Take rock hunting to the next level. Find fossils at this state park – MLive.com
Fossils from the Devonian Period can be found at the abandoned limestone quarry at Rockport State Recreation Area near Alpena.Provided by Visit AlpenaALPENA, MI – This state park is the perfect place to take your rock hunting hobby to the next level. Rockport State Recreation Area is known to have exposed fossils from the Devonian period – more than 400 million years ago. A trek to the abandoned, 300-acre limestone quarry at the park is “an expedition to remember,” according to Visit Alpena. Michigan laws allow rockhounds to collect up to 25 pounds of rocks or fossils from public land per year for personal use. RELATED: Want to find Yooperlites below the bridge? This state park has themWhat might you do with these ancient fossils? Visit Alpena has a few suggestions. You could put them on display, use them as paper weights or door stoppers, or put them on your coffee table as a conversation piece. These fossils are from before the dinosaurs – even before the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea. The Devonian Period, roughly 416-358 million years ago, is the fourth period of the Paleozoic Era. It is known as the “Age of Fishes,” as 85% of Earth was covered in oceans. Here’s a list of fossils commonly found at Rockport: RELATED: Want to be an expert Lake Michigan rock collector? 4 tips to get startedHere’s a list of rock hunting essentials: Rockport State Recreation Area is a rugged 4237-acre park just north of Alpena. It stretches along the Lake Huron shoreline in Alpena and Presque Isle counties. It offers history and outdoor adventure with the remnants of a 300-acre limestone quarry and ghost town alongside rock formations, sinkholes, 20 miles of trails and the protected Besser Natural Area. The park is also a premier spot for stargazing as a Michigan Dark Sky Preserve. RELATED: Cabins overlooking Lake Huron part of huge overhaul to Up North recreation areaThe park’s facilities include a boat launch, Lake Huron access, picnic areas and vault toilets. Uses include horseback riding, fishing, hiking, history programs, hunting, mountain biking, paddling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. RELATED: State confiscates 93-pound Petoskey stone from Michigan manRock hunters can follow the signs to find the rock quarry from either of the park’s two trailheads, at the main parking lot off Old Grade Road and at the Besser Natural Area parking lot off of Grand Lake Road. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.Ad Choices
