Some trails will take you and your children to great locations where they easily can find gems or even fossils. This is a great way to get kids interested in rockhounding and to teach them about geology.Collecting can be an issue as some sites on national and state land prohibit the removal of rocks and fossils, so always check the regulations. It’s no fun for a kid to go find beautiful agates or 20-million-year-old fossilized palm fronds only to have to leave them behind.
If heading down a gem or fossil trail, you’ll need a geologist’s hammer, goggles to protect your eyes when you start digging, and re-sealable plastic bags to carry the collected rocks.
Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.
