Rockhounding is a novel option to discover public lands and areas. You get to expertise the joys of the hunt, and the joys of discovering rock and mineral specimens to carry house and show whereas spending a day (or a number of!) open air. It’s a enjoyable exercise for adventure-seeking RV vacationers.
Bringing an RV additionally means you may sleep every night time in consolation. You’ll have a spot to retailer your meals and different provides. Relying in your RV mannequin, you may additionally have a bathe and clear lavatory to take pleasure in whilst you’re exploring.
This information covers prime spots to take a look at for rockhounding, plus RV campgrounds and different areas close by.
The Prime 5 Wild Locations You Can Dig for Crystals & The place to Camp Close by
Indulge your inside prospector at these cool spots the place you may hunt for crystals and luxuriate in a weekend open air!
1. Crystal Park – Montana
Crystal Park is within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Nationwide Forest in southwestern Montana. It’s open for day use solely, and there’s a $5 charge per particular person, money or examine. Youngsters 10 and youthful don’t have to pay. The realm is usually open from mid-June by means of mid-October, relying on the climate.
There are three picnic websites with tables and grills. You’ll additionally discover loos, a paved path with benches, and an overlook.
You may solely use hand instruments to seek for crystals, and every particular person has a five-day restrict per season for digging. Guidelines for the realm are posted on indicators within the park and are listed in brochures you will get on the website.
Weekdays are typically much less crowded than weekends.
What to Discover: You may hunt for quartz crystals among the many decomposed granite. You may discover crystals which might be clear, cloudy, grey (smoky), white, or purple (amethysts). They vary in measurement from smaller than a pinky finger to as much as a number of inches. Most of those crystals don’t have a giant financial worth, however they’re a enjoyable memento out of your journey.
Learn how to Get There: For those who’re heading to the park from Dillon, take I-15 south for 3 miles. Then take the Freeway 278 exit and proceed west for 22 miles. Head north on Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway Street 73 for about 17 miles.
The park is close to Elkhorn Sizzling Springs, if you wish to add a calming getaway to your journey.
Tip: Deliver hand instruments, buckets, and a tarp for sorting your haul. You’ll want to carry loads of water, sunscreen, a solar hat, and layers so that you’re ready for any form of mountain climate.
Tenting Close by
There isn’t any tenting at Crystal Park, however Value Creek Campground is a close-by choice. It has vault bogs, potable water, picnic tables and hearth rings, and bear containers for meals and toiletries. There isn’t any rubbish service. Dispersed tenting is on the market within the nationwide forest as properly.
You’ll discover a lot of lovely campgrounds in Montana, a few of that are close to this space as properly.
RVing is a good way to journey to Crystal Park for rockhounding. Since Crystal Park permits as much as 5 days of digging, you may spend a couple of days searching for treasures whereas sleeping in a snug mattress every night time.
2. Garnet Hill – Ely, Nevada
Garnet Hill, because the identify implies, is a wonderful place to seek for garnets. The realm is close to Ely, which is a superb city for tenting and RVing. You may search for garnets in considered one of two methods at Garnet Hill. First, look across the space and in drainage areas for darkish coloured garnets. Typically, the crystals come out of the rocks they’re in and wash downhill.
It’s also possible to break open rocks with a hammer to seek for garnets inside. You’ll seemingly discover higher specimens utilizing this technique. It’s also possible to see the excavations on the large open pit copper mines close to Ruth from Garnet Hill. For those who’re a rockhound, there’s a lot of thrilling stuff to see! One tip from a rock hunter is to stroll farther than most people who find themselves digging. Folks are inclined to cluster, so should you enterprise farther from the primary space, you may discover stones that haven’t been picked over.
There are 4 picnic websites at Garnet Hill, and there’s an accessible restroom. There’s additionally a gaggle barbeque space. The realm sits at about 7,000 toes above sea stage.
What to Discover: Search for garnets all through this space. They’ll seemingly fluctuate from a darkish maroon to black – not very best for gem stones however nice as rock and mineral specimens to show.
Learn how to Get There: The city of Ely sits alongside Freeway 50 in jap Nevada. To get to Garnet Hill from Ely, head west on Freeway 50. North of the Ruth turnoff, you’ll flip proper onto the graded entry street. Sedans and passenger automobiles can use this street, however it’s steep and winding in locations. You’ll drive on the street for 3.1 miles and arrive on the parking space.
Tip: Deliver hand instruments, buckets, and a tarp for sorting your haul. You’ll additionally desire a solar hat and sunscreen, loads of water, snacks or a lunch, and layers so that you’re prepared for high-altitude climate.
Tenting Close by
There may be some restricted area for tenting at Garnet Hill, appropriate for tents or small RVs. There are additionally a lot of tenting choices in Ely, together with nice lodging on the Ely KOA Journey and primitive tenting at Cleve Creek Campground. Nice Basin Nationwide Park is just below an hour’s drive from Ely, and also you’ll discover campgrounds and plenty to do there as properly.
