I’d wanted to go to Detroit for years, and the idea of seeing all the Great Lakes appealed to me. When I set out on a road trip to Michigan, I really didn’t know what I’d find. So it was a total surprise when I learned that Michigan’s lake shores had more than pretty views, they had a secret trove of minerals and fossils waiting to be discovered! I’ve always loved collecting rocks and shells, and it turned out that the unexpected highlight of my trip was rockhounding Michigan.
As an avid outdoors enthusiast who stumbled upon rockhounding in Michigan, I’m thrilled to offer a beginner guide you to looking for fossils in Michigan and the Great Lakes. So read on to discover common types of rocks in Michigan, where to find them and recommended tools.
What Kind of Rocks Can I Find in Michigan?
From the craggy, multicolor rocks of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to the sandy dunes of Sleeping Bear, Michigan has a diverse landscape. In terms of rock hunting, that means you can find an incredible diversity of rocks, minerals and fossils depending on where you travel. Some of the most common rocks you’ll discover in Michigan include:
- Petoskey Stones – The Michigan State stone is actually a fossilized coral with a striking hexagonal pattern. Petoskey stones (pictured below) are commonly found along Lake Michigan’s beaches.
- Charlevoix Stones – These resemble Petoskey stones but come from an earlier geologic era. Like the Petoskey stone, Charlevoix stones are ancient coral fossils.
- Pudding stones – A type of conglomerate rock, pudding stone contains fragments of minerals like jasper (my favorite).
- Agates – Banded agates with natural grey, purple and white hues can be discovered in rivers and streams throughout Michigan.
- Copper – While rarer than other minerals, copper is found in select areas of Michigan.
Where is the Best Place to Rockhunt in Michigan?
Now that you know the different kind of rocks you’ll find in Michigan, you might be wondering – where is it legal to collect rocks in Michigan? And what’s the best place to go?
Michigan State Parks are among the best places to discover rocks and fossils. Visitors can take home up to 25 pounds of rocks and fossils per year, per person. It’s wild to think that you aren’t only allowed but encouraged to carry him a souvenir from your trip.
While state parks encourage rock hounding, it’s important to remember that National Park properties like Sleeping Bear or Pictured Rocks are off-limits for collecting. While you can appreciate pretty agates and Petoskey stones found in these parks, removing them from park property is prohibited.
Rockhounding is also prohibited at historical sites.
Rockhunting on private property is allowed with the permission of the property owner.
Always seek permission from landowners before exploring their land.
While there are many places rock hunting is off-limits, there are so many easy and accessible places to find stones that you won’t feel like you’re missing out. I went rock hunting at a few of the better known state parks and was thrilled with my finds!
Ready to head out? Grab a copy of my Michigan road trip itinerary and plan your adventure!
Popular Rockhounding Locations in Michigan
With so many state parks and lake beaches to choose from, it can be hard to know the best place to find minerals and fossils. Here are my suggestions based on the type of rock you’re seeking.
Where Can I Find Lake Superior Agates?
Lake Superior Agates have unique red, orange, and yellow banding, which makes them easy to identify. The exterior can look waxy or shiny in comparison to nearby rocks. These rocks usually have a reddish tinge from iron ore.
The best times for Lake Superior agate hunting are spring and fall when the weather is milder. Since the lake is lower at this time of year, there is more shoreline to search. Early morning and late afternoon on sunny days are good times of day to hunt for agates, because the rocks are easier to see.
While any Lake Superior beach thatโs open to the public offers the chance to hunt for agates, one recommended place to try is Grand Marais.
If youโre looking for river agates, youโll have better luck when water levels are low.
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Where Can I Find Petoskey Stones?
Lake Michigan beaches are prime locations for finding Petoskey stones. The best times to explore rock hunting beaches for Petoskey stones are during the late spring, summer, and early fall when the water levels are lower, exposing more shoreline. The distinctive hexagonal patterns on these stones can be easier to spot on sunny days.
Petoskey State Park is the best place to find Petoskey stones, but Fisherman’s Island State Park in Charlevoix is another good place to look.
How to Find Copper in Michigan
While copper nuggets are more rare than other rocks, it’s possible to find some at Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Calumet Waterworks Park and McLain State Park are two recommended Michigan rock hunting places in the Keweenaw Peninsula where copper may be found.
Copper isn’t the only rock to look for in Keweenaw. Jasper, rhyolite and agates are also common. If you have a UV light, you can spot Yooperlites and sodalite, which glow under the UV.
Fossil Hunting at Rockport in Michigan
Rockport State Recreation Area is a former limestone quarry on the shores of Lake Huron. It’s also a great place to look for ancient orals, brachiopods and crinoid fossils. During the Devonian era, these sea creatures once inhabited a warm inland ocean.
Crinoids were filter feeders on the sea flood. Brachiopods had hard upper and lower shells, a little like the shelled creatures you might spot at beaches now. I knew what these creatures were from a college geology class, but I had no idea how I might find them. Happily, it was easier than I imagined.
