Fossil Hunting at San Rafael Swell, Utah (BLM)
ALLOWED
No permit required
Key Conditions
- Common invertebrate and plant fossils may be casually collected for personal use — up to 25 lbs per day, 250 lbs per year, non-commercial (PRPA 2009 / 43 CFR Part 49)
- CRITICAL: Vertebrate fossils (bones, teeth, tracks of any animal with a vertebral column) may NOT be casually collected — a federal research permit is required; unauthorized collection is a federal crime with penalties up to 5 years and $20,000 fine
- Fossil Point Trailhead area: observation only — no collecting of any fossil type; this site contains sauropod vertebrate bones exposed at the surface
- Areas within Jurassic National Monument (proposed) and the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry vicinity: all collecting prohibited regardless of fossil type
- No collection from designated wilderness areas within the Swell
- Commercial sale of casually-collected fossils is prohibited — personal use only under PRPA casual-use exemption
Vertebrate fossils: research permit required — federal crime without one
PRPA 2009 (43 CFR Part 49) makes it a federal felony to remove, alter, or disturb any vertebrate fossil from BLM land without a research permit issued to a qualified paleontologist. Penalties: up to 5 years imprisonment and $20,000 fine for a first offense.
What counts as a vertebrate fossil:
- Any bone fragment, even small
- Teeth
- Footprints or body tracks of any vertebrate animal
- Associated matrix containing identifiable vertebrate material
The San Rafael Swell has extensive Jurassic marine and terrestrial deposits. Vertebrate material — including sauropod bone at Fossil Point — is present across a wide area. If you find bone-textured material, leave it, photograph it, and report to the BLM Price Field Office at (435) 636-3600.
The San Rafael Swell is an anticlinal dome in Emery County, Utah — a roughly 75-mile-long, 40-mile-wide uplift that exposes a near-complete sequence of sedimentary rocks from Permian through Cretaceous age. Erosion has cut dramatic canyons through the uplifted strata, exposing hundreds of millions of years of marine and terrestrial fossil record along canyon walls and in eroding mudstone badlands.
For casual fossil hunters, the Swell's Permian and Jurassic marine limestone units are the most productive. Crinoid stem segments are abundant as surface scatter on eroding limestone slopes. Ammonites and bivalves appear in Jurassic marine sequences. The fossils are geologically common, frequently exposed by erosion, and collectable under PRPA's casual-use rules.
The Swell also contains significant Jurassic vertebrate sites — including sauropod trackways and bone exposures. These are strictly off-limits to casual collectors. The distinction between a casual invertebrate collecting trip and an accidental encounter with vertebrate material requires attention to what you're picking up. When uncertain, the safest response is to leave it, photograph it, and report it.
San Rafael Swell — Fossil Collecting Rules by Area
| Area | Invertebrates/Plants | Vertebrates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open BLM land (Swell general) | Allowed — 25 lbs/day personal use | Prohibited — research permit only | Standard PRPA casual-use rules apply |
| Fossil Point Trailhead | Prohibited — observation only | Prohibited — observation only | Designated observation site; sauropod bones exposed |
| Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry | Prohibited | Prohibited | All collecting banned at this specific site |
| Jurassic National Monument area | Prohibited | Prohibited | Monument designation; all collecting prohibited |
| Mexican Mountain Wilderness | Prohibited | Prohibited | Wilderness; no resource extraction |
| Muddy Creek Wilderness | Prohibited | Prohibited | Wilderness; no resource extraction |
| Horse Canyon Wilderness | Prohibited | Prohibited | Wilderness; no resource extraction |
Status based on PRPA 2009 (43 CFR Part 49), BLM Price Field Office land use plan, and wilderness designations as of April 2026. Contact Price Field Office at (435) 636-3600 for current closures before visiting.
The PRPA 2009 casual-use rule in plain language
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa) — the key rules for BLM casual fossil hunting:
What you CAN collect (no permit):
- Common invertebrate fossils: crinoids, ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, corals
- Common plant fossils: fern impressions, seed-fern compressions, wood fragments
- Limit: 25 lbs per day, 250 lbs per year per person
- Use: personal, non-commercial only
What you CANNOT collect (ever, without a research permit):
- Any vertebrate fossil: bone, tooth, track, or body part of any animal with a backbone
- Scientifically significant invertebrate or plant fossils (rare, unique, in articulated assemblage)
- Fossils from NPS, FWS lands, or wilderness areas regardless of type
BLM Price Field Office: (435) 636-3600 Address: 125 S 600 W, Price, UT 84501
Best Times to Fossil Hunt at San Rafael Swell
Spring (March–May)
GoodBest overall window. Temperatures moderate (55–80°F in the canyon country). Spring runoff can briefly close low-water crossings in late March–April; check BLM road conditions before departing. Wildflower season makes the desert particularly scenic. Daylight hours adequate for full day trips from the Price or Salina area.
