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Calvert Cliffs State Park: Fossil Hunting in Calvert County, Maryland

Updated July 2026

The cliffs here expose the Miocene Calvert Formation, roughly 8 to 18 million years old, one of the richest marine fossil beds on the East Coast. Fossil shark teeth, including large Carcharocles megalodon teeth, along with ray plates, whale and dolphin bone, and the scallop Chesapecten, erode from the cliffs and gather on the beach. The Maryland Geological Survey lists Calvert Cliffs among the state's premier fossil-collecting shorelines. Reported finds include fossils, shark teeth. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Calvert Cliffs State Park photos

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

1 photo

Fossil-bearing cliffs and beach along the Chesapeake Bay at Calvert Cliffs State Park, Calvert County, Maryland

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Calvert County
State: Maryland
Nearest road: Juliet Low Trail
Postcode: 20657
Coordinates: 38.40699, -76.41204

Geology at Calvert Cliffs State Park

This spot sits on Chesapeake Group; Choptank Formation, mapped as sand and silt that formed roughly 23 to 5 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: Chesapeake Group; Choptank Formation
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: sand and silt
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 Calvert Cliffs State Park

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 45°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SOLOMONS station (6 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 Calvert Cliffs State Park

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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Calvert Cliffs State Park.

Across the state line from Calvert Cliffs State Park

Calvert Cliffs State Park is close enough to the Maryland border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Calvert Cliffs State Park FAQ

Where is Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

Calvert Cliffs State Park is in Calvert County, Maryland, at 38.40699, -76.41204. Nearest road: Juliet Low Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

Calvert Cliffs State Park is reported to produce Fossils, Shark Teeth.

Is collecting allowed at Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

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 Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

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 Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

Calvert Cliffs State Park is workable year-round.

How do I get to Calvert Cliffs State Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.40699, -76.41204 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Juliet Low Trail.

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