Mineral Wells Fossil Park: Crinoid Stem & Brachiopod Rockhounding in Palo Pinto County, Texas

Public accessBest spot5 mineralsPalo Pinto County, TexasUpdated June 2026

Minerals reported: 5
Elevation: 910 ft
Best months: September to May

Mineral Wells Fossil Park exposes Pennsylvanian marine shale roughly 300 million years old, where eroded slopes yield abundant crinoid stems, brachiopods, sea urchins, and bivalves. The City of Mineral Wells runs the site as a free public park, and visitors may keep what they find for personal use. It is one of the most accessible fossil-collecting sites in North Texas. Reported finds include crinoid stem, brachiopod, echinoid, bivalve, bryozoan. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: Palo Pinto County
State: Texas
Coordinates: 32.82572, -98.19038

Get directions View on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Access note: The park is at 2375 Indian Creek Road northwest of Mineral Wells and is free to enter and collect from during posted daylight hours. The dig area is open and shadeless with no water, so bring sun protection and use only small hand tools.

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.

Best time to visit Mineral Wells Fossil Park

58°J

62°F

71°M

78°A

85°M

92°J

96°J

96°A

89°S

79°O

67°N

59°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: September to May. Typical highs run 96°F in midsummer and 58°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 33°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, MINERAL WELLS AP station (8 mi away).

Geology at Mineral Wells Fossil Park

This spot sits on Terrace deposits, mapped as sand that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Terrace deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: sand
Elevation: 910 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

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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 Mineral Wells Fossil Park

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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Mineral Wells Fossil Park.

General Area N.E. Lake BridgeportWise County, Texas · 36 mi awayFossil
General AreaWise County, Texas · 47 mi awayPyrite Cube
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland (Black Creek Lake)Wise County, Texas · 47 mi awayFossilized Oyster, Agate, Petrified Wood
General AreaEllis County, Texas · 71 mi awayFossilized Shark Tooth
Sides of creekEllis County, Texas · 78 mi awayPyrite
S side of US 287Ellis County, Texas · 78 mi awayFossil Leaf Print
Brazos River at Brazos Park EastMcLennan County, Texas · 105 mi awayPetrified Wood, Agatized Wood, Agate
Limestone road cutsCoryell County, Texas · 106 mi awayTurritella Agate

Mineral Wells Fossil Park FAQ

Where is Mineral Wells Fossil Park?+

Mineral Wells Fossil Park is in Palo Pinto County, Texas, at 32.82572, -98.19038.

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

Mineral Wells Fossil Park is reported to produce Crinoid Stem, Brachiopod, Echinoid, Bivalve, Bryozoan.

Is collecting allowed at Mineral Wells 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.

What tools should I bring to Mineral Wells Fossil Park?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Mineral Wells Fossil Park?+

The most comfortable months at Mineral Wells Fossil Park are September to May. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

How do I get to Mineral Wells Fossil Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 32.82572, -98.19038 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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