Fee Dig Sites in the US
134 pay-to-dig mines, ranches, and sluice operations across 30 states, every one mapped with coordinates. You pay for access, you keep what you find.
Fee digs are the easiest legal entry into rockhounding: the ground is proven, the access question is settled, and most operations rent screens and tools on site. They range from world-famous operations like diamond and opal digs to small family ranches that open a field after each plow. Fees, hours, and seasons change often and are set by the operators, so confirm details with the site itself before driving out.
Map of 134 fee dig and pay-to-dig sites across the United States
Michigan (22 fee digs)
- Caledonia MineOntonagon CountyNative Copper, Datolite
- Deer Park Beach at Lake SuperiorLuce CountyLake Superior Agate
- Fisherman's Island State ParkCharlevoix CountyPetoskey Stone, Charlevoix Stone, Lake Superior Agate, Yooperlite
- Grand Mere State ParkBerrien County
- Harrisville State ParkAlcona CountyGranite, Chert, Quartz, Chain Coral
- Hoeft State ParkPresque Isle CountyPuddingstone, Granite, Quartz, Chert
- Howard City Gem MineKent County
- Lake Superior State Forest CampgroundLuce CountyGranite, Unakite, Quartz, Omar
- Lakeport State Park CampgroundSaint Clair County
- Muskallonge Lake State ParkLuce CountyGranite, Chert, Omar, Unakite
- Negwegon State ParkAlcona CountyPuddingstone, Petoskey Stone, Granite, Gneiss
- Orchard Beach State ParkManistee County
- Port Crescent State ParkHuron County
- Sleeper State ParkHuron County
- Sturgeon Point LighthouseAlcona CountyGranite, Chert, Fossil, Limestone
- Tawas Point State ParkIosco CountyQuartz, Granite, Gneiss, Puddingstone
- Thompson's Harbor State ParkPresque Isle CountyGranite, Gneiss, Quartz, Stromatolite
- Two Hearted River State Forest CampgroundLuce CountyUnakite, Epidote, Chert, Gneiss
- Union Bay CampgroundOntonagon County
- Van Buren State ParkVan Buren CountyYooperlite
- Wilderness State Park #26Emmet CountyStromatolite, Jacobsville Sandstone, Garnet Schist, Lake Superior Agate
- William C. Sterling State ParkMonroe County
New York (13 fee digs)
- Ace of Diamonds MineHerkimer CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Crystal DazeFulton CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Crystal Grove Diamond MineFulton CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Diamond Acres MineMontgomery CountyHerkimer Diamond, Quartz
- Diamond Acres MineMontgomery County
- Diamond Mountain MiningHerkimer CountyGarnet, Epidote, Quartz
- Herkimer Diamond MinesHerkimer County
- Herkimer Mountain Diamond MineMontgomery CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Hidden Gem MineHerkimer CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Mohawk ValleyMontgomery CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Russell Family MineHerkimer CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Soul Phamily FarmMontgomery CountyHerkimer Diamond
- Treasure Mountain MineHerkimer CountyQuartz, Fluorite, Calcite, Galena
Arkansas (11 fee digs)
- Avant MiningMontgomery CountyQuartz
- Avatar Crystal MineMontgomery CountyQuartz
- Board Camp Crystal MinePolk County
- Collier Creek MineMontgomery CountyQuartz
- Crater of Diamonds State ParkPike CountyDiamond, Amethyst, Garnet, Jasper
- Ron Coleman MiningGarland CountyQuartz, Amethyst, Smoky Quartz
- Sweet Surrender Crystal MineMontgomery CountyQuartz, Calcite
- Twin Creek MineMontgomery CountyQuartz
- Wegner Crystal MinesMontgomery County
- Wegner Quartz Mines (Phantom Mine)Montgomery CountyQuartz, Smoky Quartz, Amethyst, Calcite
- Willie Rickard Rock FarmSaline CountyQuartz
Nevada (9 fee digs)
- Bonanza Opal MineHumboldt CountyOpal
- Bonanza Opal MinesHumboldt County
- GemfieldEsmeralda CountyChalcedony
- Kokopelli Opals MineHumboldt CountyOpal
- Pleiades MineLander CountyFluorite
- Rainbow Ridge Opal MineHumboldt County
- Royal Blue MineNye CountyTurquoise
- Royal Peacock Opal MineHumboldt CountyBlack Opal, Fire Opal
