Where to Find Fossils in New Jersey
New Jersey has 7 mapped collecting spots that report fossils, spread across 2 counties. The largest share sits in Monmouth County with 5 spots. 7 of the spots are on land mapped as publicly accessible.
Map of 7 fossils collecting spots in New Jersey
Standout fossils spots in New Jersey
Hand-picked from the full list below, with the reason each one earns a trip.
Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park
Gloucester County
The Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park preserves a former marl quarry whose bone bed sits right at the 66-million-year-old end-Cretaceous extinction boundary.
Big Brook Park
Monmouth County
Big Brook is New Jersey's best known free fossil stream, cutting Late Cretaceous marine beds of the Navesink Formation that are roughly 70 million years old.
Poricy Park Fossil Beds
Monmouth County
Poricy Brook exposes the same Late Cretaceous Navesink Formation as nearby Big Brook, and its fossil beds are among the most accessible in the state.
Ramanessin Brook
Monmouth County
Ramanessin Brook is a quieter alternative to Big Brook and Poricy, draining the same Late Cretaceous Monmouth Group marine sequence in Holmdel.
Shark River
Monmouth County
Shark River is named for the fossil shark teeth found where it cuts middle Eocene marine beds, notably the Shark River and Manasquan formations, roughly 45 million years old.
Best counties for fossils in New Jersey
Ranked by the number of mapped fossils spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.
Every fossils spot we track in New Jersey
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil ParkVeterans Memorial Highway | Gloucester County | 39.7622, -75.1274 | Public | |
| Mullica HillMullica Hill Road | Gloucester County | 39.7331, -75.2202 | Public | |
| Big Brook ParkBoundary Road | Monmouth County | 40.3060, -74.2560 | Public | |
| Manasquan | Monmouth County | 40.1127, -74.0318 | Public | |
| Poricy Park Fossil BedsOak Hill Road | Monmouth County | 40.3760, -74.1170 | Public | |
| Ramanessin BrookMcCampbell Road | Monmouth County | 40.3720, -74.1830 | Public | |
| Shark RiverWest Dianne Drive | Monmouth County | 40.2002, -74.0728 | Public |
Fossils in New Jersey FAQ
Where can you find fossils in New Jersey?+
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Where else to find fossils
More minerals to hunt in New Jersey
Hunt fossils in New Jersey with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.
