Rockhound Locations in Oregon
Here at the Rockhounding Maps, we give you access and information to the best dig sites for crystals and minerals in Oregon. On top of that, we’ve created a resource page to assist with answering all of your gem and mineral collecting questions.
We hope you enjoy your time on our site and come back often because we’re always adding new dig locations and crystal collecting updates. This is a great resource for anyone who loves rockhounding, from beginners to experts alike!
Rockhounding in Oregon is a great way to discover the state’s diverse geology and fossilized wildlife. The number of potential collecting sites here makes it an excellent location for those interested not only in rocks, but also minerals that can be found within them!
If you’re a rockhound, Oregon is the place to be! There are plenty of great locations to explore and find exceptional specimens. Here are the five best spots that I found for rockhounding in Oregon after comprehensive research.
We are here for any questions or concerns that might arise about your adventures in mineral collecting.
Oregon Rockhound Locations
If you’re looking for the best rockhound locations in Oregon, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of great places to rockhound, from the Priday Agate beds to the Nehalem River. So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rockhound, there’s sure to be a perfect spot. So, grab your rock hammer, and let’s get started!
Have you ever dreamed of going on a rock-hounding adventure in Oregon? Rockhounds can find Agate, Biggs Jasper, Owyhee Jasper, Petrified Wood, Thundereggs, and Obsidian. With its diverse landscape, Oregon can be a perfect place for you to hunt for rocks!
Be polite wherever you explore. Always pack out what you packed in. Meaning if you stop for a snack while rockhounding at any site, clean up after yourself and pack your trash items back out with you.
Always do your research regarding laws and regulations, and don’t forget to ask for permission to access an area and collect specimens.
This article will discuss the top rockhound locations in Oregon and the different types of rocks and minerals you can collect. Don’t forget to make it to the bottom of the page because we list out the best rock and mineral societies in the state. If you’re serious about collecting rocks then you’ll want to join one of these amazing clubs.
If you’re an active rock collector in Oregon then send us an email about your favorite locations and we will feature you on the site and we might sponsor you as well. That’s right, we will pay you to go dig for rocks and minerals.
So, if you’re ready to embark on a rock-hounding journey, then grab your rock hammer, and let’s get started!
Dig For Agate
| Location Name | Longitude and Latitude | Rocks and Gemstones |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Umpqua River | 43.3262297, -122.9970057 | Agate, Jasper, Carnelian, Petrified Wood |
| South Fork Umpqua River (Three C Rock Campground ) | 42.96472250, -122.88834690 | Agate, Jasper, Carnelian, Petrified Wood |
| South Fork Umpqua River (Bridge at Tiller Trail Highway) | 42.9284541, -122.951165 | Agate, Jasper, Carnelian, Petrified Wood |
| South Fork Umpqua River – Myrtle Creek | 43.03039498, -123.3170105 | Agate, Jasper, Carnelian, Petrified Wood |
| South Santiam River | 44.6867886°N, -123.0067593 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Molalla River (Three Bears Recreation Site | 45.04266400, -122.48936610 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Illinois River (Near Eightdollar Mountain | 42.2582871, -123.6618981 | Agate, Jasper |
| North Santiam River | 44.797753843, -122.566758847 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Willamette River | 44.060471, -122.091736 | Agate, Jasper |
| East Side of Steens Mountain (Near Borax Lake) | 42.327,- 118.603 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Leslie Gulch (Owyhee Reservoir) | 43.6167661, -117.2864754 | Agate, Jasper |
| Graveyard Point Marker | Idaho – Oregon Border | Plume Agate, Moss Agate |
| Agate Flat | 41.997297,- 117.718997 | Agate, Jasper |
| Harney Lake | 43.2433034, -119.1892879 | Agate, Jasper, Oolitic Agates, Petrified Wood |
| McVay Rock State Recreation Site | 42.01992, -124.23576 | Agate, Jasper, Fossils |
| South Jetty of Chetco River | 42.1859419, -124.1367536 | Agate, Jasper, Fossils |
| Pistol River | 42.2748345,- 124.4053862 | Jasper, Agate, Petrified Wood |
| Gold Beach | 42.407333, -124.421776 | Agate, Jasper, Fossils |
| Otter Point State Recreation Site | 42.39538,- -124.42272 | Agate, Jasper, Fossils |
| Agate Beach | 44.6752, 124.0604 | Agate, Jasper |
| Cape Blanco State Park | 42.8376, -124.5640 | Agate and Jasper |
| Whiskey Run Lane (Beach) | 43.21479, -124.36148 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood, Fossils |
| Seven Devils State Recreation Site | 43.2361, -124.3904 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Muriel O.Ponsler Memorial State Park | 44.169661, -124.116684 | Agate and Jasper |
| Stonefield Beach State Park (Tenmile Creek) | 44.2248429, -124.1117863 | Agate, Jasper |
| Bob Creek State Wayside (Bob’s Creek) | 44.2440096, -124.1117863 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Strawberry Hills | 44.2539033, -124.1117515 | Agate & Jasper |
| Neptune State Park (Gwynn Creek) | 44.269703, -124.109023 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Yachats Ocean Road State Park | 44.3062313, -124.1051196 | Agate and Jasper |
| Smelt Sands State Park | 44.32262, -124.1053975 | Agate, Jasper |
The Priday Agate bed is an excellent spot for finding beautiful orbicular agates. The Agates at this location feature round dots of various colors. This makes them unique and highly sought-after by collectors.
