Skip to content

Reviews & Testimonials

Fossil Lake Safari place picture
4.9
Based on 142 reviews
I hear nothing but good from this place. Hopefully, within the next couple of years, I'll be able to go there. This has been a dream of mine forever. Ever since I found this rock in 1968. Then I took it to school in the 6th grade and forgot about it. I went into the military. My father reminded me of it when I got out of the service in 1985. When I was in my late 50s, I got ahold of my sixth grade teacher. Sent him a picture of me holding the rock. That's the only place I could have left it. I assume somebody must have tossed it. I guess I haven't looked around the school. Somebody told me I should do that. I really, really miss that rock. never found out what it was.
Ed Wasno profile picture
Ed Wasno
2 years ago
WOW, my wife and I had a once in a lifetime experience digging fossils. I could not believe the amount we found. The staff showed us the proper technique to split the stones and we were off to the races. We started off slow, but as we gained experience, we were splitting with the experts and finding more of them.
All in all, I would highly recommend Fossil Lake Safari. My friends in PA want me to organize a trip to come back.

Thanks Shondra!!
Jasmine Feng profile picture
Jasmine Feng
2 years ago
Incredibly fun! It's only about a 2.5 hr drive from SLC and is worth going even if you have a few days in the city. There's some pretty views on the way there as well. The people there are very friendly and give helpful instructions on how to get started. It's super thrilling to crack a rock open and find a fossil. We found a bunch of fish fossils which was neat.

Some things to keep in mind:
- bring water or a water bottle! (They have a water refill station)
- bring a hat
- bring a folding chair or ask to borrow one of theirs
- bring a box and some packing material for your fossils
- the restrooms are port a potties
Joe Mallahan profile picture
Joe Mallahan
2 years ago
Despite its rather carnival name, fossil lake safari is a truly professional and down to earth operation. They have carefully excavated 800 feet of rubble to reach the 52 million year old seabed that has layers upon layers of sediment, every inch containing sea life that died but did not decompose because of the chemistry of the ancient lake.

The owner cuts cubes of sea bed, roughly 2/3 meter X 2/3 meter, out of the seabed and sets them on the quarry floor for fossil hunters to splinter into hundreds of sheets of sandstone using small hammers and chisels supplied by the owner.

One in ten splits reveals a meaningful fossil.

Don't romanticize hunting fossils by yourself. You'll have to dig a 250-meter deep hole or violate a national monument at Fossil Butte! This place is legit, and you leave satisfied that your own hard work uncovered the ancient fossils you'll take home with you.

See the 4 inch fossil in the photo i have attached. It was on the edge of a two foot slab of sandstone that I split off a larger cube. The owner sawed the slab down to something I could easily carry home. I got 8 of these in 2 hours.

Bring a change of clothes and face masks. The quarry can stir up sand storms.

