Trammel Fossil Park
Sharonville, Ohio
brachiopodsbryozoanshorn coralgastropodscrinoidstrilobite fragments
Public land, rules apply · Free
Trammel Fossil Park
Sharonville set aside a hillside of Ordovician shale and limestone more than 440 million years old and simply let people collect it — free, daily, dawn to dusk, no permit required. The slopes shed brachiopods, bryozoans, and horn coral continuously, so an overnight rain does most of the searching for you. Interpretive signs help you name what you are holding, and the trail up the hill pays off with a Cincinnati skyline view.
The card catalog
| What you can find | brachiopods, bryozoans, horn coral, gastropods, crinoids, trilobite fragments |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free, with no permit, no reservation, and no entrance fee. Visitors keep the fossils they find. Follow whatever limits are posted on site. |
| Season & hours | Open daily, dawn to dusk, year-round. Portable toilets and a hand-washing station operate April through November only; picnic tables and a drinking fountain are on site. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Excellent with kids — fossils weather loose out of the slopes continuously, so the finding starts immediately. The hillside is steep in places, so keep the group on the loose material at the base and on the trail, and follow the posted rules about working the slope itself. |
| Official source | City of Sharonville, Ohio |
| 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 Trammel Fossil Park cost?
Free, with no permit, no reservation, and no entrance fee. Visitors keep the fossils they find. Follow whatever limits are posted on site. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Trammel Fossil Park open?
Open daily, dawn to dusk, year-round. Portable toilets and a hand-washing station operate April through November only; picnic tables and a drinking fountain are on site. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Trammel Fossil Park good for kids?
Yes — Trammel Fossil Park works for families. Excellent with kids — fossils weather loose out of the slopes continuously, so the finding starts immediately. The hillside is steep in places, so keep the group on the loose material at the base and on the trail, and follow the posted rules about working the slope itself.