Where to Find Fossils in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 5 mapped collecting spots that report fossils, spread across 5 counties. 4 of the spots are on land mapped as publicly accessible.
Every fossil spot we track in Wisconsin
Best spotLime Kiln ParkOzaukee County, WisconsinPublic access · Fossil, Coral, Crinoid +1
Best spotRacineRacine County, WisconsinPublic access · Fossil, Calcite, Marcasite
OshkoshWaushara County, WisconsinPublic access · Calcite, Galena, Marcasite +3
Red Arrow BeachManitowoc County, WisconsinPublic access · Honeycomb Coral, Favosites, Chain Coral +3
Bluffs of Miss. RiverLa Crosse County, WisconsinPermission required · Lake Superior Agate, Jasper, Diamond +1
Standout fossil spots in Wisconsin
Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.
Lime Kiln Park
Ozaukee County
Lime Kiln Park near Grafton preserves two small Silurian reefs in the walls of a former limestone quarry along the Milwaukee River.
Racine
Racine County
Quarry Lake Park in Racine exposes the Silurian Racine Formation dolomite, part of the reef complex recognized as among the first fossil coral reefs described in North America.
Best counties for fossils in Wisconsin
Ranked by the number of mapped fossil spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.
- La Crosse County1 spot
- Manitowoc County1 spot
- Ozaukee County1 spot
- Racine County1 spot
- Waushara County1 spot
Fossils in Wisconsin FAQ
Where can you find fossils in Wisconsin?+
The mapped spots concentrate in La Crosse County, Manitowoc County, and Ozaukee County. Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many fossil spots are mapped in Wisconsin?+
5 spots across 5 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect fossils in Wisconsin?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 4 of the 5 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.
