Fossil Park, Sylvania
Sylvania, Ohio
brachiopodshorn coraltrilobitesbryozoanscrinoidspyritized fossils
Public land, rules apply · Free
Fossil Park, Sylvania
A pocket of Devonian shale in a retired quarry that Sylvania's park system opened as a place where anyone can dig and keep everything they find. Tools are prohibited on purpose — the shale breaks apart in your fingers, which is both the whole appeal and the reason this works for six-year-olds. Brachiopods, horn coral, and bryozoans are common; trilobites reward whoever is willing to sit in one spot longest.
The card catalog
| What you can find | brachiopods, horn coral, trilobites, bryozoans, crinoids, pyritized fossils |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free — parking, admission, and fossil hunting all cost nothing, and you keep whatever you find. |
| Season & hours | The digging quarry runs mid-April through October, opening 8:30 a.m. daily and closing on a sliding schedule: 6 p.m. in April, 7 p.m. in May, 7:30 p.m. in June and July, 7 p.m. in August, 6 p.m. in September, 5:30 p.m. in October. The parking lot and restrooms run year-round from 8 a.m. to 90 minutes before sunset, with holiday closures including July 1-5. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — One of the best first fossil trips anywhere in the Midwest. Hammers, picks, and shovels are banned because the shale is soft enough to break with bare hands, so nobody is swinging anything. Stay inside the designated hunting area and off the perimeter fence. Bring a soft brush, a container, and a hat, because there is no shade. |
| Official source | The Olander Park System, City of Sylvania |
| 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 Fossil Park, Sylvania cost?
Free — parking, admission, and fossil hunting all cost nothing, and you keep whatever you find. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Fossil Park, Sylvania open?
The digging quarry runs mid-April through October, opening 8:30 a.m. daily and closing on a sliding schedule: 6 p.m. in April, 7 p.m. in May, 7:30 p.m. in June and July, 7 p.m. in August, 6 p.m. in September, 5:30 p.m. in October. The parking lot and restrooms run year-round from 8 a.m. to 90 minutes before sunset, with holiday closures including July 1-5. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Fossil Park, Sylvania good for kids?
Yes — Fossil Park, Sylvania works for families. One of the best first fossil trips anywhere in the Midwest. Hammers, picks, and shovels are banned because the shale is soft enough to break with bare hands, so nobody is swinging anything. Stay inside the designated hunting area and off the perimeter fence. Bring a soft brush, a container, and a hat, because there is no shade.