My three boys, now 15, 13, and 10, have always loved a good treasure hunt, especially when it involves dirt, rocks, and the chance to find something ancient. Fossil hunting in Michigan has become one of our favorite outdoor family adventures. It gets us outside, exploring geology, history, and science in a hands-on way. We’ve hunted for prehistoric coral, crinoids, and even fossilized brachiopods at some of Michigan’s best fossil sites.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly fossil hunting destinations in Michigan, here are the top spots we’ve explored. We will also dig into what to bring, what to expect, and how to fill out the rest of the day.
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Rockport State Recreation Area – Alpena, MI
Rockport State Recreation Area sits just north of Alpena, along Lake Huron. This park used to be a limestone quarry, and it’s still loaded with Devonian-period fossils like horn corals, brachiopods, and crinoid stems. The best part? It’s legal to collect small fossils here.
There’s no visitor center, but the DNR website sometimes lists educational events or guided fossil hunts. We once ran into a geology student there who pointed out a few particularly fossil-rich areas in the quarry. Be sure to bring a small bucket and dig around the loose rock piles.
While in Alpena, we spent the rest of our day at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, which has shipwreck exhibits and a full-size replica of a schooner that the boys loved climbing on. The downtown also has a nice waterfront area and a splash pad that is open in the warmer months.
What to Pack for Rockport
- Hiking boots or sturdy shoes (quarry rocks are sharp)
- Work gloves for digging
- A bucket or bag for fossil finds
- Snacks and water (there are no services on-site)
- Sunscreen and hats—there’s very little shade
Besser Museum Fossil Park – Alpena, MI
Just a short drive from Rockport, Besser Museum offers a more controlled fossil hunting environment that’s great for younger kids or first-timers. The Fossil Park here is a small outdoor dig site where families can search for Devonian fossils in shale delivered from a nearby quarry.
The museum provides tools and has interpretive signage to help identify different types of fossils. Admission to the museum also includes access to its planetarium, local history exhibits, and wildlife displays, making it easy to turn fossil hunting into a half-day of hands-on learning.
What to Pack for Besser Museum
- A small trowel or fossil brush (but tools are provided if forgotten)
- A small container to carry fossils
- Comfortable clothes for digging and exploring
- Museum entry fee or membership card
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Thompson’s Harbor State Park – Rogers City, MI
Just 30 minutes north of Alpena is Thompson’s Harbor State Park. This park has beautiful shoreline trails, wildflower meadows, and, yes, plenty of fossils. We spent a morning here looking for fossiliferous limestone along the shore of Lake Huron. While collecting is not permitted, it’s still fun to spot crinoid stems and brachiopods in the rock layers.
There’s no nature center, but interpretive panels along the trail offer insight into the geological formations. The park’s quiet trails also gave us a chance to do some birdwatching and burn off steam.
In nearby Rogers City, we stopped for lunch and visited the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. It has a shipwreck visible right from the beach- another bonus for little adventurers.
What to Pack for Thompson’s Harbor
- Binoculars and bird guide for the trails
- Trail map (limited cell signal in parts)
- A camera for documenting fossil finds
- Layers and jackets—the wind off the lake can be chilly
Petoskey State Park – Petoskey, MI
Fossil hunting in Petoskey revolves around one special stone: the Petoskey stone. These fossilized rugose corals date back over 350 million years and can be found along the shores of Lake Michigan. Petoskey State Park and nearby Magnus Park are two of the best public places to search, especially after storms or during low tide.
The Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau offers great info about when and where to hunt, and local shops sell polishing kits if kids want to shine up their treasures at home. We made a day of it by visiting the Little Traverse Historical Museum, which has a whole exhibit dedicated to Petoskey stones.
Downtown Petoskey also has bookstores, fudge shops, and the famous Gaslight Shopping District, which gives kids a break from the beach.
What to Pack for Petoskey
- Beach shoes or water shoes
- A mesh bag or sifter for shoreline searching
- Towel and extra clothes
- Snacks and cash for a fudge stop
Tips for a Successful Fossil Hunt
Michigan’s fossil sites are rich in prehistoric marine life from the Devonian period, and many are free or low-cost. We’ve learned over the years that the key to keeping kids engaged is a balance of exploring and hands-on discovery polished off with a bit of downtime nearby.
We always bring:
- A cooler of snacks and sandwiches
- Extra water bottles
- Small notebooks for sketching fossils
- A field guide to Michigan fossils (there are great kid-friendly versions)
Fossil hunting has given our family a new lens for looking at the world, and it’s become a tradition we return to each summer. Whether we’re picking through limestone in Alpena or scanning the Lake Michigan shore in Petoskey, it’s a simple way to connect, learn, and explore.
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