Best spot

Rockport Recreation Area: Fossil Hunting in Alpena County, Michigan

Updated August 2026

Rockport State Recreation Area opens a 300-acre former limestone quarry whose floor is scattered with Devonian fossils about 400 million years old, including Petoskey stones, Favosites honeycomb coral, brachiopods, and crinoids. It is one of the few Michigan state sites where the DNR openly invites visitors to keep up to 25 pounds of fossils per person each year. Pyrite also occurs in the quarry beds. Reported finds include petoskey stones, fossilized coral, brachiopods, crinoid stems, pyrite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Rockport Recreation Area photos

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

1 photo

A Devonian honeycomb coral (Favosites) fossil in limestone, like the fossils at the Rockport quarry

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Alpena County
State: Michigan
Nearest road: Old Grade Road
Coordinates: 45.20126, -83.39488

Geology at Rockport Recreation Area

This spot sits on Traverse Group, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 395 to 385 million years ago. Limestone like this typically forms in ancient seas, so marine fossils such as brachiopods, corals, and crinoids tend to weather out of fresh exposures.

Mapped unit: Traverse Group
Age: 395–385 Ma (Middle Devonian)
Rock types: limestone
Elevation: 600 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 Rockport Recreation Area

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 77°F in midsummer and 27°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ALPENA WWTP station (10 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Michigan DNR — Rockhounding rules
Michigan Geological Survey
Isle Royale National Park — Rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Rockport Recreation Area

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 Rockport Recreation Area.

Rockport Recreation Area FAQ

Where is Rockport Recreation Area?+

Rockport Recreation Area is in Alpena County, Michigan, at 45.20126, -83.39488. Nearest road: Old Grade Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Rockport Recreation Area?+

Rockport Recreation Area is reported to produce Petoskey Stones, Fossilized Coral, Brachiopods, Crinoid Stems, Pyrite, Petoskey Stone, Brachiopod, Horn Coral, Favosites, Cladopora, Bryozoan, Stromatoporoid, Gastropod, Trilobite, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Rockport Recreation Area?+

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 Rockport Recreation Area?+

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 Rockport Recreation Area?+

The most comfortable months at Rockport Recreation Area are April to October.

How do I get to Rockport Recreation Area?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 45.20126, -83.39488 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Old Grade Road.

More rockhounding in Michigan

See all 107 Michigan spots →

Open Rockport Recreation Area on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.