Ely is a really RV-friendly city, with quite a lot of campgrounds. And RVing is a good way to expertise rockhounding at Garnet Hill. You may spend a day or two trying to find specimens in the course of the day, and loosen up in your personal area and comfortable mattress every night time.
3. Salmon River Crystal Space – Idaho
Idaho’s nickname is The Gem State, and you will discover treasures to gather all through the state. The Salmon River has some areas which might be in style spots to go rock looking. The East Fork of the river is close to cryptocrystalline quartz that’s housed in blood pink sandstone. Close to Challis, you’ll discover a uncommon zeolite, and there’s a petrified wooden forest within the space as properly.
There are different spots all alongside the river the place you may look. The Island Bar Recreation Website in west central Idaho tends to have garnet, agate, and jasper together with varied different minerals. And Ruby Rapids is one other good spot to go looking.
What to Discover: Relying on the realm you’re looking, you might discover quartz, amethyst, citrine, garnet, agate and jasper within the river.
Learn how to Get There: You may attain some elements of the Salmon River and get attractive views of the realm by following the Salmon River Scenic Byway. Huge Salmon Street close to Riggins additionally goes close to the river.
Tip: You’ll seemingly desire a trowel for digging. One rockhound additionally recommends a gold pan. Garnets are heavier than most rocks, so you may pan for them like panning for gold. Allow them to settle to the underside of your pan as you sift out water, silt, and different particles.
You’ll additionally desire a solar hat, sunscreen, water, snacks, and layers. You might have considered trying waders or water sneakers for getting within the river, plus a towel and dry garments for if you’re performed.
Tenting Close by
There’s a very small campground at Island Bar Recreation Website – simply three campsites. However there are different BLM tenting choices close by which might be additionally alongside the river, together with Lucile Recreation Website, Slate Creek, and Hammer Creek.
The Salmon River goes by means of the Salmon-Challis Nationwide Forest, and there are many dispersed tenting choices within the forest. It’s also possible to discover tenting in cities like Boise, Twin Falls, Put up Falls, and all all through the state.
You may hire at RV at house to drive to the Salmon River, or fly into Idaho and hire one for a shorter street journey.
4. Rockhound State Park – Deming, New Mexico
Rockhound State Park is in Luna County, 7 miles from Deming. It’s located within the Little Florida Mountains. Together with being house to quite a lot of rocks and minerals, it’s additionally the location of a variety of cacti and different desert crops. It’s an arid desert area that may additionally get thunderstorms and flash floods. You may additionally spot wildlife, together with lizards, snakes, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep.
This is among the solely state parks within the nation that enables company to carry house gems and minerals they discover. There’s a 15-pound weight restrict on what you may carry house with you. A day cross for the park is $5 for New Mexico residents and $10 for non-residents.
What to Discover: You may uncover quartz crystals, geodes, jasper, perlite, or different minerals on the park.
Learn how to Get There: Rockhound State Park is only a brief drive from Deming. Observe I-10 E and NM-549 E to NM-143 S/Stirrup Rd SE, then drive to Stirrup Rd SE to the park.
Tip: You’ll desire a trowel for digging, a bucket the place you may maintain your finds, and presumably a tarp or different floor the place you may lay all the things out to see what you could have. For those who plan to take house as many rocks and minerals as potential, it’s your decision a scale or different option to decide that you’ve got 15 kilos or much less.
Tenting Close by
Rockhound State Park has a campground with electrical hookups. Nonetheless, the park fills up shortly. Little Winery RV Resort payments itself as a Rock Hunter’s Paradise and has full hookups, a canine park, a playground, and a pool. Las Cruces additionally has nice campgrounds and is about an hour away from the park.
5. Graveyard Level – Oregon
Graveyard Level in jap Oregon is in Owyhee Canyon. There are tons of of acres within the excessive desert, with agate veins the place you may seek for rocks and minerals. A whole lot of this space is open and obtainable for rock looking, however there are some mining claims. Verify for posted indicators and be sure you’re following Bureau of Land Administration guidelines.
To uncover nice agate specimens, search for an agate vein and mine it with a geological choose. You might need to search areas the place different individuals have already been digging, as that may point out an excellent deposit.
You’ll desire a high-clearance 4-wheel drive automobile to discover Graveyard Level.
What to Discover: You may discover quite a lot of several types of agate, plus quartz, petrified wooden, and jasper.
Learn how to Get There: Graveyard Level is simply eight miles southwest of Homedale, ID. It’s 48 miles west of Boise. From Boise, you’re taking I-84 W. Take exit 27 and observe State Freeway 19 W to US 95 S in Wilder. Observe that to Graveyard Level Street.
