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Chesapeake & Delaware Canal: Fossil Hunting in New Castle County, Delaware

Updated July 2026

The dredge spoil banks along the north side of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal are Delaware's most famous fossil ground, cutting into roughly 70-million-year-old Cretaceous marl of the Mount Laurel and Merchantville formations. This is where the state fossil, the belemnite Belemnitella americana, weathers out alongside Exogyra oysters, clam and snail molds, and the occasional shark tooth or marine reptile fragment. Nothing else in Delaware matches its scientific pedigree, documented by the Delaware Geological Survey for generations. The public Michael N. Castle Trail runs the length of the north bank, with trailheads at St. Georges and Delaware City. Reported finds include fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

The St. Georges Bridge over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in New Castle County, Delaware, near the Michael N. Castle Trail where the Cretaceous fossil spoil banks lie.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: New Castle County
State: Delaware
Postcode: 19706
Coordinates: 39.55845, -75.58981

Geology at Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

This spot sits on Mt. Laurel-Navesink Formation, mapped as silt and sand that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.

Mapped unit: Mt. Laurel-Navesink Formation
Age: 145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
Rock types: silt and sand
Elevation: 30 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.

Best time to visit Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

Best months: March to December. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WILMINGTON NEW CASTLE CO AP station (8 mi away).

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.

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.

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

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

Fossils Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

Across the state line from Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is close enough to the Delaware border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal FAQ

Where is Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is in New Castle County, Delaware, at 39.55845, -75.58981.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is reported to produce Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

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 Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

The most comfortable months at Chesapeake & Delaware Canal are March to December.

How do I get to Chesapeake & Delaware Canal?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.55845, -75.58981 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Delaware

See all 13 Delaware spots →

Open Chesapeake & Delaware Canal on the map

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