Where to Find Opal in the United States
44 mapped opal spots across 12 U.S. states. Opal forms when silica-rich water dries out in cavities. Common opal is widely scattered; precious opal is concentrated in Nevada (Virgin Valley), Oregon (Opal Butte), and Idaho (Spencer).
Map showing where to find opal across the United States, with 44 mapped spots
Top states for opal
States ranked by number of opal spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused opal-in-state list.
Every opal spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Opal rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find opal in the U.S.?+
Utah, Idaho, Nevada have the highest concentrations of opal in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many opal rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
44 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect opal on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like opal is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify opal in the field?+
Field identification of opal comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt opal on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
