ST. GEORGE MUSEUM FIELD GUIDE
Hands-On Paleontology at St. George: Dig, Discover, Take Home a Piece of Deep Time
A focused, 3-hour field tour pairing a behind‑the‑scenes fossil lab visit with two hours of supervised digging at an active quarry—ideal for anyone age 8 and up seeking a tangible paleontology experience.
Hands-On Paleontology at St. George: Dig, Discover, Take Home a Piece of Deep Time.
On the Fossil Discoveries Field Tour you move beyond display cases: begin with a backstage look inside the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site’s prep lab, then cross the desert to an active quarry where you’ll learn site history, safety and tool use before spending two hours digging for fish, plant material and teeth. The program compresses the arc of field paleontology into a concentrated, hands‑on session set against the scrub and stone of southern Utah.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
An active quarry: fresh finds in a working site
Participants spend roughly two hours on an active quarry opened in spring 2025, searching layer by layer for fossils including fish, dinosaur and shark teeth, plants and tracks—material that has yielded thousands of specimens at the site.
Behind the scenes at the fossil prep lab
The tour begins with an exclusive lab visit where staff demonstrate fossil preparation and orient you to the kinds of specimens you may uncover at the quarry.
Finds you can bag and take home (with approval)
After digging there is time to clean and bag specimens; take‑home fossils are reviewed and cleared with a paleontologist before departure.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
The program unfolds briskly: a check‑in and lab orientation at the museum, a short transfer to the quarry for training and safety briefings, then hands‑on excavation time. You will get muddy, work with basic field tools under staff supervision, and finish by cleaning and packaging any specimens that are approved for participants to keep.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits—and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The Fossil Discoveries Field Tour is a 3‑hour program with morning (9:00–12:00) and afternoon (1:30–4:30) sessions; field work is weather dependent—plan for wind, rain, cool mornings and hot midday sun in shoulder seasons.
Bring at least 2 liters of water plus electrolytes, snacks, a wide‑brim hat, sunscreen (reapply), layered clothing, sturdy closed‑toe hiking boots, and work gloves if preferred.
Meet at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at 2180 E Riverside Dr., Saint George, UT for check‑in before your scheduled session.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Fossil Discoveries Field Tour?
The program lasts approximately three hours.
Is there an age minimum?
Yes—participants must be at least 8 years old.
Where do I meet for the tour?
Check‑in is at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site located at 2180 E Riverside Dr., Saint George, UT.
What will we do during the tour?
The day includes a behind‑the‑scenes lab tour, an orientation and safety briefing at the quarry, roughly two hours of supervised digging, and time to clean and bag specimens for paleontologist review.
Can I keep the fossils I find?
Take‑home fossils are cleaned, bagged and must be cleared with a paleontologist before being taken home.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
Field work is weather dependent; tours may be modified or affected by wind, rain or extreme temperatures, so plan accordingly.
What should I bring and wear?
Bring water (at least 2 liters) plus electrolytes, snacks, sun protection, layered clothing, and wear sturdy closed‑toe hiking boots; gloves are optional.