| Welcome to U-DIG Fossils | ||
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U-DIG Fossils offers the best Trilobite No trilobite quarry can match the quality U-Dig Fossils was featured Because of the continued good weather, U-DIG Fossils |
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| Hours - How to Get There - Cost - Visitor Experiences - Picture Gallery | ||
Welcome to the official web site of U-DIG Fossils. We operate a private quarry west of Delta, Utah, that contains one of the world's richest deposits of trilobites. Come experience the thrill of finding your own fossil trilobites!
See more in the Picture Gallery
What is a trilobite?
A trilobite is form of invertebrate marine life that lived more than 500 million years ago, but are now extinct. These hard-shelled prehistoric critters roamed the sea floor and coral reefs in search of food. Because of their great diversity and often perfect preservation in fine-grained rock, they are one of the most popular fossils among collectors.
Are the fossils easy to collect?
The fossils are found in a limestone shale. This shale splits easily into flat sheets, revealing the trilobite fossils. Fossilized trilobites lay nearly flat along the splitting planes of the shale. U-DIG Fossils can provide a hammer or you can bring your own. If you desire to remove your own fresh rock, larger tools are available. There's little need to do this, though. Fresh chunks of fossil-bearing rock are regularly extracted and exposed from the bedrock with heavy equipment by the U-DIG staff.
How many fossils will I find?
The average visitor finds ten to twenty trilobites in a four-hour period. If you're having trouble, friendly U-DIG personnel roam the Quarry area and would be glad to show you the richest veins of fossil-bearing rock. They can show you how to split the rock to find trilobites, and can identify what you find.
What sort of trilobites will I find?
The most common species found at the Quarry are:
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Elrathia kingi |
Asaphiscus wheeleri |
Peronopsis interstricta |
Some of the species below have been found, but are quite rare:
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Bolasidella housensis |
Alokistocare harrisi |
Olenoides nevadensis |
Other types of fossils can be found, including brachiopods, sponges, worm tracks, and phyllocarids. The quarry is part of the House Range, dated mid-Cambrian. The fossils range in length from 1/8th inch to two inches.
What have other visitors said about the trip and the experience in the Quarry?
Browse the stories on the Visitor Experiences page. After your visit, send us your story and we'll add it to this page.
What do I need to bring?
U-DIG Fossils recommends a pair of gloves to protect your hands. Garden gloves are adequate. Consider wearing sturdy shoes to protect your feet from dust and sharp rock. Bring a light jacket in case of a change in weather. You might also want to bring beverages and a light lunch. Bring plenty of water!
U-DIG Fossils cannot provide safety glasses. You will need to provide your own eye protection. Splitting rock involves some risk. Shards of rock could injure your eyes, so be sure to bring your own eye protection. Inexpensive safety glasses are available at most hardware stores.
To get an idea of the surrounding countryside and what the quarry looks like, see the Picture Gallery.
How much does it cost?
Here is the "regular rate" price list for customers who drive directly to the quarry on their own:
| Length of stay | Age 7 to 16 | Adults - Age 17 and older |
| 2 hours | $16 | $28 |
| Half Day - 4 hours | $28 | $42 |
| Full Day - 8 hours | $42 | $70 |
There is no charge for children age 6 and younger who are accompanied by a paying adult. Sales tax is not included in the prices listed here. Prices are subject to change without notice.
For groups of 10 people or more, a 15% discount can be applied. Discounts are also available for Boy Scout groups and local school groups.
A discount of 20% is available for Utah residents who can show a driver's license.
We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Like everyone else, we prefer cash.
Can we bring a large group?
Of course! No appointments are necessary. U-Dig staff are on site during regular business hours.
Tours to collect Dugway geodes, obsidian and topaz crystals can be arranged. Tours can include a visit to "The Bug House," a wholesale fossil lapidary shop. Please call for rates for tours. Lunches can be arranged.
Please ask about our special rates for large and educational groups. Large groups qualify for a 10% to 20% percent discount from the regular (non-tour) rates, depending on group size.
What does U-DIG provide?
Unlimited trilobites! U-DIG Fossils provides you with forty acres of the best trilobite collecting in the world. We expose fresh rock with an excavator on a regular basis. We can also provide hammers to split the shale, buckets to hold your collection and to carry your fossils to your vehicle in the parking area, digging instructions, assistance in finding and identifying fossils. We also provide toilet facilities.
Best of all, we always provide experienced, friendly staff. Gene Boardman or Bevan Hardy will assist you at the quarry.
The U-DIG Fossils Quarry is located approximately 52 miles west of Delta, Utah, near Antelope Springs. It is approximately 90 miles from Provo to Delta. It is approximately 130 miles from Salt Lake City to Delta.
Once in Delta, first travel 32 miles west on Highway 6 / 50. At the Long Ridge Reservoir sign between mile markers 56-57, turn right. There is a U-DIG Fossils sign at this intersection. Then travel 20 miles down a well-maintained gravel road to reach the U-DIG Quarry. Any type of vehicle can travel this gravel road. (To see this route in Google Maps, click here.)
| For a driving map of the general area, click here. | To see the quarry in Google Maps, click here. Click on "Satellite View" and zoom to the next-to-highest level. |
If you use a GPS, here are the coordinates. | ||
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The quarry is at: In UTM, it is at 12S 0303661 4358630. In decimal, 39.35483333,-113.2787222. |
What's the road like from Delta to the quarry?