Rockport State Recreation Area has mounds of rocky debris, left over from the quarrying days. We scouted the area and decided to start turning over rocks, looking for imprints that might suggest fossils. There were so many rocks we thought it would be tricky to discover fossils. To my delight, they were incredibly easy to find. In under an hour, we had amassed a huge collection – far more than the 25 pounds we were allowed to take. We examined our treasures, chose our favorite ones, and scattered the rest around the former quarry.
I had heard that the former limestone quarry, now spanning over 300 acres within the park, was a treasure trove of easily accessible fossils. Upon arriving, I felt like a kid exploring the rows and To my delight, fossils abounded, and I was able to amass quite a collection in just a couple hours of searching the site by myself. Here are a few examples from my time at Rockport in Alpine, Michigan.
Honestly, the best place to go depends on what youโre looking for and how much time you have. In putting together my Michigan road trip, I focused on popular rockhounding locations along my route and tried my luck hunting for stones and fossils.
Iโd tried rockhunting one other time, looking for jade in California. That time hasnโt gone so well, mostly because I had no idea what I was looking for and didnโt have the right tools. While I wasnโt sure what to expect, I had much better luck in Michigan.
Finding minerals was easier for two reasons: I knew where to go and what to look for.
The beaches mentioned above are among the best place to find Petoskey stones and other rocks. The pictures in this post will give you an idea of how to identify your finds, and you can also use identification guides. Unfortunately, nature apps like iNaturalist are not useful when it comes to rocks and fossils.
Read on for some tips and techniques for successful rockhounding in Michigan, including what to bring.
Tips and Techniques for Successful Rockhounding
While you can pull over at any lack beach and try your hand at rock hunting, your trip will be more successful with a few basic tips and the right equipment.
Wear comfortable clothing, including plenty of layers – those lake shores can be windy! In spring and summer, come prepared with bug repellent. A sturdy pair of shoes is always a must.
Bring a bag, bucket or other container to hold your rocks. This way, you can collect anything interesting and examine it later.
Research the area you’re visiting and the type of rocks found there. Studying pictures will help you identify rocks in the field. Field guides can also help you make a positive identification.
These rocks can all be found loose along the lake shores. But if you’re rock hunting elsewhere, you may need to bring a rock hammer and chisel to pry rocks and minerals free.
When you get to a new area, spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the terrain.
If you see other rock hunters, give them space. Michigan’s lake beaches are so large, you don’t need to rockhound on top of another group.
If hunting for Petoskey stones or agates, look in the waters. The distinctive patterns and banding are often easier to see on wet rocks than dry ones.
If you’re looking for rocks on land, start by checking areas loose rocks may have tumbled. The bottom of a hill, ravine or ditch is a promising place to start. But you may also find rocks randomly discarded by other treasure hunters, like I did at Rockport when I found more than the legal limit!
Have patience, and have fun. If the activity stops being interesting, take a break. You can always come back another day. Once you make that initial discovery, don’t be surprised if you catch the rockhounding bug like I did!
Common Questions About Rockhounding in Michigan
We’ve covered some of the best places to hunt for rocks and where it’s legal to rockhound. Here are a few more answers to common question about looking for Michigan rocks and minerals.
Is it illegal to keep Petoskey stones in Michigan?
No, you may keep Petoskey stones found in Michigan as long as you abide by the state’s rock hunting rules.
Where can I find precious stones in Michigan?
The the Keweenaw Peninsula and the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are among the best place to find precious stones.
Where to find agates in Michigan?
Agates can be found along rivers, streams and the shores of Michigan’s Great Lakes.
What is rockhounding?
Rockhounding is the recreational activity of searching for interesting mineral specimens and fossils in the natural environment. Rockhounds look for rocks, minerals, gemstones, and fossils in locations like mountainsides, forests, quarries, mine dumps, rivers, and beaches.
How to start rockhounding?
Pick a place to go and study up on what you can find there, so you can make a positive id. Bring the right equipment/tools (see the list above). Then, see what you can find! It’s really that easy ๐
Can you make money rockhounding?
Yes, it’s possible to make money rockhounding by selling rare, valuable or unusual specimens. However, many people get into it for fun.
Are you interested in a rockhounding road trip through Michigan? Steal my route with this 7-day Michigan road trip itinerary that includes the Upper Peninsula, Traverse City, Ann Arbor and Detroit! It’s packed with all my best tips.
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This is such a gem (excuse the pun)! I’ve never heard of rockhounding till now but I am interested in the occasional rare looking agate – these dos and don’ts are definitely a great cheat sheet for me!
My boyfriend would absolutely love this (he’s always searching for the coolest rocks on all of our trips), and his sister’s fiancรฉ is actually from Michigan, so a visit sounds like a total win-win for us! I will be sure to share your post with him :). Xx Sara
Yay! Sounds like a perfect activity for your next Michigan trip ๐
I never heard of rock hunting but this is right up my alley! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you so much for the education on rockhounding! I havenโt made a trip to Michigan yet (itโs on the โone dayโ list) but this sounds like a great way to find a little gem to take home – from the legal locations of course!
This is my first time hearing about rockhounding, but it sounds so interesting! I would definitely try it out to see if I like it, it sounds like a fun activity to either do alone or with someone.