PETOSKEY, MI: PETOSKEY STONES

PETOSKEY, MI: Petoskey Stones

Location: Petoskey, MI
Website: petoskeyarea.com

Overview

Michigan is home to a lot of unique rocks, but one in particular you should check out. That’s their state stone – the Petoskey stone. If you guessed that stone is found around Petoskey, MI, you’d be right!

You’ll know when you come across them from their beautiful hexagonal lattice pattern. The rock is actually a fossil colonial coral from 350 million years ago. That’s so crazy! According to Wikipedia Petoskey stones are specifically, “composed of a fossilized rugose coral, Hexagonaria percarinata. Such stones were formed as a result of glaciation, in which sheets of ice plucked stones from the bedrock, grinding off their rough edges and depositing them in the northwestern (and some in the northeastern) portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula. In those same areas of Michigan, complete fossilized coral colony heads can be found in the source rocks for the Petoskey stones.”

Pretty cool, huh? Keep reading to learn how to get to Petoskey and tips for finding these stones.

Getting There

Petoskey, MI is located an hour and a half North from Traverse City. If you are coming from Traverse City like we were, just follow Grand Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay North until you run into Petoskey’s cute downtown area at E Lake St and Petoskey St.

Tips

Magnus Park is where you will have the best luck finding them.
Another area you can check out is a little further North at Petoskey State Park.
Get your rocks wet! It’s much easier to see the pattern when the rocks are wet. Dip them in the lake or go rock hunting when it’s raining.
According to Michigan DNR you are only allowed to remove 25lbs of Petoskey stones a year….why would you need that much stone?! Just take a few as keepsakes.
Michigan DNR has the right to confiscate any Petoskey stone that’s found weighing +25lbs.
Petoskey also has an adorable downtown where you can grab lunch and a coffee.

What do the stones look like?

Remember to get your rocks wet to see that pretty hexagonal pattern. Below are the ones I found on my trip. Eventually I plan to polish a couple.

I’d recommend checking this out if you are fond of combing beaches looking for unique stones or just looking for an excuse to take a trip and hangout in nature.

If you’ve been here before I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Travels,

Laura

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