Where to Find Fossils in Illinois
4 mapped fossils rockhounding spots in Illinois, across 4 counties. Fossil collecting on most BLM and Forest Service land is allowed for invertebrate and plant fossils, with limits.
Map of 4 fossils rockhounding spots in Illinois
Fossils by county in Illinois
Counties ranked by number of fossils spots in our database.
Every fossils spot in Illinois
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazon River | Grundy County | 41.2934, -88.3667 | Public | |
| NiotaNorth Morman Springs Road | Hancock County | 40.6118, -91.3065 | Public | |
| Terre Haute1100E | Henderson County | 40.6558, -90.9800 | Public | |
| SpartaUnion Road | Randolph County | 38.0778, -89.7285 | Public |
Fossils in Illinois FAQ
Where can I find fossils in Illinois?+
RockHoundR tracks 4 fossils spots in Illinois, spread across 4 counties. The strongest concentration is in Grundy County.
Is collecting fossils legal in Illinois?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like fossils is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Illinois, 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 Illinois?+
Grundy County has the most fossils spots in our database for Illinois. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for fossils
Hunt fossils in Illinois on the map
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