NDGS Public Fossil Digs
Friends of NDGS Paleo is excited to partner with the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) Paleontology program to support the annual NDGS Public Fossil Digs!
Our digs provide opportunities for members of the public to participate directly in real fossil excavation fieldwork at established sites across North Dakota. This is not a tourist attraction! You will be digging with actual paleontologists, and collecting scientifically significant fossils for study and even display in museums across the state.
The dig season runs late June through August at fossil sites across the state of North Dakota. You can see some of the sites we dig at below.
For more information on NDGS Paleontology, including fossil research, visit their official site:
Citizen Science
The goal of our digs is to broaden the scope of who can participate in science exploration. Rather than observing from the sidelines, participants work alongside professional paleontologists and your efforts contribute tangible data and specimens that become part of North Dakota’s official paleontological record, supporting research, education, and museum collections.
By opening fieldwork to families, students, educators, and hobbyists, the digs lower barriers to scientific participation. You will learn proper excavation techniques, field safety, and the importance of careful documentation, gaining firsthand experience with how scientific knowledge is created rather than simply enjoying finished results in a museum. Diggers will leave the experience leave with a better understanding of geology, paleontology, and North Dakota’s ancient environments, as well as an understanding of ethical fossil collection and preservation.
2026 Public Fossil Dig Sites
Bismarck Area Fossil Dig
Our Bismarck Area dig is the most popular and ONLY dinosaur-era dig. This is a quarry, where you will site and dig, and there is a shade tent and porta-potties available on site. The fossils here are from the 67-million-year-old Hell Creek Formation and include Tyrannosaurus teeth, bones from Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, plus Cretaceous crocodiles and turtles.
Learn More About the Bismarck Dig
Pembina Gorge Fossil Dig
The scenic Pembina Gorge is our seam monster site, where we are collecting fossils from the 80-million-year-old Pierre Formation. Here we dig up mosasaurs, giant squid, sea turtles, aquatic birds, large (and small) fish, snails, clams, and more. Like Bismarck, this is a quarry, but there is some short walking/hiking to the quarry site. There is a shade tent and porta-potties available on-site.
Dickinson Fossil Dig
Our Dickinson dig is unique in that instead of digging at a quarry, like Bismarck and Pembina, we are prospecting, or surface collecting fossils. This dig involves hiking and there are no porta-potties available. At 30-35 million-years-old, this is our youngest dig site where we are collecting mammals like hornless rhinos, three-toes horses, camels, entelodonts, nimravids, rodents, bats, eagles, toads, tortoises, alligators, and more!
2026 Public Fossil Dig Dates
Bismarck
Full Days (Age 15+): July 6-9, 20-23, 27-29
Family Half Days (Age 10+): July 13-17, 24
Experienced Diggers Only: July 30-31
Pembina Gorge
Full Days (Age 15+): August 10-15
Family Half Days (Age 10+): August 7-9
Adult Half Day (Age 15+): August 16
Dickinson
Full Days (Age 15+): August 10-15