Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland is located along the Chesapeake Bay less than a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., and is famous for finding fossils and shark teeth!
Where can you find fossils near D.C.?
If you make it to the Calvert Cliffs State Park in Maryland, there are a series of trails that will take you to the Calvert Cliffs’ beach area, which is perfect for searching along the shore for small fossils and shark teeth!
Getting to the beach area does require a bit of a hike, the shortest trail being the 1.8-mile Red Trail, so while the fossil hunting activity is the perfect family-friendly activity, you’re going to want to be sure you can manage the trek to and from the beach area.
How to look for fossils once you get to Calvert Cliffs’ beach
There are two things you should first be aware of to ensure you do not break local or federal laws while hunting for fossils:
- It is forbidden to walk beneath the cliff area as they have been closed off to the public because of the high risk of landslides and falling debris.
- It is federally illegal to dig for fossils, so if you want to hunt for fossils you cannot actually ‘break ground’ or dig along the beach.
To look for fossils you will want to ‘comb’ the shoreline directly along the water, you can certainly sift through sand using a sifter, but be wary of digging any significant holes.
The recommended items for fossil hunting, aside from water and proper gear for the hike, are a small shovel and a sifter, these are not to dig with but to help you screen and move rocks or items in the sand to help you find any hidden fossils!
Tips for finding fossils near D.C.
- Make sure you check the tide before you visit, if you come during high tide the beach might be submerged in water.
- Please stay away from the cliff base, there is a very high risk of landslides in the area and it is closed off to the public.
- Stroll along the shoreline and scan the sand carefully, shark teeth and fossils can easily blend in with other shells and rock fragments.
- If you visit during the latter half of Summer, be on the lookout for biting flies and jellyfish in the water – the only thing worse than getting bitten or stung is getting bitten AND stung.