🦴 Fossils For All

Fossil Hunting in Arizona

intermediate friendly Petrified woodBrachiopodsCrinoid stemsHorn coralsTrilobites

Arizona’s dramatic desert landscape exposes billions of years of geological history, from Precambrian basement rocks to Triassic petrified forests. While the most famous site prohibits collecting, the surrounding public lands still offer rewarding finds.

Why Arizona?

Arizona sits at a geological crossroads. The Grand Canyon alone exposes nearly two billion years of Earth history. During the Permian period, a shallow sea covered northern Arizona, depositing the fossil-rich Kaibab Limestone. By the Triassic, river systems carried massive conifers that were buried and silicified into the vivid petrified wood the state is famous for. The vast expanses of BLM desert land make Arizona one of the better western states for legal petrified wood collecting.

What You’ll Find

Triassic petrified wood (Chinle Formation, ~225 million years old):

  • Colorful silicified logs and fragments, often with stunning reds, yellows, and purples
  • Collectible on BLM land outside the national park

Permian marine fossils (Kaibab Formation, ~270 million years old):

  • Brachiopods, crinoid stems, bryozoans, and sponge fossils
  • Visible throughout northern Arizona’s rim country

Mississippian-Pennsylvanian marine fossils (~320-340 million years old):

  • Crinoid columnals, brachiopods, and horn corals in central Arizona road cuts

Best Time to Visit

  • October through April: Comfortable desert temperatures for fieldwork
  • Avoid summer: Extreme heat (often above 110F) makes collecting dangerous
  • After monsoon season (September-October): Erosion uncovers fresh material

Tips for Arizona Collecting

  1. Do not collect in national parks — fines at Petrified Forest start at $325 and can reach $5,000+
  2. Carry abundant water — desert dehydration is the biggest safety hazard
  3. GPS your BLM collecting spots — ensure you are outside park and tribal boundaries
  4. Bring sun protection — hat, sunscreen, and long sleeves are essential
  5. Check for rattlesnakes — watch where you put your hands and feet when turning over rocks

Collecting Sites

Petrified Forest National Park

Public (Fee)

Navajo and Apache Counties

World-famous for its spectacular Triassic petrified logs. Collecting is strictly prohibited — even picking up a small chip carries heavy fines. Visit for the scenery and education, then collect elsewhere.

Petrified wood (viewing only)Triassic reptile fossils (viewing only)

BLM Land near Holbrook

Free Public Access

Holbrook, Navajo County

BLM-administered lands outside the national park boundary allow casual collection of petrified wood — up to 25 pounds per day for personal use. Quality varies but colorful specimens are found regularly.

Petrified wood

Kaibab Formation Exposures

Public (Fee)

Northern Arizona / Grand Canyon rim

The Permian Kaibab Limestone at the Grand Canyon rim contains abundant marine fossils visible in trail-side rocks. Collecting is prohibited inside the national park, but equivalent exposures on surrounding national forest and BLM land may yield loose specimens.

BrachiopodsCrinoid stemsSpongesBryozoans

Payson Area Road Cuts

Free Public Access

Payson, Gila County

Road cuts through Paleozoic limestone along Highway 87 and surrounding areas expose Mississippian and Pennsylvanian marine fossils including brachiopods and crinoid columnals.

BrachiopodsCrinoid stemsHorn corals

Legal Rules for Arizona

Collecting any material — including fossils and petrified wood — inside Petrified Forest National Park or Grand Canyon National Park is strictly illegal with severe penalties. On BLM land, casual collecting of petrified wood is limited to 25 lbs/day and 250 lbs/year for personal, non-commercial use. Common invertebrate and plant fossils may be collected on BLM land. Vertebrate fossils require permits on all federal land. Collecting on tribal land (Navajo Nation, Hopi Reservation, etc.) is prohibited without tribal permission.

Read our full legal guide for federal laws and more details.

Key Geological Formations

  • Chinle Formation (Triassic)
  • Kaibab Formation (Permian)
  • Redwall Limestone (Mississippian)
  • Supai Group (Pennsylvanian-Permian)

Local Fossil Clubs & Museums