Black Friday Utah Fossil Hunt!

Like fossils and hiking? I'll show you where to find various fossils and gemstones near Hurricane UT. These are sites where you can legally collect as well. Pick up some fossils to give as holiday presents! Forget those retailers selling garbage!

This outing will include at least two locations in Hurricane, each with different treasures to find. This hike is family-friendly, and allows guests. From Vegas, it's about two and a half hours one-way, so this is a full day trip including the stops. Anyone who attends can choose to return when they want, if they drive.

**Rockhounding Locations:
-First stop will be Gooseberry Mesa, a very popular mountain biking location. You will find abundant petrified wood fossils here. Some are very large, some are colorful, and if you're really lucky, some even have quartz crystals on them! The post photo shows some pieces that are fist-sized. Other interesting stones can also be found such as agate. Expect to spend a few hours at this location as we hunt for good stones. It's BLM land and open for exploration in any direction. Really good info on the geology of the region here: https://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/geol-gooseberry.htm

-Second stop will be Three Falls Trail right behind one of the neighborhoods of Hurricane, in a cliffside. This hiking trail is ~1.8 miles out and back. The entire ravine it passes through is full of paleozoic ocean fossils. (shells, coral, sponges, crinoids, brachiopods, etc.) The falls are dry 99% of the time, so don't expect water! There are, however, some very nice rock formations to see. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/goulds-wash-via-three-falls-trail

-If you've never driven to Utah, we will pass through the Virgin River Gorge in Arizona on the way. It's a really amazing to see. For those interested in geology: http://suindependent.com/geological-wonderland-geology-virgin-river-gorge/

-Two other potential sites are the Virgin River, with river-polished fossils, and Glitter Mountain, a selenite mining pit. These are both quick and easy to reach.

-Here's a link to fossil and gemstone collecting rules: https://geology.utah.gov/popular/general-geology/dinosaurs-fossils/collecting-rules/

**Difficulty:
The hiking will require very little scrambling. At three falls trail, there is a short scramble near the beginning of the trail, but it flattens out once past that and becomes very easy.

**Bring:

• cash to share gas expenses if you carpool.
• food, snacks, and water because it's a long trip!
• Small trowel/shovel, or a rock pick. (not necessary to gather fossils, but can be helpful)
• a sturdy backpack, or something else to pack rocks out in. You will find more petrified wood than you can carry, so keep that in mind!
• newspaper to wrap stones in when packing. (prevents scratching the fossils)
• swimsuit, towel, and/or beach appropriate footwear, if you want to wade in the river.

**Meetup:
- We're meeting at the Pilot Travel Center right off 15 and Craig, so we can jump on the road quickly. Find the orange Honda Fit to meet up. I will be driving my own car which will be full. People can choose to carpool (you arrange) or drive their own vehicle.

-Please arrive early so we can leave promptly at 7:00 PST!

-Note that the times are in Pacific time, and Utah is in a different time zone.

**The legal stuff:

• Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.

• By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event.

• All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests.

• By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.