Where to Find Fossils in Alaska: 140 Mapped Sites
Alaska has 140 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are Adak Island loc. 1S, Alberto Island - 2031 (2013), and AR1, Anthracite Ridge. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 2 of the 140 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Alaska
All 140 fossils sites in Alaska. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Alaska
Fossils live in sedimentary rock — limestone, shale, and sandstone. Fresh exposures are everything: roadcuts, creek banks after storms, quarry spoil, and eroding badlands beat weathered outcrop every time.
The richest reported sites in Alaska: Adak Island loc. 1S, Alberto Island - 2031 (2013), AR1, Anthracite Ridge, Barrow (15937), Byers Bed.
Of the 140 sites, 2 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Alaska
- Adak Island loc. 1S — Other
- Alberto Island - 2031 (2013) — Other
- AR1, Anthracite Ridge — Other
- Barrow (15937) — Other
- Byers Bed — Other
- Cenotaph Island, Lituya Bay — Other
- Clam Island - 2030 (2012) — Other
- Clover Bay, Prince of Wales Island — Other
- Coronados Island — Other
- Dall Ridge, Gravina Island — Other
- East side of Suemez Island — Other
- Echooka River — Other
- English Bay (Coal Cove) — Other
- Five miles off Point March — Other
- Gravina Island — Other
- Hamilton Bay, Kupreanof Island — Other
- Hassler Harbor, Annette Island — Other
- Head of Saginaw Bay - 933 (2042) — Other
- Heceta and Tuxekan Islands - D2 — Other
- Ikpikpuk River Arctodus Site — Other
- Islet in Frederick Sound - 9543 — Other
- Islet west of Karheen - 1862 (2009) — Other
- JCH-1753, Kaguyak Bay — Other
- Katmai National Park — Other
- Kavik River Section E2, R4955 D — Other
- Keku Strait, Kuiu Island — Other
- Kongakut Fm - USGS M5817 — Other
- Kotzebue Sound — Public Access
- Kuiu Island, northern part - S2 — Other
- Kuk inlet at Pugnik Beach — Other
- Kwain Bay, Annette Island - 2685 — Other
- Lava camp mine — Other
- Lituya (M6526 — Other
- Lituya (M6527 — Other
- Lituya (M6528) — Other
- Locality 10197, Keku Islet 1 — Other
- Locality 10241, Chulitna River — Other
- Locality 10304 (30B), Canning River — Other
- Locality 6312, Nikolai Creek — Other
- Long Island, Kasaan Bay, D-S1 — Other
- Lost River USGS D1067 CO — Other
- Lost River USGS D901 CO — Other
- Meade Point, Kuiu Island — Other
- MEM-2, Kamishak Hills — Other
- Michigan Creek, Yukon River — Other
- Milky River headwaters — Other
- Mole Harbor, Admiralty Island — Other
- Naukati Bay - 1719 (2031) — Other
- Nelson Point — Other
- Ninuluk — Other
Showing 50 of 140 sites — every site appears on the map above.
How to Identify Fossils
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
Not sure what you found? Try our identification guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find fossils in Alaska?
Alaska has 140 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are Adak Island loc. 1S, Alberto Island - 2031 (2013), and AR1, Anthracite Ridge. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Alaska?
We have 140 documented fossils sites in Alaska, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Alaska?
Casual collecting is generally allowed on BLM and National Forest land for personal, non-commercial use — the standard BLM limit is 25 lbs per day plus one specimen. National parks, monuments, and many state parks prohibit collecting, and private land always requires the owner's permission. Check the site report for each location and verify current land status before you dig.
How do I identify fossil?
Look for biological structure the rock around it lacks: shell curves and growth lines, the spongy honeycomb interior of bone, leaf veins, ribbed corals, or the segmented symmetry of a trilobite. Fossils usually contrast with their matrix in color or density. Bone that has mineralized feels heavier than fresh bone and often shows a polished brown-black surface.
What should I bring to collect fossils?
The basics: a rock hammer, safety glasses, gloves, a bucket or padded bag for specimens, and a GPS app with the coordinates from this page. Add a spray bottle — wetting a stone makes color and banding far easier to judge in the field.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
More to Find in Alaska
Data: Paleobiology Database, community submissions — reviewed and approved by the Rockhounding.org Research Team. Always verify current land status, regulations, and access before visiting any site.