In June 2017, I am planning to collect the famous Shark Tooth Hill. This post is everything I’ve found about planning this California fossil collecting adventure.
The Trip
My entire trip will be one week. I am landing in Los Angeles, to see a rare stateside performance from the UK Doom Metal Band, Warning. From Los Angeles, we are driving to Bakersfield for 1 day of collecting Shark Tooth Hill. After this, we drive several hours North, to do some camping in Sequoia National Park, followed by another drive, and camping Yosemite. After a week in the Wilderness, we arrive in San Francisco, to see Warning once more, before flying out to Chicago
Shark Tooth Hill and Ernst Quarry
661-319-7080
info@sharktoothhillproperty.com
Shark Tooth Hill is about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.
The entrance to Ernst Quarry is about 20 minutes from Bakersfield, where you meet at 7:45am the day of collecting.
Reservations are required, and days available for collecting vary, especially during the summer season. Visit http://www.sharktoothhillproperty.com/ to book your visit.
Or you can become a member of the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science and join one of their annual digs (seems to be only in the fall and winter).
According to the pricing page, there are 3 areas to collect:
- East Quarry (which I have read is more productive collecting, but harder to get to, and only open certain times of the year). $70/day
- Slow Curve- $40/day
- Slow Curve- Premium Area $40(general admisson)+$30 1/2 day
Here is a great photo of what the collecting area looks like.
Where To Stay
We are going to stay at Fairview Campground in Sequoia National Forest. It is about an hour and a half away, but we are heading that way next, and it seemed more practical than staying in Bakersfield. Fairview Campground Reservations.
Other Quarries and Bakersfield Fossil Collecting Sites
White Whale Quarry- http://sharktoothhillfossils.com/ (not sure if it is open to public collecting).
Tips
- Ernst Quarries has some tools to borrow, but it would be safe to bring a chisel or screw driver, and a pick or hammer.
- Collecting here runs the risk of contracting Valley Fever, a respiratory disease caused by spores in this soil. It is rare, and can resemble a bad flu, but can be very serious in some cases. Face masks are advised, and can be bought for a few dollars from a hardware store.
Videos
For updates on this trip, and field reports of fossil collecting and fishing in Illinois, you can follow via email.
Bring me back some kool Mako’s!! =)
hey Larry thanks for the comment, this is going to be a killer trip! I’d love to find a Mako, or a Meg. Think I will get that lucky twice? haha