Fossil Hunting at Bearing North Lodge

Discovering the Ancient Secrets of the Ordovician

Bivalvles and coral

If you're planning a stay at Bearing North Lodge, you're in for more than just serene riverside views and cozy, rustic charm. Nestled in the heart of Michigan’s central Upper Peninsula, the lodge offers an extraordinary opportunity to connect with the distant past. Among the peaceful surroundings, you’ll find a gateway to an ancient world filled with fascinating fossils from the Ordovician period—perfect for guests eager to embark on a geological adventure.

Unearthing Ordovician Treasures

The Ordovician period, which occurred roughly 485 to 444 million years ago, was a time when much of what is now North America lay beneath a shallow, tropical sea. This ancient ocean was teeming with life, including a variety of marine organisms whose fossilized remains can be found today at Bearing North Lodge.

Small Brachiopod collection

The Fossil Cut along the Grade Trail is a prime spot to discover these remnants of prehistoric life. This road-cut, formed during the construction of the old railroad grade, exposes layers of limestone packed with fossils. As you explore, keep an eye out for some of the most common fossils found in the area:

• Brachiopods: These marine animals resembled clams but belonged to a completely different group. Brachiopods had two hard shells, or valves, which protected their soft, inner organs. Their fossils often appear as small, ridged shells embedded in the rock.

  
  

• Cephalopods: Ancestors to modern-day squids and octopuses, cephalopods during the Ordovician period had long, straight shells. These fossils can be recognized by their distinctive, elongated shape, which may appear as a series of segmented chambers in the rock.

Cephalopod fragment

Cephalopod fragment

• Crinoids: Sometimes called "sea lilies," crinoids were marine animals related to starfish. They had long, stalk-like stems that anchored them to the sea floor, with feathery arms that waved in the water to catch food. Fossils of crinoids often resemble stacks of tiny, circular disks, like a string of beads frozen in stone.

Large Crinoid stem

• Corals: Fossilized corals from the Ordovician period often appear as intricate, honeycomb-like patterns in the limestone. These patterns are remnants of ancient coral reefs that once thrived in warm, shallow seas. The colonial organisms that formed these reefs built massive structures, much like modern-day coral reefs. Their fossils provide a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant marine ecosystems of the distant past.

  
  

• Snails: Fossilized snails, or gastropods, are another common find from the Ordovician seas. These fossils can be recognized by their distinctive coiled shells, which vary from tightly wound spirals to more open, conical shapes. Snails were abundant in ancient oceans, and their fossils offer a look into the diverse and complex marine life that existed hundreds of millions of years ago.

  
  

• Bivalves: Fossilized bivalves, ancient relatives of modern clams and oysters, are commonly found in Ordovician limestone. These fossils are characterized by their symmetrical, hinged shells, which often display fine ridges or patterns. Bivalves lived in shallow marine environments, where they burrowed into the seabed or attached themselves to rocks. Their well-preserved shells offer insight into the abundant and varied marine life that flourished in the ancient seas of the Upper Peninsula.

  
  

Ordovician period life

• Trilobites: Trilobites, iconic marine arthropods from the Ordovician period, are a rare but exciting find at Fossil Cut. These fossils are recognizable by their distinct three-lobed, segmented bodies. Although they once thrived in ancient seas, their fossils are scarce in the area, making them a prized discovery for any fossil hunter. If you're fortunate enough to find a trilobite, you'll be holding a piece of history that's hundreds of millions of years old, offering a rare glimpse into the distant past.

  
  

Sample Fossils at the Lodge

For those who want to see what they might find at Fossil Cut, the lodge has a small collection of fossils on display. These specimens, which include examples of brachiopods, cephalopods, and crinoids, and more are there for everyone to enjoy. We ask that you please treat these fossils with care and leave them at the lodge so that future guests can appreciate these ancient wonders as well.

Fossil assemblage

A Family-Friendly Adventure

Fossiliferous limestone

Fossil hunting at Bearing North Lodge is a fun and educational activity for all ages. Children will be thrilled by the chance to uncover real fossils, while adults can appreciate the incredible stories these ancient remains tell about our planet’s distant past.

To begin your fossil-hunting adventure, take a stroll down the Grade Trail from the lodge to Fossil Cut. Bring along a small hammer and chisel if you have them, or simply use your hands to carefully extract fossils from the rock. While the fossils near the river are best left in place for others to enjoy, you’re welcome to take home a fossil from Fossil Cut as a keepsake of your adventure.

Explore More of the U.P.’s Geological Wonders

Beyond the lodge, the Upper Peninsula offers a wealth of geological sites to explore. From the towering cliffs of Pictured Rocks to the ancient copper deposits of the Keweenaw Peninsula, there’s no shortage of natural beauty and history to discover. After a day of fossil hunting, relax back at the lodge with an evening by the river, where you can reflect on your journey through time.

At Bearing North Lodge, history isn’t just something you read about—it’s something you can touch. Whether you’re here for the fishing, the wildlife, or the thrill of unearthing ancient fossils, there’s something for every explorer at the lodge. So pack your sense of adventure and curiosity, and get ready to step back in time in the heart of the Upper Peninsula.