Where to Find Fossils in South Dakota
5 mapped fossils rockhounding spots in South Dakota, across 4 counties. Most of the mapped spots sit in Custer County, Meade County, and Pennington County. Fossil collecting on most BLM and Forest Service land is allowed for invertebrate and plant fossils, with limits.
Map of 5 fossils rockhounding spots in South Dakota
Fossils by county in South Dakota
Counties ranked by number of fossils spots in our database.
Every fossils spot in South Dakota
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hell CanyonHell Canyon Trail | Custer County | 43.7494, -103.8421 | Public | |
| Pleasant Valley Creek | Custer County | 43.5552, -103.7211 | Public | |
| Summerset | Meade County | 44.2046, -103.3313 | Public | |
| Rapid CityPurple Heart Memorial Highway | Pennington County |
| 44.0943, -102.5015 | Public |
| MissionSoldier Creek Road | Todd County | 43.3066, -100.8828 | Public |
Fossils in South Dakota FAQ
Where can I find fossils in South Dakota?+
RockHoundR tracks 5 fossils spots in South Dakota, spread across 4 counties. The strongest concentration is in Custer County.
Is collecting fossils legal in South Dakota?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like fossils is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in South Dakota, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best fossils location in South Dakota?+
Custer County has the most fossils spots in our database for South Dakota. The full county breakdown is below, and different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for fossils
Other minerals to find in South Dakota
Hunt fossils in South Dakota on the map
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