Rocks & Minerals: Agate, Jaspers, Petrified wood
Road Access: During the wet season, the road is impassable, and the bed is inaccessible
The Maury Mountain is great for finding Agates and other semi-precious stones. It is one of the most popular rock-hounding destinations in Central Oregon. The Agate bed is located 30 miles east of Prineville.
The area is rich in geological history and famous for Moss Agate which comes in various colors, including red, brown, green, and gold. It’s not uncommon to find Dendritic Agate and White Plume Agate at this location.
Rocks & Minerals: Moss Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper
Road Access: The bed is accessible by a gravel road that is usually in good condition. However, the road may be impassable after heavy rains or snowstorms.
Dig For Thundereggs
| Location Name | Longitude and Latitude | Rocks and Gemstones |
|---|---|---|
| White Fir Springs | 44.4046, 120.5534 | Thundereggs, Jasper |
| Whistler Springs (Ochoco National Forest ) | 44.4963183, -120.4850647 | Thundereggs |
| Lucky Strike Mine (Ochoco National Forest ) | 44.5176, 120.4972 | Thundereggs |
| Polka Dot Agate Mine | 44.76502, -120.82862 | Polka-Dot Agate, Thundereggs |
| White Rock Springs | 43.1227941, -123.0365276 | Thundereggs |
| Succor Creek | 43.318856, -117.072003 | Thunderegg, Jasper, Agate, Petrified Wood |
| Pike Creek | 42.582777777778 , -118.54388888889 | Thunderegg, Jasper, Agate, Petrified wood |
The Owyhee Canyonlands offer some of the best rock-hounding opportunities in the state. This location has flat desert stretches, flowing streams, and giant rocks. Thus it makes a perfect rock-hounding location.
The landscape is also incredibly diverse. Succor Creek Canyon and Juniper Gulch are two rich sites you can explore. In Juniper Gulch, you’ll find a variety of Agates, Jaspers, and Petrified Wood.
Succor Creek Canyon is known for its Opals, Thundereggs, and Jasper.
Rocks & Minerals: Agate, Jasper, Petrified wood, Obsidian, Thundereggs
Road Access: The main roads in the area are unpaved and can be rough and dusty. Travel can be difficult during wet weather, and road closures are common. So when planning a trip, check road conditions in advance and come prepared.
If you’re looking for an excellent location to find gem-quality Obsidian in Oregon, look no further than Glass Butte. You can locate Glass Butte off Highway 20 in Lake County. It offers a plethora of obsidian deposits that are perfect for rock hounding.
Glass Butte has many spots to explore and several gravel roads in the area. When rock-hounding in this area, a pro tip is to look at sites along the east side of the butte. You can also try near the summit, and the lava flows.
Rocks & Minerals: Varieties of Obsidian, including Silver Sheen, Midnight Lace, and Mahogany.
Road Access: The roads leading to the Obsidian are generally in good condition. However, there can be some areas of wash boarding or potholes. In general, the roads are passable by any vehicle.