Summer (June–August)
PoorNot recommended for extended backcountry days. Swell temperatures regularly exceed 100–105°F. Flash flood risk from afternoon thunderstorms July–August can close canyon roads with no warning. Water sources are absent in most collecting areas. If visiting in summer, start before dawn and be out of exposed canyon areas by noon.
Fall (September–November)
GoodSecond-best window. Crowds drop significantly after Labor Day. October–November brings stable weather, excellent light, and cool temperatures. First snowfall possible in late November at higher elevations (San Rafael Reef ridgelines). Road conditions generally excellent post-monsoon through October.
Winter (December–February)
FairPossible for experienced winter desert travelers. Temperatures drop to freezing at night; daytime highs in the 40–55°F range. Snow and ice on access roads; 4WD essential. Backcountry roads may be impassable for days after precipitation. Solitude is complete — no other visitors in most of the Swell. Short daylight hours limit productive field time.
Permits & Licenses
| Permit | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casual fossil collecting permit (invertebrates/plants) | No | No permit required for casual collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils on BLM land under PRPA 2009. The 25 lb/day personal-use limit and non-commercial restriction are the only requirements. 'Common invertebrate fossils' are defined under 43 CFR Part 49 as reasonably abundant, occurring in large numbers, and of scientific value primarily for educational purposes rather than unique research significance. |
| Research permit (vertebrate fossils and scientific collection) | Yes | Required for all vertebrate fossil collection and for collection of any fossil for scientific or commercial purposes. Permits are issued by the BLM Price Field Office. Applicants must be qualified professional paleontologists affiliated with a museum, university, or recognized research institution. Recreational collectors may not obtain research permits. Contact: Price Field Office, (435) 636-3600. |
Time & Seasonal Restrictions
- Vertebrate fossils: absolutely no casual collection — bones, teeth, footprints/tracks of any vertebrate animal are research-permit-only under PRPA 2009; federal crime to remove or disturb without permit
- Fossil Point Trailhead: no collecting of any fossil type — the site is designated observation-only and contains sauropod bone exposures; trail use and photography only
- Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and Jurassic National Monument areas: all collecting prohibited (both for casual and research use by general public without BLM coordination)
- Designated wilderness areas within the Swell (Mexican Mountain, Muddy Creek, Horse Canyon Wilderness Areas): no resource extraction including fossil collecting
- 25 lb/day personal-use limit applies to total casual-use collection; annual limit 250 lbs per person
- Do not excavate significantly — surface and near-surface recovery of loose material only; extensive mechanized or deep-pit excavation is not casual use
- Do not remove or disturb associated matrix or site context — removing a fossil from its host rock in a way that destroys stratigraphic context may violate PRPA even within casual-use quantity limits
- Motorized vehicles must stay on designated roads and two-tracks — off-road vehicle damage to fossil-bearing surfaces carries federal penalties
Equipment Notes
- Hand trowel and soft brushes for clearing loose sediment around exposed fossils
- Rock hammer and chisels for separating invertebrate fossils from host limestone — use with care to avoid shattering specimens
- Field loupe (10x) for distinguishing bone/shell texture from rock matrix
- Camera or phone with good macro capability — photograph vertebrate fossils in place before leaving them (you cannot take them, but the record is valuable)
- Topographic map and GPS — San Rafael Swell road network is extensive but partially unmaintained; cell coverage is minimal
- High-clearance vehicle recommended; 4WD required for many backcountry access roads and after any significant rain event
- Water: minimum 2 gallons per person per day; no surface water is potable in the Swell without treatment; temperatures exceed 100°F June–August
What People Find Here
- Crinoid columnals (sea lily stem segments) — extremely common in Permian and Carboniferous limestone exposures; often visible as surface scatter on eroding slopes
- Ammonites (Jurassic) — present in marine Jurassic limestone zones; complete specimens are uncommon but fragments and internal molds are frequent
- Pelecypods (bivalves) — common across multiple stratigraphic units throughout the Swell
- Brachiopods — common in older limestone formations on the western margins of the Swell
- Plant compressions in shale units — occasional fern and seed-fern impressions in Cretaceous and Jurassic shales
- Vertebrate bone fragments are present throughout the area but may NOT be collected — if you observe bone-textured material, leave it and note the GPS coordinates; reporting significant finds to the Price Field Office is encouraged
Penalties for Violations
← Scroll to see all columns
| Violation | Statute | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Casual collection of vertebrate fossil without research permit | PRPA 2009 (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa-5); 43 CFR Part 49 | Federal felony; up to 5 years imprisonment and $20,000 fine for first offense; up to 10 years and $100,000 for subsequent offenses or commercial intent; collected material and any tools/vehicles used are subject to forfeiture |
| Exceeding casual-use quantity limits or commercial sale of casually-collected fossils | PRPA 2009; 43 CFR § 49.810 | Federal violation; up to 2 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine |
| Off-road vehicle use causing damage to paleontological resources | PRPA 2009; 43 CFR Part 8340 | Federal penalty; fine up to $1,000; additional civil liability for resource damage |
Etiquette & Leave No Trace
- If you find vertebrate bone material — leave it. Mark the GPS coordinates and report to the BLM Price Field Office. Your report can lead to a scientific excavation permit being issued to a museum or university that would not otherwise know about the site.
