Pay to Dig Sites in California

Be a paleontologist or lapidarist for a day at one of California's many pay to dig sites!

The perfect activity for adults and kids!

Pay-to-Dig

If you have never been to one, a "pay-to-dig" site is a place where you can pay to dig for fossils, gems, minerals, or artifacts. These private sites allow visitors to dig and keep what they find, making it a popular activity for hobbyists, amateur geologists, and families.

Where are they?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1FM3dJ299cswFjKD8

Here is a list of sites in California that span from Sacramento to San Diego.

Site	Where?	What you can dig for?
Ernst Quarries Sharkstooth Hill	Bakersfield, CA	Fossilized sharks teeth, whale bones, sting ray teeth, etc
Benitoite Mining Company	Coalinga, CA	Benitoite
Gold Prospecting Adventures	Jamestown, CA	Gold
Himalaya Mine	Santa Ysabel, CA	Tourmaline, quartz crystals, lepidolite, topaz, morganite, and other pegmatite minerals
OceanView Mine / Pala Chief Mine	Pala, CA	Tourmalines, kunzites, morganites and more.
Roaring Camp Mining Company	Pine Grove, CA 95665	Gold

Also here's a fun handout about the types of things you can find in California.

Enjoy!