- Royal Peacock Opal MinesHumboldt CountyOpal
North Carolina (9 fee digs)
- Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire MineMacon CountyRuby, Sapphire, Garnet, Quartz
- Emerald Hollow MineCatawba CountyEmerald, Amethyst, Quartz, Aquamarine
- Emerald VillageMitchell County
- Mason Mtn Garnet MineMacon CountyRhodolite, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire
- Mason's Ruby & Sapphire MineMacon CountyRuby, Sapphire, Garnet
- Propst Farm Ruby MineCatawba CountyRuby
- Reel MineLincoln CountyAmethyst, Beryl, Quartz, Smoky Quartz
- Rockhound Ridge Gem MineJackson County
- Rose Creek MineMacon CountyGarnet
Oregon (9 fee digs)
- Blue Mountain MineMalheur CountyJasper
- Double Eagle MineLake CountySunstone
- Lucky Strike MineCrook CountyThunderegg
- Outlaw Rocks Mining CompanyKlamath County
- Priday Agate BedsJefferson CountyAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Opal
- Richardson's Rock RanchJefferson CountyThunderegg
- Spectrum Sunstone MineLake CountySunstone
- Spectrum Sunstone MineKlamath CountyOregon Sunstone
- Wheeler High School Fossil BedsWheeler CountyFossil
California (6 fee digs)
Maine (6 fee digs)
- Berry-Havey QuarryAndroscoggin CountyTourmaline, Watermelon Tourmaline, Beryl, Morganite
- Colton HillOxford CountyAmethyst
- Dig Maine GemsOxford County
- Havey Tourmaline QuarryFranklin County
- Mount Mica QuarryOxford CountyTourmaline, Rose Quartz
- Poland Mining CampsAndroscoggin CountyQuartz, Feldspar, Beryl, Mica
Montana (5 fee digs)
New Hampshire (5 fee digs)
Arizona (4 fee digs)
Florida (3 fee digs)
Georgia (3 fee digs)
Minnesota (3 fee digs)
New Mexico (3 fee digs)
South Carolina (3 fee digs)
Utah (3 fee digs)
Colorado (2 fee digs)
Massachusetts (2 fee digs)
Missouri (2 fee digs)
Wyoming (2 fee digs)
Alabama (1 fee dig)
Idaho (1 fee dig)
Iowa (1 fee dig)
Maryland (1 fee dig)
Ohio (1 fee dig)
Pennsylvania (1 fee dig)
Virginia (1 fee dig)
Washington (1 fee dig)
Wisconsin (1 fee dig)
Fee dig FAQ
What is a fee dig site?+
A privately run mine, ranch, or quarry that charges for access and lets you keep what you find. Formats vary: digging your own holes in a marked field, screening pre-dug bucket material at a flume, or surface picking after a fresh plow. The fee buys you something public land cannot guarantee: certain legal access to proven ground.
Do you really keep what you find at a pay-to-dig mine?+
At nearly all fee digs, yes, everything you find within your paid session is yours. A few operations reserve museum-grade finds in their posted terms or offer to buy exceptional pieces back. Read the rules board before you start digging, not after you hit something good.
Are fee digs worth it compared to collecting on public land?+
They solve different problems. Public land collecting is free but you carry the burden of land status, claims, and regulations, and most easy surface material near roads is picked over. Fee digs cost money but put you on managed, productive ground with tools available and zero legal questions. For a first trip with kids, a fee dig is the higher-percentage day.
What should I bring to a fee dig?+
Sun protection, water, closed shoes, and gloves cover most sites. Many operations rent or provide screens, shovels, and buckets; call ahead or check their site so you do not haul gear you cannot use. Bring small bills, a cooler, and newspaper or boxes for wrapping finds.
How current is the information on this page?+
Each entry links to a detail page with coordinates and what the site produces. Fees, hours, and seasons change at the operator's discretion and are not listed here; always check the operation's own posted information or call before driving out.
Prefer digging with a group?
Rock & mineral clubs run member field trips to private ground, often the same kind of sites, without the per-visit fee.
Plan the whole trip, not just the dig
RockHoundR maps these fee digs next to free public-land spots, so you can stack a paid morning with a wild afternoon on the same drive.
