Where to Find Fossils in Ohio: 87 Mapped Sites
Ohio has 87 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are Sandusky, Genoa, and Maple Grove Quarry. Every site is mapped below with GPS coordinates and links to a full report of access and what's been found there. 5 of the 87 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Ohio
All 87 fossils sites in Ohio. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Ohio
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 Ohio: Sandusky, Genoa, Maple Grove Quarry, Clay Center limestone quarry, 03-CCO-AA.
Of the 87 sites, 5 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Ohio
- Sandusky — Public Access
- Genoa — Public Access
- Maple Grove Quarry — Public Access
- Clay Center limestone quarry — Public Access
- 03-CCO-AA — Other
- 03-W42-A — Other
- 04-BP4-A — Other
- 04-BRB-A — Other
- 04-CCU-AA — Other
- 04-CDE-A — Other
- 04-FF-AA — Other
- 04-GWC-A — Other
- 04-LPS-A — Other
- 04-LTC-A — Other
- 04-TYC-A — Other
- Allandale — Other
- At-9. Road cut along the southwest side of Ohio 13. 1.3 kilometers north of Glouster — Other
- Bald Point — Other
- Barberton Test Core 3, Chagrin Shale — Other
- Bed 5 Plum Creek, 1.25 miles east of Deep Cut, 2 miles northeast of Prout Statio — Other
- Berea — Other
- Bethel (1) — Other
- Bowerston — Other
- Bridge Gully, Layer C11. Near Mt. Perry Iron Bridge. Mt. Perry-Fultonham — Other
- Buck Run — Other
- Buzzard rock shelter — Other
- Caesars Creek Lake, southwestern Ohio, Waynesville Formation, T. duseri shale — Other
- CAr-2. Spoils bank at James Brothers strip mine on the south side of Huff Run, a — Other
- Cc-1. Exposure west of middle fork of Little Beaver Creek and south of road — Other
- Columbus — Other
- Covered exposure on 0hio Rte. 13 just south of intersection with Interstate 71 — Other
- Cs-9. Abandoned shaft mine along Middle fork, Little Beaver Creek, and Erie RR — Other
- Eagle Creek — Other
- East bank of the Muskingum River about one-half mile north of Symmes Ford — Other
- Edgewood — Other
- Erie Ave — Other
- Eurypterid-Associated Biota of the Tymochtee Formation, Fayette County, Ohio — Other
- Exposure along Chippewa Creek & tributaries, above 0hio Rte. 82, Brecksville — Other
- Exposure in railroad cut near Wortman Iron Bridge over Jonathan Creek — Other
- Faber Ave — Other
- Feurt Village site — Other
- Flat Run — Other
- Gano RR Cut — Other
- Granville — Other
- Healey Creek Exposure, near bridge on Boston Rd, 2.6 km east of Bennetts Corners — Other
- Hoc-3. Abandoned strip mine at NE corner of road junction at elevation 1014, E of Ohio Hy. 93, northeast of Baltic, Auburn Tp. — Other
- Hs-3. Slump behind the county garage., 0.8 kilometers south of Union Furnace Post Office. — Other
- Huffman Quarry ¾ miles southeast of the Insane Asylum, southeastern Dayton — Other
- Jonah's Run — Other
- LIho-4. along the north-south road ~ 0.8 km north of former Fairview School and south of BR 1085 — Other
Showing 50 of 87 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 Ohio?
Ohio has 87 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are Sandusky, Genoa, and Maple Grove Quarry. Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Ohio?
We have 87 documented fossils sites in Ohio, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Ohio?
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 Ohio
Fossils in Nearby States
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.