Tip: You’ll need to carry a shovel, geology choose, hammer, and chisel to assist with looking agates and different minerals.
Tenting Close by
Homedale, Idaho is the closest city to Graveyard Level, and there are a number of campgrounds there. The Snake River RV Resort has full hookups, showers, laundry, and is pet-friendly. Shady Lane RV Park has full hookups and can also be alongside the picturesque Snake River. It’s also possible to search for campgrounds in Boise if you wish to be nearer to a giant metropolis.
Ideas for Planning Your RV Rockhounding Journey
RV rockhounding is usually a entire lot of enjoyable. It might probably additionally result in some spectacular collections of rocks and minerals which you could showcase at house. It’s a novel option to show proof of your travels. To have a profitable rockhounding journey, you’ll need to spend a while planning earlier than you go. Right here are some things to know earlier than your journey.
The Finest Time To Go Rockhounding
There isn’t actually a rockhunting season, so your determination on when to go needs to be guided by the climate at your vacation spot greater than anything.
A number of spots on this checklist are at excessive elevations and might get a lot of snow in the course of the winter. Others are in desert areas that may get highly regarded in summer time. Late spring and early summer time are good occasions to go. For those who’re headed to mountainous areas at greater elevations, you’ll need to examine earlier than you go and ensure the snow has melted and the roads are open.
Early to mid-fall can also be an important rock-collecting season. You’ll once more need to examine excessive elevations to ensure there hasn’t been an early snowfall.
For those who’re rockhounding in hotter desert areas, you may go in the course of the colder seasons as properly … and should you’re looking at greater elevations, the summer time is usually a nice time to be open air.
Security Ideas and Advisable Instruments
You’ll need to be sure your gear and clothes are applicable for the climate the place you’ll be rockhounding. Listed below are the belongings you’ll need to pack for a rockhounding journey, and here’s a downloadable guidelines to your journey.
| Class | Merchandise | Notes |
| Rockhounding Instruments | Rock hammer / Geologist’s hammer | Important for breaking rocks or extracting specimens |
| Chisels | For splitting layers and extracting delicate finds | |
| Security goggles | Protects eyes from flying rock chips | |
| Sturdy gloves | Protects arms from sharp rocks and tough terrain | |
| Area information / Mineral identification ebook | Helps establish rocks and minerals on website | |
| Magnifying loupe / Hand lens | For shut examination of minerals and crystals | |
| Small shovel / trowel | ||
| Classifier screens / gold pans | For sifting smaller stones, particularly in rivers | |
| Spray bottle (water) | Reveals shade and luster of dry rocks | |
| Assortment luggage or buckets | For transporting finds | |
| Labels and marker | To report the place you discovered every specimen | |
| Backpack or subject pack | ||
| Navigation & Security | GPS or offline maps | |
| Compass | ||
| First support package | ||
| Sunscreen & bug spray | ||
| Whistle or emergency sign machine | ||
| Headlamp or flashlight | ||
| Clothes | Sturdy boots or mountaineering sneakers | |
| Extensive-brim hat | ||
| Layered clothes, applicable to season | ||
| RV Tenting Gear | Leveling blocks | |
| Generator or photo voltaic panels | If tenting off-grid | |
| Freshwater hose & water filter | ||
| Sewer hose & gloves | ||
| Wheel chocks | ||
| RV toolkit (fundamental instruments) | For small repairs | |
| Camp chairs & desk | ||
| Out of doors mat or rug | To maintain dust out of RV | |
| Transportable grill or range | ||
| Cooler or additional fridge | For prolonged off-grid journeys | |
| Different Necessities | Permits, park passes, or website information | |
| Snacks / high-energy meals | ||
| Trash luggage | To Depart No Hint | |
| Pocket book or journal | To report finds, areas, and notes | |
| Permits, parks passes, or website information |
Guidelines for Digging on Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Administration usually permits individuals to gather “cheap quantities” of rocks, minerals, and semiprecious stones for private accumulating (noncommercial functions). Cheap quantities usually means as much as 25 kilos per particular person per day. You may’t gather on developed recreation websites, locations the place there are energetic mining claims, or in locations the place the mineral property is privately owned.
As with all out of doors actions, follow Depart No Hint rules whereas rock looking and tenting within the space. Be sure to pack out something you usher in and go away the realm you had been in nearly as good or higher than you discovered it.
Rockhounding could be an thrilling option to discover new areas, together with many areas that aren’t extremely visited. You’ll additionally go house with some distinctive souvenirs out of your journey. And RV tenting is a good way to strive rockhounding whereas making certain that you just get a snug mattress – and perhaps even a bathe – every night time after a day of digging and mountaineering. Try the various completely different sizes and fashions of RVs and trailers at RVshare to search out one which’s excellent to your journey!
