Spend a half-day digging through 500-million-year-old shale near Delta, Utah, to find museum-quality trilobite fossils. Expert guidance, tools provided, and hands-on collecting in one of the richest Cambrian formations on Earth.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step out of the van onto broken shale under a wide, bright sky — wind sifts dust across the slope and the quarry face rises like a page of Earth's oldest notebooks. Shale plates split in your hands reveal curled trilobites and segmented exoskeletons that survived 500 million years; the air smells faintly of dry rock and mineral dust.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most people with light mobility; requires walking on uneven ground and standing for extended periods.
Wildlife
History
The Wheeler and Marjum shales around Delta are famous Cambrian fossil beds; finds from these layers have been central to studies of early marine ecosystems.
Conservation
Collecting is managed to protect the formation—stay within designated areas, minimize disturbance, and pack out all trash to preserve the site for research and future visitors.
Reserve your spot on the Half Day Quarry Access today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Hydrate for the desert
Bring at least 2–3 liters of water per person; there’s no potable water on-site.
Sturdy footwear only
Wear closed-toe, grippy shoes — shale is sharp and slopes can be loose.
Sun protection matters
Wide-brim hat, UV sunglasses, and SPF 30+ recommended — little shade exists.
Follow collection rules
Collect only in designated areas and keep finds within size limits to comply with site rules.
Closed-toe hiking shoes
Protects feet from sharp shale and provides traction on loose slopes.
2–3 liters water
Prevents dehydration in dry desert conditions; carry more in summer.
summer
Sun hat and sunscreen
Protects against prolonged UV exposure with little shade on site.
summer
Small backpack and gloves
A backpack holds water and layers; thin work gloves protect hands while splitting shale.
spring