This Michigan Park Lets You Hunt for 400 Million-Year-Old Fossils

You don’t have to go to a museum to see ancient fossils…you can actually find them yourself right here in Michigan.

There’s actually a spot in the state where you can walk along the shoreline and find fossils that date back hundreds of millions of years. The cool part is that most people have no idea it even exists.

Where Can You Hunt for Fossils in Michigan?

It’s called Rockport State Recreation Area, and it sits along Lake Huron up in Alpena County.

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According to Ever After in the Woods, this place used to be a working limestone quarry, but now it’s open to the public. Instead of heavy equipment, you’ve got shoreline, broken rock, and layers of history just sitting there waiting to be picked up.

What Fossils Can You Find at Rockport State Recreation Area?

This is the part that makes it worth the drive…

You can find fossils that date back roughly 400 million years, from when Michigan was covered by a shallow sea.

We’re talking corals, brachiopods, and other ancient marine life—and a lot of the time, they’re just sitting right on the surface.

Are You Allowed to Keep Fossils You Find in Michigan?

You can, but don’t go crazy.

The park allows limited collecting for personal use, so you can take a few pieces home. Just stick to loose rocks and use some common sense.

You’re allowed to collect up to about 25 pounds per year, which is honestly more than anyone really would ever need.