposures that make fossil collecting possible today. Many of the world’s most productive fossil sites share this history of industrial operations inadvertently revealing paleontological treasures.
Collecting Rules & Regulations
Is Fossil Collecting Allowed?
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur does not allows fossil collecting for visitors.
Sources
BLM Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry documentation; University of Utah paleontological research; Morrison Formation literature