Fossil Hunting in Alaska
Why Alaska?
Alaska is vast, wild, and geologically diverse, but fossil collecting here is an expedition-level endeavor. The North Slope holds Cretaceous marine and dinosaur-bearing deposits, including hadrosaur bones from the Prince Creek Formation, proof that dinosaurs lived in polar environments. Southeast Alaska’s coastal exposures reveal Jurassic ammonites and marine life. This is not a state for casual collecting, but for those willing to make the journey, the rewards are unlike anywhere else.
What You’ll Find
Cretaceous ammonites, bivalves, and gastropods dominate accessible marine deposits in south-central Alaska. The Matanuska Valley offers relatively reachable Cretaceous marine exposures. Along Kachemak Bay, Jurassic fossils weather out of coastal cliffs. Petrified wood and Tertiary plant fossils appear along interior river bluffs. Dinosaur material exists on the North Slope, but is strictly off-limits to amateur collectors and accessible only through research permits.
Best Time to Visit
June through August is the only practical window. Days are extremely long, giving you ample collecting time, but weather remains unpredictable. Coastal sites may be fogged in or storm-battered with little notice. River bluff sites require low water levels, typically mid to late summer. Snow can return by September at higher elevations.
Tips for Alaska Collecting
Alaska demands serious preparation. Bring bear spray, proper footwear, and plan for self-rescue since cell service is nonexistent at most sites. Many locations require bush planes, boats, or long hikes. Never collect alone. Tides in Southeast Alaska and Kachemak Bay are extreme, sometimes exceeding 25 feet. Always check tide tables and never let a rising tide trap you against a cliff. Weight limits on bush planes and boats mean you cannot haul out large specimens easily, so plan accordingly.
Collecting Sites
Matanuska River Valley
Free Public AccessPalmer, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Cretaceous marine sediments exposed along river cuts. Remote terrain requires preparation.
Kachemak Bay State Park
Free Public AccessHomer, Kenai Peninsula Borough
Jurassic and Cretaceous marine fossils in coastal exposures accessible by boat.
Yukon River Bluffs
Free Public AccessEagle, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
Tertiary plant fossils and petrified wood in eroding bluffs. Very remote, boat access required.
Legal Rules for Alaska
Collecting on federal land (BLM) is allowed for reasonable personal-use amounts of invertebrate and plant fossils. Vertebrate fossils require permits. National parks and monuments prohibit all fossil collecting. State lands allow limited personal collecting.
Read our full legal guide for federal laws and more details.
Key Geological Formations
- Prince Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous)
- Nanushuk Formation (Cretaceous)
- Yakutat Group (Jurassic-Cretaceous)