NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands)
Dickinson, North Dakota
hornless rhino bonethree-toed horse teethentelodont bonetortoise shellrodent teeth
State-designated locality · Fee
NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands)
The Little Badlands hold roughly 32 to 30 million years of Oligocene mammal life — hornless rhinos, three-toed horses, camels, entelodonts, nimravids, plus tortoises, toads, and eagles. This is a prospecting dig rather than a fixed quarry, so you walk the badlands looking for bone weathering out, then work it under survey staff. Vans run from the Dickinson Museum Center; bring everything you need, because the site has nothing.
The card catalog
| What you can find | hornless rhino bone, three-toed horse teeth, entelodont bone, tortoise shell, rodent teeth |
|---|---|
| Access | State-designated locality — Fee |
| Fees | $50 for a full day; full days are the only option at this site. Registration opens January 31, 2026 at 10 a.m. Central through Eventbrite, first-come. Finds go to the State Fossil Collection rather than home with you. |
| Season & hours | August 24-28, 2026. This is prospecting rather than quarry work, so heat and weather drive the day. |
| Kids | Better for experienced collectors — Full days only with a 15-and-up minimum, so this one is off the table for kids. It also demands self-sufficiency — moderate-to-rugged hiking, and the survey warns there are no porta-potties and no shade tents at this site. |
| Official source | North Dakota Geological Survey, Department of Mineral Resources |
| 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.
More drawers in North Dakota
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NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Bismarck Area (Hell Creek Quarry)
Bismarck, ND
tyrannosaurus teeth, triceratops bone, edmontosaurus bone
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NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Pembina Gorge
Walhalla, ND
mosasaur bone, giant squid fossils, sea turtle bone
Before you go
What does NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands) cost?
$50 for a full day; full days are the only option at this site. Registration opens January 31, 2026 at 10 a.m. Central through Eventbrite, first-come. Finds go to the State Fossil Collection rather than home with you. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands) open?
August 24-28, 2026. This is prospecting rather than quarry work, so heat and weather drive the day. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands) good for kids?
NDGS Public Fossil Dig — Dickinson Area (Little Badlands) is better suited to experienced collectors than young kids. Full days only with a 15-and-up minimum, so this one is off the table for kids. It also demands self-sufficiency — moderate-to-rugged hiking, and the survey warns there are no porta-potties and no shade tents at this site.