Introductory Video
What to Wear
- Spring/Summer Months (March to August) – Wear shorts that you do not mind getting wet or dirty. The creek is deeper than expected and reaches mid-thigh height on an average day for someone around 5’5″. Short sleeve shirts or tank tops will be fine but then again, they might get wet or dirty.
- Autumn/Winter Months (September to February) – Wear leggings or field pants that you do not mind getting wet or dirty. A long sleeve shirt will do, but it will also get wet or dirty especially when reaching down to get fossils. Long sleeves that can roll up easily would probably be best.
- Water shoes (Chacos, Tevas, Crocs, etc.) are also recommended. Flip flops or Birkenstocks could easily slip off, so make sure there is a secure strap on the shoe. A change of clothes and/or towels can also be helpful, especially if you have a long drive ahead.
Local Weather Resource and Shading
The creek itself is relatively shaded by trees and a bridge that goes over a section of the creek. The creek is also cool/cold on most days which can help with hot days. There is also a shaded area with benches (the Fossilarium), which is pictured above.
Link to local weather channel:
What to bring
Bucket/baggie – To store your fossils after collection- Waterproof bag- You tend to get wet so better be safe than sorry, a waterproof case or a bag can save you when you least expect it.
- Shovel/scooper- This is an essential if you plan to sieve for your fossils it makes scooping up sediment much easier than by hand. Any type of shovel will do, we recommend a plastic beach shovel as they are economical and float in the water incase you drop it.
- Sieve- Bringing a sieve to your fossil hunt will greatly improve your experience as it makes quick work of finding the more common fossils on site. Pasta strainers make great sieves in a pinch but for our more ambitious paleontologist out there we recommend making a DIY sieve at home. A short tutorial for how to make one can be found in the links below.
Tips to find Fossils
- Dig around the base of the rocks- This is where a bunch of material gets caught, and that also means this is where most of the fossils have been settled.
- Take your time- Many of the fossils found are hard to spot at first. Taking your time to carefully look through your material before dumping it back into the creek.
- Coloring- The coloring of many fossils found is actually much darker than the sediment or rocks brought up in most cases. Keep a sharp eye out for the darker coloration of fossils.
Accessibility and Parking
- The creek is at a lower elevation compared to the parking area; therefore, it might not be accessible to everyone. There is a trail and handrail leading down to the creek, but for those in wheelchairs, crutches, etc. it might be difficult to go down the trail.
- Parking is limited, so the limit for large school buses should be around two or three. Other visitors need room to park, so be sure to park smartly and leave room for other vehicles.