Best spot

Ladonia Fossil Park — Rockhounding in Fannin County, Texas

The North Sulphur River channel at Ladonia cuts into Late Cretaceous marine beds that yield shark teeth, mosasaur teeth and bone, ammonites, and Exogyra oysters. The Upper Trinity Regional Water District operates the site as a free public fossil park, and what visitors find is theirs to keep. Mosasaur material is among the more common vertebrate finds. Reported finds include fossilized shark teeth, ammonites, mosasaur teeth, fossilized oysters, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Ladonia Fossil Park photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

A Cretaceous shark tooth (Squalicorax) in matrix, like the fossil shark teeth found at Ladonia

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Fannin County
State: Texas
Coordinates: 33.43410, -95.92000

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Bureau of Economic Geology — Texas geology
Big Bend National Park — Rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Ladonia Fossil Park

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Fossilized Shark TeethEncyclopedia →
AmmonitesEncyclopedia →
Mosasaur Teeth
Fossilized Oysters
Petrified Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Ladonia Fossil Park.

Across the state line from Ladonia Fossil Park

Ladonia Fossil Park is close enough to the Texas border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Ladonia Fossil Park FAQ

Why is Ladonia Fossil Park one of the best rockhounding spots in Texas?+

Where is Ladonia Fossil Park?+

Ladonia Fossil Park is in Fannin County, Texas, at 33.43410, -95.92000.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Ladonia Fossil Park?+

Ladonia Fossil Park is reported to produce Fossilized Shark Teeth, Ammonites, Mosasaur Teeth, Fossilized Oysters, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Ladonia Fossil Park?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

How do I get to Ladonia Fossil Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 33.43410, -95.92000 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote — check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Texas

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Open Ladonia Fossil Park on the map

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