- Do not excavate beyond the immediate surface layer for casual invertebrate collecting — deep excavation in sedimentary layers can destroy stratigraphic context that makes the fossil scientifically interpretable
- Pack out all waste including rock chips from splitting; the Swell's backcountry roads are a shared resource for hikers, off-highway vehicle users, and scientists
- When photographing any surface at Fossil Point or other observation areas, stay on the designated trail — even footfall on exposed bone or near-surface fossil beds causes cumulative damage
Nearby Alternatives
← Scroll to see all columns
| Site | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur National Monument | 145 mi | NPS unit; vertebrate fossils prohibited; invertebrate collection rules differ from BLM — verify current NPS rules before visiting |
Frequently Asked Questions
What fossils can I collect at San Rafael Swell?
You may casually collect common invertebrate and plant fossils — crinoid columnals, ammonites, pelecypods, brachiopods, and plant impressions — up to 25 lbs per day for personal non-commercial use under PRPA 2009. You may NOT collect vertebrate fossils (any bone, tooth, track, or body part of an animal with a backbone) under any circumstances without a federal research permit. The key rule: shell, stem, and plant material can be collected; anything that looks like bone cannot.
How do I tell the difference between bone and rock?
Fossil bone has a characteristic texture under magnification: a porous, spongy internal structure visible at broken or weathered surfaces, compared to the dense crystalline or sedimentary texture of host rock. A field test: touch the fossil to the tip of your dry tongue — real fossil bone has a slight stick from the porous surface (similar to unglazed ceramic); rock does not. If you are uncertain whether a material is bone or invertebrate, treat it as bone and leave it in place. When in doubt, photograph it and contact the Price Field Office: (435) 636-3600.
What is the Fossil Point Trailhead and why is collecting banned there?
Fossil Point Trailhead, accessible from the I-70 Spotted Wolf Canyon area in the San Rafael Swell, is a designated paleontological observation site where sauropod dinosaur vertebrae and other Jurassic vertebrate material are exposed at the surface along the trail. Because vertebrate fossils require research permits under PRPA 2009, the entire trail area is closed to any collecting. The site is managed as an interpretive destination — visitors can view and photograph the exposed bones but may not touch, disturb, or remove any material. Violation here is a federal felony.
Can I collect fossils in the wilderness areas within the Swell?
No. Mexican Mountain Wilderness, Muddy Creek Wilderness, and Horse Canyon Wilderness Area within the San Rafael Swell prohibit resource extraction, including fossil collecting. Wilderness areas are managed for minimum human impact; removing any natural resource, including rocks and fossils, is not permitted within their boundaries. Standard BLM casual-use rules apply only outside designated wilderness.
What is PRPA 2009 and how does it change what I can collect?
The Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa) is the federal law governing fossil collection on all federal lands including BLM, USFS, NPS, and Fish & Wildlife Service lands. PRPA created a two-tier system: (1) casual collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils is allowed on BLM and USFS lands for personal non-commercial use up to 25 lbs/day — no permit required; (2) vertebrate fossils and significant invertebrate specimens are research-permit-only for qualified scientists. Before PRPA, the rules varied widely by agency and location; PRPA standardized them across federal land.
Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Sources
- Paleontological Resources Preservation Act 2009 (PRPA) — 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa(accessed 2026-04-30)
- 43 CFR Part 49 — Paleontological Resources Preservation (BLM regulations)(accessed 2026-04-30)
- BLM Utah — San Rafael Swell (Price Field Office)(accessed 2026-04-30)
- BLM — Fossil Collection on Public Lands(accessed 2026-04-30)
Last verified: 2026-04-14 · Last updated: 2026-04-14