Where to Find Fossils in South Dakota
5 mapped fossils rockhounding spots in South Dakota, across 4 counties. 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 — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for fossils
Other minerals to find in South Dakota
- Jasper in South Dakota9
- Chalcedony in South Dakota7
- Agate in South Dakota6
- Agatized Wood in South Dakota6
- Geodes in South Dakota4
- Gold in South Dakota4
- Amethyst in South Dakota3
- Arsenopyrite in South Dakota3
- Beryl in South Dakota3
- Calcite in South Dakota3
- Quartz in South Dakota3
- Silicified Wood in South Dakota3
Hunt fossils in South Dakota on the map
Open RockHoundR for live land overlays, weather, geology, and saved spots.
