Where to Find Obsidian in California

California has 5 mapped collecting spots that report obsidian, spread across 4 counties. The largest share sits in Modoc County with 2 spots. 3 of the spots are on land mapped as publicly accessible, and 1 is a fee-dig site.

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

Standout obsidian spots in California

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

Gem Hill
Kern County
Gem Hill is a focused Kern County silica locality, with Mindat recording agate, chalcedony, iris agate, jasper, petrified wood, native gold, and uranium minerals nearby.
Glass Mountain
Siskiyou County
Glass Mountain represents California's northern volcanic-glass collecting better than any ordinary agate wash, with Forest Service materials identifying designated obsidian collecting areas in the Modoc country.

Best counties for obsidian in California

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

Every obsidian spot we track in California

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Gem Hill	Kern County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper Uraninite Obsidian	34.9249, -118.2218	Public
Davis Creek Mercantile	Modoc County	Obsidian	41.7315, -120.3748	Paid / fee
Modoc ObsidianLoveness Logging Road	Modoc County	Obsidian	41.5002, -121.0014	Public
Amboy CraterAmboy Crater Trail	San Bernardino County	Boltwoodite Jasper Obsidian	34.5448, -115.7924	Permission
Glass Mountain	Siskiyou County	Obsidian	41.6015, -121.5044	Public

Before you go

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

Obsidian in California FAQ

Where can you find obsidian in California?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Modoc County, Kern County, and San Bernardino County. Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.

How many obsidian spots are mapped in California?+

5 spots across 4 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 obsidian in California?+

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. 3 of the 5 mapped spots here sit on land marked public, and 1 is a fee-dig operation where you pay for access and keep what you find. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find obsidian

Nevada6 spots

More minerals to hunt in California

Hunt obsidian in California 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.