Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas
Oxford, Ohio
brachiopodsbryozoanshorn coraltrilobitescephalopodscrinoids
State park dig · Free
Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas
Hueston Woods is the unusual Ohio state park that lets you take fossils home, because its thin-bedded Ordovician limestone and shale erode so freely that specimens simply lie loose on the ground. Ohio's Geological Survey lists it among the state's public fossil collecting sites, with the instruction to check with a naturalist before you start. The Four Mile Creek picnic area below the dam and the covered bridge stretch are the productive spots for brachiopods, bryozoans, horn coral, and the occasional trilobite. Most Ohio state parks forbid removing anything natural, so this exception does not travel.
The card catalog
| What you can find | brachiopods, bryozoans, horn coral, trilobites, cephalopods, crinoids |
|---|---|
| Access | State park dig — Free |
| Fees | Free — Ohio state parks charge no entry fee, and no permit is needed to collect here. Ohio's Geological Survey attaches one instruction to the site: check with a naturalist before collecting. The nature center is where to do that; the park office is (513) 523-6347. |
| Season & hours | Year-round in daylight hours. Four Mile Creek runs low and readable from late summer into fall, which is when the streambed exposures work best. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Very good family fossil hunting — the thin-bedded limestone splits easily and specimens lie loose along the creek. Creek walking means wet feet and slick rock, so water shoes. Stop at the nature center first; a naturalist will tell you exactly which areas are currently open, which matters more here than at most sites. |
| Official source | Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Ohio Geological Survey |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
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Before you go
What does Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas cost?
Free — Ohio state parks charge no entry fee, and no permit is needed to collect here. Ohio's Geological Survey attaches one instruction to the site: check with a naturalist before collecting. The nature center is where to do that; the park office is (513) 523-6347. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas open?
Year-round in daylight hours. Four Mile Creek runs low and readable from late summer into fall, which is when the streambed exposures work best. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas good for kids?
Yes — Hueston Woods State Park Fossil Areas works for families. Very good family fossil hunting — the thin-bedded limestone splits easily and specimens lie loose along the creek. Creek walking means wet feet and slick rock, so water shoes. Stop at the nature center first; a naturalist will tell you exactly which areas are currently open, which matters more here than at most sites.