Montour Preserve Fossil Pit
Danville, Pennsylvania
brachiopodspelecypodscrinoid stemsbryozoanscoralsgastropodscephalopodstrilobite fossils
Public land, rules apply · Free
Montour Preserve Fossil Pit
The Montour Area Recreation Commission keeps a Devonian shale pit open specifically so the public can collect — free, dawn to dark, year-round, and you keep what you find. The shale formed some 390 million years ago when Pennsylvania lay beneath a warm shallow sea, and it is thick with brachiopods, pelecypods and crinoid stems; trilobites are the prize that keeps people coming back. The preserve publishes a recommended kit: a small geologist's hammer, soft brush, goggles, a bucket, and newspaper for wrapping specimens.
The card catalog
| What you can find | brachiopods, pelecypods, crinoid stems, bryozoans, corals, gastropods, cephalopods, trilobite fossils |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free; admission is free, no permit is required, and visitors may keep any fossils they find. |
| Season & hours | Open dawn to dark, year-round. The exposed shale gets quite hot to the touch by mid-afternoon in summer, so mornings are far more pleasant. Pets are not permitted at the pit. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Fossils are dense enough that children find something within minutes, but the preserve asks that children be closely supervised. Broken shale is particularly sharp and there is no shade — long pants, sturdy footwear, safety goggles and plenty of water. |
| Official source | Montour Preserve (Montour Area Recreation Commission) |
| 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 Montour Preserve Fossil Pit cost?
Free; admission is free, no permit is required, and visitors may keep any fossils they find. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Montour Preserve Fossil Pit open?
Open dawn to dark, year-round. The exposed shale gets quite hot to the touch by mid-afternoon in summer, so mornings are far more pleasant. Pets are not permitted at the pit. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Montour Preserve Fossil Pit good for kids?
Yes — Montour Preserve Fossil Pit works for families. Fossils are dense enough that children find something within minutes, but the preserve asks that children be closely supervised. Broken shale is particularly sharp and there is no shade — long pants, sturdy footwear, safety goggles and plenty of water.