Where to Find Agate in Idaho

Idaho agate is built on three classic localities. Bruneau agate, from the Bruneau River canyon in Owyhee County, is a green-and-white banded chalcedony with a distinctive fortification pattern, eroded from rhyolite cliffs along the canyon. Graveyard Point plume agate, on the Idaho-Oregon line in Malheur and Owyhee counties, yields red and green plume chalcedony in welded tuff. The Spencer opal mines in Clark County add common and precious opal alongside opalized agate. Smaller showings of moss and dendritic agate occur along the Snake River breaks. Most Idaho agate ground is on BLM land with daily personal-use collecting limits.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

Standout agate spots in Idaho

Hand-picked from the full list below, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for agate in Idaho

Ranked by the number of mapped agate spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Every agate spot we track in Idaho

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Ada CountySouth Pleasant Valley Road	Ada County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper Petrified Wood Opalized Wood	43.3845, -116.2326	Public
Little Wood River	Blaine County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper	43.3925, -113.9974	Public
Malm GulchMalm Gulch Trail	Custer County	Agate Petrified Wood	44.3383, -114.2226	Public
SweetLiberty Road	Gem County	Agate	44.0335, -116.3102	Public
Salmon RiverSalmon River Trail #96	Idaho County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper Petrified Wood	45.4632, -115.7870	Public
Parker MountainNational Forest Development Road 68	Lemhi County	Agate Chalcedony	44.6068, -114.5458	Public
Clearwater RiverUS 12;US 95	Nez Perce County	Agate Jasper Chert Fibrolite	46.4335, -116.9515	Public
LewistonEaton Road	Nez Perce County	Agate Aquamarine Garnet Gold Quartz	46.4532, -116.9446	Public
Bruneau DesertBalanced Rock Road	Owyhee County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper	42.5729, -115.1896	Public
Homedale	Owyhee County	Agate Plume Agate	43.5532, -117.0249	Public
Homedale (area)Texas Basin Road	Owyhee County	Agate Petrified Wood	43.2587, -117.0090	Public
CascadeOne Eleven Way	Valley County	Agate Petrified Wood	44.4714, -115.9928	Public

Before you go

Read the agate identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Agate in the encyclopedia.

Agate in Idaho FAQ

Where can you find agate in Idaho?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Owyhee County County, Nez Perce County County, and Ada County County. Known collecting areas include Bruneau River canyon (Owyhee County), Graveyard Point (Owyhee County), and Spencer (Clark County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.

How many agate spots are mapped in Idaho?+

12 spots across 9 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.

Is it legal to collect agate in Idaho?+

Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 12 of the 12 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find agate

More minerals to hunt in Idaho

Hunt agate in Idaho with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.