Where to Find Fossils in Washington: 141 Mapped Sites
Washington has 141 documented sites where fossils have been reported, and the best-known are Lebam, Addy, and Ayer Pond . 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 141 sites are on public-access land.
Last updated: — data compiled by the Rockhounding.org Research Team · methodology
Fossils Map: Washington
All 141 fossils sites in Washington. Click a pin for the full site report.
Where Fossils Are Found in Washington
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 Washington: Lebam, Addy, Ayer Pond , Barnes Island, Blaney Creek.
Of the 141 sites, 2 are public access. Check each site report for current land status before you go.
All Fossils Sites in Washington
- Lebam — Public Access
- Addy — Other
- Ayer Pond — Other
- Barnes Island — Other
- Blaney Creek — Other
- Brick Pit, Spokane — Other
- Cedar Hollow — Other
- Cheney mammoth — Other
- Coal Creek, north — Other
- Coal Creek, north — Other
- Coal Creek, north — Other
- Coal Creek, north — Other
- CSUN 1578 — Other
- Deep Creek — Other
- Deep Creek Canyon — Other
- East Fork Bridge — Other
- East of Neah Bay — Other
- Elaeson Well — Other
- Fiddlers Bluff — Other
- Fossil Creek — Other
- Frankfort, east — Other
- Ilwaco Point, east — Other
- Kelly Hill K-376 — Other
- Kelly Hill K-445 — Other
- Kelly Hill K-448 — Other
- Knappton Mill — Other
- Knappton, near — Other
- LACMIP 16940 — Other
- LACMIP 16941 — Other
- LACMIP 6132 — Other
- LACMIP 6295 — Other
- LACMVP 5412 — Other
- LACMVP 5984 — Other
- Lincoln Creek Station west — Other
- Little Falls — Other
- Little Sucia Island — Other
- loc4, 61E — Other
- loc5, 69B — Other
- loc6, JA2923 — Other
- loc8, GIA FD — Other
- Manis Mastodon Site — Other
- Murdock Creek — Other
- Naselle, near — Other
- Neah Bay — Other
- N. Pac. 167 — Other
- Penawawa, Whitman County — Other
- Pine Creek, Whitman County — Other
- Point Grenville/Taholah — Other
- Port Crescent, west — Other
- Porter Creek, near Porter — Other
Showing 50 of 141 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 Washington?
Washington has 141 mapped sites where fossils have been reported. The best-known are Lebam, Addy, and Ayer Pond . Each listing on the map above includes GPS coordinates, access type, and what has been found there.
How many fossils sites are mapped in Washington?
We have 141 documented fossils sites in Washington, compiled from community submissions and published locality records and reviewed by the Rockhounding.org Research Team.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Washington?
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.
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.