In June 2017, I am planning to collect the famous Shark Tooth Hill. This post is everything I’ve found about planning this California fossil collecting adventure.

The Trip

My entire trip will be one week. I am landing in Los Angeles, to see a rare stateside performance from the UK Doom Metal Band, Warning. From Los Angeles, we are driving to Bakersfield for 1 day of collecting Shark Tooth Hill. After this, we drive several hours North, to do some camping in Sequoia National Park, followed by another drive, and camping Yosemite. After a week in the Wilderness, we arrive in San Francisco, to see Warning once more, before flying out to Chicago

Shark Tooth Hill and Ernst Quarry

661-319-7080

info@sharktoothhillproperty.com

Shark Tooth Hill is about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles.



The entrance to Ernst Quarry is about 20 minutes from Bakersfield, where you meet at 7:45am the day of collecting.



Reservations are required, and days available for collecting vary, especially during the summer season. Visit http://www.sharktoothhillproperty.com/ to book your visit.

Or you can become a member of the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science and join one of their annual digs (seems to be only in the fall and winter).



According to the pricing page, there are 3 areas to collect:

East Quarry (which I have read is more productive collecting, but harder to get to, and only open certain times of the year). $70/day

Slow Curve- $40/day

Slow Curve- Premium Area $40(general admisson)+$30 1/2 day

Here is a great photo of what the collecting area looks like.

Where To Stay

We are going to stay at Fairview Campground in Sequoia National Forest. It is about an hour and a half away, but we are heading that way next, and it seemed more practical than staying in Bakersfield. Fairview Campground Reservations.

Other Quarries and Bakersfield Fossil Collecting Sites

White Whale Quarry- http://sharktoothhillfossils.com/ (not sure if it is open to public collecting).

Tips

Ernst Quarries has some tools to borrow, but it would be safe to bring a chisel or screw driver, and a pick or hammer.

Collecting here runs the risk of contracting Valley Fever, a respiratory disease caused by spores in this soil. It is rare, and can resemble a bad flu, but can be very serious in some cases. Face masks are advised, and can be bought for a few dollars from a hardware store.

Videos

For updates on this trip, and field reports of fossil collecting and fishing in Illinois, you can follow via email.