The last twenty miles of gravel road to the U-DIG Quarry is maintained with graders by the county. Most of the time, the road is in excellent condition. At times, between gradings, the road will develop some washboard-type bumps in a few locations. The road is well-graveled. Even with extensive amounts of rain, the road will not get muddy. Having a good spare tire, jack, and lug wrench is always a good idea when traveling on a gravel road.
What is the weather like?
The U-DIG Quarry is located in the House Range of the high Utah desert. More specifically, it is in the foothills south of Swazey Peak near Antelope springs. The air is dry, meaning low humidity. The elevation is about 6,550 feet. By comparison, the average elevation in Salt Lake City is 4,300 feet. High temperatures in April are typically 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit, May 70-80, June 85-95, July 90-100, Aug. 90-100, Sep. 85-95, and Oct. 75-85. These are just average temperatures. The weather can change quickly during anytime of the year. We suggest having a jacket just in case. Mornings are always 10-20 degrees cooler. All temperatures are given in Fahrenheit, not Celcius.
Can we bring our pets?
Dogs are allowed at the quarry if they are on a leash. Be sure to bring extra water.
Can we drive an RV to the quarry?
Yes, you can! When you arrive at the quarry, smaller RVs can turn into the Quarry and park in a small parking area to the left, before the "Open" sign. You will then need to walk about 300 yards over to the office for assistance. Larger RVs will need to pull over to the side of he main road just below the "Welcome to U-DIG" sign. Do not pull into the Quarry. Leave your RV there and walk to the Quarry office, about 500 yards. When you are ready to leave, you can continue up the main gravel road, about 1/8 mile, to another connecting road. You can turn around at this location. Examine the Google Maps Satellite view for an overview.
Can we camp?
There are no organized camping areas by the U-DIG Quarry. Much of the land around the U-DIG Quarry is BLM or public land. You can camp anywhere you want on BLM land. However, the camping is primitive camping only. If you want to camp in the area, just pick a spot below or above the U-DIG Quarry.
What services are available at the quarry?
No other services are available at the Quarry. Delta has the nearest food and gas. The city of Delta is 52 miles away.
What if I have more questions?
U-DIG Fossils is a family-run business. We're anxious for you to have a unique and rewarding experience in our quarry. Please call or e-mail if you have any questions. We'd be glad to help. Here's our office address. (Please note, this is not the location of the Quarry. See above for directions to the Quarry.)
U-DIG Fossils
P.O. Box 1113
350 East 300 South
Delta, Utah 84624
(435) 864-3638
(435) 864-4294 FAX
E-mail udig@xmission.com
News from U-DIG Fossils
- News Archive from 2003-2007
- March 21, 2008 - Quarry open for the 2008 season.
Places to stay in Delta
- Best Western Motor Inn (435) 864-3882
- Budget Motel (435) 864-4533
- Rancher Motel (435) 864-2741
- Deltan Inn Motel (435) 864-5318
- Antelope Valley RV Park (800) 430-0022
More fossil and trilobite links
- Creative Creations is a fossil fish quarry in Kemmerer, southwest Wyoming. U-Dig customers can receive $10 off half and full day rates at the Creative Creations fish dig. Ask the U-Dig operator for a Creative Creations discount card when you visit our quarry.
- National Treasures Online
- Millard County Trilobites
- Prem's Trilobite Page
- www.trilobites.com
- A book called "The Traveler's Guide to Rocks and Fossils In and Around Millard County" is available for $2 from the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 866, 76 North 200 West, Delta, UT 84624. E-mail dacc@millardcounty.com .
- There was a story in the May 26, 1998 Salt Lake Tribune about U-DIG. It was once online, but now it's gone pay-per-view on their archive site, and I can no longer link to it.
- Warfield Fossil Quarries lets you dig for your own fossil fish in Wyoming.
Visitor Testimonials
If you do visit, please send me an e-mail afterwards and I'll add you experience to the Visitor Experiences page. This web site got its start as a recollection of my own experiences on my September 1998 trip, but it was soon joined by emails from other satisfied visitors. It would be untrue to say that I've ever edited or left out anyone's story. It's a great testament to U-Dig that all the fan mail has been overwhelmingly positive.
- My 1998 story, plus one from Demaris Frantz.
- More arrived in 2001, from Jim Bell, Stefan Brückel, Corey and Jan Dawson
- In 2002 there were stories from Gary and Linda Swarz, Vikki Jacklich, and Frances Whitney.
- In 2004, Richard Franklin sent his story as well as pictures of the area. Celia Furukawa and Cheryl Starr have others.
- In 2005, James Gilreath sent his story.
- For 2006, Joanne Chapman tells her story.
- For 2007, more visitors are sharing their experiences.
- John Foust <jfoust@threedee.com>
Who made this web page?
Believe it or not, I made this page because I was a very satisfied visitor in 1998. Yes, I've been maintaining for a decade! I made it based on the text of some of U-DIG's literature. I'd visited the original U-DIG web page in 1998 or so. When I had a chance to make a side-trip to this area of Utah, I couldn't find the old U-DIG web page. The link was broken. They needed a new web page!
Write to the U-Dig Fossils family at udig@xmission.com .