Rockhound Locations in Wyoming

Wyoming Rockhound Locations

Wyoming is among the top rockhounding locations in the United States. That is partly because 50 percent of the state is public land. Don’t forget, Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which spans over 2 million acres.

Wyoming is home to some incredible Jade specimens, mainly of the classes Nephrite and Jadeite. There are several excellent rockhound locations all throughout the state.

A majority of counties in Wyoming contain numerous rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones. Fremont, Sweetwater, Washakie, Natrona, and Carbon Counties are all prime rockhound locations to find Jade. 

Have you ever dreamed of going on a rock-hounding adventure in Wyoming? There are quite a few locations to dig for crystals, gems, Petrified Wood, Fossils, and Turritella Agate.  With its diverse landscape, Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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, read on to find out more!

Dig For Agate

Albany County is in the bottom eastern portion of Wyoming and borders the northern Colorado state line. Albany County is home to some of the best rockhounding locations in Wyoming because there are various rock and mineral specimens, including:

• Allanite
• Beryl
• Calcite-Aragonite
• Cordierite
• Feldspar
• Galena
• Kyanite
• Magnetite
• Manganese
• Mica
• Uranium
• Quartz Crystals

Sand Creek and the Red Buttes areas in Albany County are full of sedimentary rocks. The Medicine Bow Mountains are excellent places to find Slate, Galena, Beryl, and Barite. If you explore the highway cut north of Laramie, you might find meteorites.

Exploring the Laramie Mountain Range can lead to finding specimens like Amphibole, Epidote, Plagioclase minerals, Garnet, Magnetite, and mica.

Quartz crystals are relatively abundant in the feldspar pits just south of Laramie. If you’re hoping to find agates in Albany County, check around Marshall in the northwestern region of the county.

Palmer Canyon is the place to be if you want to find Sapphire. The Sapphire specimens found in the Canyon vary from blue and light grey to deeper colors, including violet.

Carbon County is another prime rockhounding location in Wyoming. It’s located in the southern part of the state, with Albany on its eastern side. Carbon County is the home to some excellent specimens, including:

• Allanite
• Beryl
• Columbite-Tantalite
• Calcite-Aragonite
• Euxenite
• Galena
• Hematite
• Jade
• Mica
• Opal
• Agate
• Slate

Suppose you’re interested in finding nephrite-type jade specimens. In that case, you might want to explore the Kortes Dam area and the Sierra Madre Mountains. The Hot Park Area is near the Sierra Madre Mountains, and Barite is commonly found a few miles southwest of Encampment.

If opals are something you hope to find, check around Smith Creek. Quartz crystals are typically found everywhere north of Saratoga along Highway 130 to Walcott Junction. You can also find Agatized and Opalized wood specimens here.

Dig For Gemstones

Johnson County is located in north-central Wyoming. Here, rockhounds can find Agates. The Wasatch Formation is a great place to find manganese and uranium minerals. 

Natrona County is in central Wyoming. Here, rockhounds can find some incredible specimens, including:

• Agates
• Allanite
• Lithium Minerals
• Magnetite
• Manganese
• Uranium Minerals
• Bentonite

Agates, copper minerals, uranium minerals, Calcite, and Aragonite can be found throughout Park County in northwestern Wyoming.

The Absaroka Mountains are an excellent place to explore. Rockhounds can find all sorts of rocks and minerals, including:

• Galena
• Molybdenite
• Opals

A look around the Wood River and Sunlight Basin areas can potentially lead to finding gold. If you’re into gemstones like Amethyst, I suggest checking out Amethyst Mountain; it got its name for a reason.

Dig For Fossils

The Hartville district within Platte County is said to contain some copper minerals. The real gems that rockhounds are eager to get their hands on in Platte County are banded Agates and druzy Quartz specimens. You can find these in the Mississippian limestone beds a few miles northwest of Guernsey, Wyoming.

If you head to Copper Mountain, you might find some specimens like Beryl, Feldspar, lithium, Magnetite, and manganese. However, Jade can be located in the Sweetwater River district, just southeast of the Wind River Mountains.

Rainbow Agates have been found along the Wind River near Riverton. If it’s Sapphires you fancy, you may want to check out Grizzly Creek and Sweeny Basin.

No rockhound excursion would be complete in Wyoming without exploring Yellowstone National Park. Rockhounds can find opal within the deposits associated with the park’s hot springs.

Obsidian is abundant in the park, with the most famous location to find these beauties being the Obsidian Cliff. Obsidian Cliff is located in the northwest region of Yellowstone. 

While Yellowstone makes the list for being one of the top rockhounding locations in Wyoming, unfortunately, rockhounding is not permitted there. However, it is legal to dig in the areas surrounding this famous park.

Rockhounding in Wyoming never seems to let down rockhounds. It looks as though there’s something interesting around every bend within every county. If you’re unsure where to start, try looking into some of Wyoming’s rockhound clubs and societies. They’re excellent for novices and experts alike, not to mention the members can likely share some of the lesser-known locations.

More Agate Dig Sites