Fiddle Creek Fossils

The extensive area of Carlile Shale offers an opportunity to enjoy the day splitting apart large sandstone boulders to reveal sheets that can be loaded with fossil ammonites and shells. 

When to visit: Spring, Fall, Winter (if dry).

What you can find: Ammonites, scaphites, fossil shells

What to bring: Rock hammer, chisels, pick axe, buckets, backpack, water, snacks.

Where to stay: The town of Edgemont is 20 minutes to the east and has hotels and food. Boondocks camping is permitted along BLM roads in this area.

Getting there: From Edgemont, South Dakota travel west on US-18 for 7.7 miles, then turn left onto Coffee Flats Rd. Drive 3 miles then turn left onto Fiddle Creek Rd. Drive another two miles until you see a dirt road on your left that is headed back northwest. (Site A) This is a good place to park to explore the area.

(Site A: 43°15’26.6″N 103°56’11.9″W)
(Site B: 43°15’31.7″N 103°56’13.8″W)

Rockhounding

Looking to your North from Site A. you will see that you are at the top of a fairly large ravine/canyon. Along the top rim of the canyon you will notice large sandstone boulders going in both directions. These boulders are where the ammonites and shells are hiding.  Look for boulders that don’t appear to have been worked yet, or if they have, look for any signs of shells in the layers of sandstone.  The boulders can be split apart in sheets along visible seams. Use a chisel and a hammer to loosen the sheets from the boulder mass and peal the layers apart with a pick axe. Some of the best ammonites I have found in this area were in boulders that had nothing showing. After peeling several sheets I was rewarded with a layer full of ammonites and fossils. There is a lot of land out here and it is still possible to find areas that have not been heavily hunted where ammonites that have eroded can be found on the open ground. Ammonites over 3 feet in diameter have been found in this area.

Gallery

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