Dig For Petrified Wood
| Location Name | Longitude and Latitude | Rocks and Gemstones |
|---|---|---|
| Dendrite Butte- Near Congleton Hollow | 44.05158, -120.02223 | Opalized Wood, Petrified Wood |
| Quartzville Creek – Rocky Top Bridge | 44.7884553, -122.2923011 | Petrified Wood |
| Clackamas River (Near Alder Flat Trailhead | 45.0807, -122.0562 | Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper |
| Clackamas River (Near Memlaoose Bridge) | 45°11’33, -122°12’39 | Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper |
| Calapooia River (Willamette National Forest) | 44.060471, -122.091736 | Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper |
| Haystack Rock | 45.8845,- 123.9682 | Petrified Wood |
| Gopher Holes | 42.0629° N, 117.9546 | Petrified Wood |
| White Hill | 42.059736, -117.947313 | Petrified Wood |
| Cottonwood Spring | 44.4713742, -118.7982163 | Petrified Wood |
| Negro Rock | 43.41821,-117.11876 | Petrified Wood |
| Stinkingwater Creek | 43.80738,-118.40104 | Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper |
| Hampton Butte | 43.774301, -120.2818702 | Petrified Wood, Limb Casts |
| Fischer Canyon | 42.3013, 119.7894 | Petrified Wood, Agates, Calcite |
| Bear Creek | 44.8837231, -123.9698353 | Petrified wood |
| Congleton Hollow | 44.05158, -120.02223 | Petrified Wood, Opalized Wood |
The Nehalem River is another exceptional location you can explore to find crystals. The river is home to beautiful rocks like Plume Agate, Carnelian, and Jasper.
If you’re interested in rock hounding in the Nehalem River, here is a pro tip that can help you. Bring a hammer, chisel, and a bucket to store your finds. The rocks in the river can be pretty tough to break, so the hammer and chisel will come in handy. Happy rock-hounding!
Rocks & Minerals: Plume agate, Carnelian, Jasper
Road Access: The Nehalem River provides reasonable access for boats and vehicles. But, there are some areas where the river is too shallow for navigation. In these areas, it is necessary to portage around obstacles.
Dig For Jasper
| Location Name | Longitude and Latitude | Rocks and Gemstones |
|---|---|---|
| Seal Rock State Recreation Site | 44.4962297, -124.0876201 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood, & Marine Fossils |
| Ona State Park | 44.5179, -124.0715 | Jasper, Petrified Wood, Marine Fossils |
| Beverly Beach State Park | 44.7290, 124.0556 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood, Marine Fossils |
| Otter Rock & Devils Punch Bowl State Park | 44.7465042, -124.0670605 | Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood, & Marine Fossils |
| Fogarty State Park | 44.8423347, -124.0456705 | Agate, Jasper, & Petrified Wood |
| Siletz Bay Park | 44.926580, -124.014355 | Agate, Jasper, & Petrified Wood |
| D River Wayside State Park | 44.967493, -124.017211 | Agate, Jasper, & Petrified Wood |
| Roads End State Park | 45.0029 124.0034 | Agate, Jasper, & Petrified Wood |
| Short Beach | 45.4748, 123.9685 | Agate & Jasper |
| Oceanside & Tunnel Beaches | 45.46378,-123.97323 | Agate & Jasper |
| Netarts | 45.434825, -123.945961 | Agate & Jasper |
| Oswald West State Park | 45.769811, -123.959093 | Agate & Jasper |
| Hug Point State Park | 45.8382, -123.9548 | Agate & Jasper |
| Warm Springs Reservoir | 43.6146798, -118.2377539 | Agate, Jasper, & Petrified Wood |
| Harney Lake | 43.2368, 119.1099 | Agate & Jasper |
| South Umpqua Bridge (Bridge at Days Creek ) | 42.97333, -123.34676 | Agate, Jasper, Pyrite |
| Thomas Creek | 44.6776222, -122.9720362 | Jasper, Petrified Wood |
| Big Creek Bridge | 44.17446,-124.11523 | Jasper, Agate, and Petrified Wood |
| Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park | 44.1581765, -124.1165087 | Agate and Jasper |
| Moolack Beach | 44.6998382, -124.0653945 | Agates, Jasper, Fossil Shells |
| Nelscott Beach | 44.9426, 124.0238 | Agate, Jasper |
| Gleneden Beach | 44.8814, 124.0346 | Agate, Jasper |
| Cape Blanco State Park | 42.83555, -124.55593 | Agate & Jasper |
| Sixes River Recreation Area | 42.8042096, -124.3083122 | Agate & Jasper |
If you want the best rockhound locations in Oregon, you’ll want to check out these five locations. Each location has its unique geological features and offers a different rock-hounding experience. So, get out there and start rock-hounding!
List of Rock and Mineral Societies