The staff and the owner, Matt, are enthusiastic and kind. You'll love these guys.
Like most all the other reviews, my husband & I had a really great experience splitting rock and finding fossils. It's dirty work but someone has to do it. 😁 We spent the night in Kemmerer and were at the site at 8 am. We came the end of Sept.and the temp was perfect. Caden showed us the basics and later gave us a few fossils he found on his own. The staff are so nice! We found numerous fish fossils, some broken, in the 4 hrs we were there. We plan on gluing the broken ones together. It is a well run dig with excellent staff, all the tools you need (I did bring my own gloves) and porta potties. I ended up purchasing a cleaning tool and fossil preservatives for use at home from the little shop. We have no regrets and a lot of good memories.
Charles Jones profile picture
Charles Jones
2 years ago
Wife and I had alot of fun. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We found alot of small fish fossils and they let us use a tile saw to trim them up after our time was up. Expect to get dirty, but it's well worth it.
Kathryn Sorrells profile picture
Kathryn Sorrells
2 years ago
Wow! Just wow! This was an amazing experience. If you are contemplating going, definitely do. It’s hot and dusty and remote, but we had so much fun splitting rocks and then using the power tools to make our fossils look amazing. We definitely did not leave empty-handed. The staff was lovely and really invested in Giving us a great experience. It’s wild to think you have in your hand something that is 50 million years old, and you are allowed not only to touch it but to take it home! One thing to add : bring a camping chair for sure. Otherwise you’re sitting on extremely Rocky and uncomfortable ground. Also bring lots of water and a shade hat because it is hot, dry and dusty, and there is no shade.
Jennifer P. profile picture
Jennifer P.
2 years ago
We had an ok time but it is WAY overpriced. Almost $300 for 4 of us (2 adults, 2 kids) and we came home with simple fossils, lots of broken ones, and none that were bigger than can fit in the palms of our hands. So if you're looking to find big intact fish fossils like they show and advertise all over the website just plan on not and if you do you are lucky.
Also get there early so you can claim your spot next to the roped off area so when/if they open it you can move quickly into it and not just work in someone else's tailings.
We do A LOT of rock hounding and I'm not usually disappointed but I'm sad to say overall I was here.
I will say though that the staff was nice, helpful, and friendly.
Nicole Finley profile picture
Nicole Finley
2 years ago
This was our first time doing anything like this and we had a blast! Kadan and Keanu were awesome and extremely helpful! Looking forward to being able to come back one day.
Russell Walker profile picture
Russell Walker
2 years ago
Great people and awesome time! I'm looking forward to going back next season.
LEAH Barnes profile picture
LEAH Barnes
2 years ago
I had so much fun and everyone was for friendly and helpful. My o ly regret is I wasn't physically able to do more!
flagirl56 profile picture
flagirl56
2 years ago
My husband and I, along with our son and his girlfriend booked a four hour dig (9-1) on Wednesday Sept 25th. We’ve been wanting to do this fossil dig for a few years and I can’t say enough good things about the staff. The guys were very informative and helpful. Keanu (correct spelling?) was always around to answer questions, explaining there is no dumb question. We found many fossil fish between the four of us. If you’re struggling to find fossils, they’ll help you look for characteristics in the rocks that might indicate the presence of fossils. You won’t go home empty handed. I wish they sold t-shirts! I’d love to have bought one like Keanu wore!
We would definitely like to go again.
Guy Gleason profile picture
Guy Gleason
2 years ago
What can I say other than everything we experienced in our group was AMAZING…Super helpful and friendly staff!! They did such an amazing job coming around and helping and answering any questions or showing us techniques. We had such a great time, that we are going to make it a tradition! You will not leave empty handed and the hunt for treasure is such a great time for all ages! Bring a spare set of clothes because you will get dusty, but it is well worth it!!!
J Yearout profile picture
J Yearout
2 years ago
The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They provided us with everything we needed to find the fossils. They weren’t afraid to get into chipping rocks with the kids to help them out if they needed some help to find fossils. If we had questions someone was always there ready to answer them and help when needed. This is a first class operation! Guaranteed to go home with fossils
Kyle Coulon profile picture
Kyle Coulon
2 years ago
We had lots of fun! Better to get there close to opening because a lot of the bigger rocks were already split. Staff was very helpful.
Binshuang Li profile picture
Binshuang Li
2 years ago
It was a great experience digging for your own fossils here! Higher discovery rate than I expected! PS: the direction on google map is actually accurate now based on my experience.

TripAdvisor REviews

star rating  Very Fun - Very fun and informative. The staff was very friendly and always available to help or answer questiins. We found many small fish fossils. Expect to get dirty and... read more

avatar thumb Charles J
October 1, 2024

star rating  Great way to dig into WY!  - Lovely drive out on well maintained dirt road. Friendly and informative staff. We were able to get many complete fish and found tons of partials. Only did the 2 hours... read more

avatar thumb Inspire52182871023
September 9, 2024

star rating  Best fossil find  - Wonderful experience
The staff is helpful and engaging. The employees are very knowledgeable about the area and fossils. I would go again.

media thumbnail 0media thumbnail 1media thumbnail 2
avatar thumb Guy H
September 9, 2024

star rating  Fishy Fossil Family Fun!!!  - My family (parents in 70s, 2 "kids" in 40s) came out to Fossil Lake Safari for 1 day. My folks had been before a few years back, and wanted us... read more

media thumbnail 0media thumbnail 1media thumbnail 2media thumbnail 3
avatar thumb Jessica C
September 8, 2024

star rating  Fossil Adventure!  - It was a great experience, the people running the quarry were knowledgeable, helpful and a lot of fun. We have been telling our friends it is worth the drive.

avatar thumb M M
September 2, 2024

star rating  Amazing! Must do! We had a once in a lifetime experience there today! - Omg this is a must do. Felt like family there. Great signs to find the place. They just put more up this week. New owners and the managing... read more

media thumbnail 0media thumbnail 1media thumbnail 2media thumbnail 3
avatar thumb NemoOutdoorAdventure
July 9, 2024

star rating  AMAZING place to have fun finding fossils!!  - This family owned Fossil Quarry was amazing. Mt husband and I had the BEST time finding soooo many great Fossil treasures. We will most definitely be going back.

media thumbnail 0media thumbnail 1media thumbnail 2media thumbnail 3
avatar thumb Margaret S
July 6, 2024

star rating  You’ve gotta go!  - That was a great time! If you are into fossils, then you can’t pass this up. My wife and I went for an anniversary getaway and had a blast. The... read more

avatar thumb Gordorawls
July 5, 2024

star rating  Fossil Fun  - Had an amazing time. Will definitely be back with family and friends. I could absolutely tell that everyone loved what they were doing by their interactions with the... read more

avatar thumb lkhc
July 3, 2024

YELP REviews

  Such a fun day with my kids we sat out and got to chisel and pound rocks to find fossils. Definitely helps if you have anger issues lol. The kids... read more

thumb Janet D.
9/14/2024