You may have never heard the term “rockhounding” before, but it’s commonly used by outdoor enthusiasts and modern-day treasure hunters. Rockhounding is an exciting hobby for anyone adventuring through nature looking for gems, minerals, fossils, and the like. For instance, visiting the Fort Drum Crystal Mine to dig for crystals is exactly something somebody rockhounding would do. However, if you’re in search of other treasures, such as fossils and other unique minerals, we suggest checking out the easy-breeze Peace River Trail in Florida.
Note: Before digging or rockhounding, make sure you have all the necessary permits and permissions of the surrounding area.
One of the most rewarding places to hunt for fossils in Florida is the Peace River in Fort Meade.
AllTrails Lindell Austin
The 1.5-mile Peace River Trail passes through floodplain swamps, under large, shaded oak trees, and through a small slice of wilderness within the center of the state.
AllTrails Lindell Austin
The Peace River has been known to contain fossils from the Miocene to the early Pliocene era, not to mention Megalodon shark teeth, and more!
AllTrails Lindell Austin
What initially started back 50 million years ago with high sea levels leaving Florida submerged, eventually allowed fossils to erode from the banks and the bottom of the river.
AllTrails Lindell Austin
Most fossils found in the Peace River are done so using the sifting method where fossils are brought to the surface using a sifting mechanism.
AllTrails Lisa D
Fossil Shark teeth are excluded from needing a permit and can simply wash ashore after a storm for those walking along the trail. It is recommended, however, to wait after rainfall to visit the river as the high water levels make certain areas dangerous.
AllTrails Kirk Larrabee
Professional rockhounders suggest fossil hunting from October through April, although you can fossil hunt year-round. The reason this window is suggested to hunt is that it’s considered “dry season” in Florida and the river will be at its lowest.
Flickr Bob Ives
Always remember, it is illegal to collect artifacts on public land, so anything you find that resembles pottery shards, arrowheads, and the like will need to be put back where it was found.
AllTrails Kick Larrabee
Head on over to The Peace River to see if you can hunt for fossils in this epic modern-day treasure hunt.
Flickr Florida Fish and Wildlife
Click here to find out where the Peace River is in Florida.
Google Maps
Anyone can obtain a fossil permit to fossil hunt within the Peace River. Simply submit an application for fossil permit hunting here.
AllTrails Lindell Austin
AllTrails Lisa D
AllTrails Kirk Larrabee
Flickr Bob Ives
AllTrails Kick Larrabee
Flickr Florida Fish and Wildlife
Google Maps
Have you ever been on the Peace River Trail in Florida before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you’re looking for more information about this trail, including current hours of operation, then check out the AllTrails website.
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Address: Peace River Trail, 2348-2476 Mt Pisgah Rd, Fort Meade, FL 33841, USA
