Hueston Woods State Park — Rockhounding in Preble County, Ohio
Updated July 2026
Hueston Woods is one of the few Ohio state parks that permits fossil collecting, and it is regarded as one of the best places in the world to find Upper Ordovician fossils. Stream cuts and shoreline exposures around Acton Lake produce brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids, and trilobites weathered from the Cincinnatian bedrock. The most productive spots are the Four Mile Creek picnic area near the dam, the Covered Bridge area, and the stream cuts at the north end of the lake. Reported finds include fossils, trilobites, brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Hueston Woods State Park photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County, Ohio
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Preble County
- State
- Ohio
- Nearest road
- Four Mile Creek
- Postcode
- 45003
- Coordinates
- 39.58097, -84.74896
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 Hueston Woods State Park
Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.
- FossilsEncyclopedia →
- TrilobitesEncyclopedia →
- Brachiopods
- Bryozoans
- CrinoidsEncyclopedia →
Nearby rockhounding spots
Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Hueston Woods State Park.
- Trammel Fossil ParkTop pick in OhioHamilton County, Ohio · 28 mi awayFossils, Trilobites, Brachiopods
- MilfordHamilton County, Ohio · 37 mi awayDiamond
- Caesar Creek Lake SpillwayTop pick in OhioWarren County, Ohio · 37 mi awayFossils, Trilobites, Brachiopods
- Oakes Quarry ParkTop pick in OhioGreene County, Ohio · 43 mi awayFossils, Crinoids, Brachiopods
- Sinking SpringHighland County, Ohio · 81 mi awayHematite
- ChillicotheRoss County, Ohio · 90 mi awayPyrite
- ColumbusFranklin County, Ohio · 95 mi awayPyrite
- Delaware CountyDelaware County, Ohio · 99 mi awayPyrite
Across the state line from Hueston Woods State Park
Hueston Woods State Park is close enough to the Ohio border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.
- WeisburgTop pick in IndianaDearborn County, Indiana · 29 mi awayTrilobites
- New PointDecatur County, Indiana · 36 mi awayChalcopyrite
- NorristownShelby County, Indiana · 57 mi awayFluorescent Calcite, Fluorite, Marcasite
- ElizabethtownBartholomew County, Indiana · 62 mi awayFluorescent Calcite, Fluorite, Marcasite
- Williams CreekMarion County, Indiana · 77 mi awayAmethyst, Quartz
- GratzOwen County, Kentucky · 77 mi awayBarite, Calcite, Fluorite
Hueston Woods State Park FAQ
Why is Hueston Woods State Park one of the best rockhounding spots in Ohio?+
Where is Hueston Woods State Park?+
What rocks and minerals can you find at Hueston Woods State Park?+
Is collecting allowed at Hueston Woods State Park?+
How do I get to Hueston Woods State Park?+
More rockhounding in Ohio
See all 29 Ohio spots →Open Hueston Woods State Park on the map
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