Where to Find Sapphire in Montana

Montana has 11 mapped collecting spots that report sapphire, spread across 6 counties. The largest share sits in Lewis and Clark County with 4 spots. 8 of the spots are on land mapped as publicly accessible, and 2 are fee-dig sites.

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

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Every sapphire spot we track in Montana

Best spotAmerican BarLewis and Clark County, MontanaPublic access · Sapphire, Cassiterite, Chalcedony +5
Best spotRock CreekGranite County, MontanaPublic access · Quartz, Sapphire
Best spotDry Cottonwood CreekDeer Lodge County, MontanaPublic access · Sapphire
Missouri RiverLewis and Clark County, MontanaPublic access · Cassiterite, Chalcedony, Garnet +5
Pole CreekMadison County, MontanaPermission required · Garnet, Gold, Quartz +2
Yogo GulchJudith Basin County, MontanaPublic access · Gold, Ruby, Sapphire
Spokane Bar Sapphire MineLewis and Clark County, MontanaPublic access · Gold, Sapphire
Blaze N GemsLewis and Clark County, MontanaFee dig · Sapphire
Brown’s GulchSilver Bow County, MontanaPublic access · Sapphire
Gem MountainMadison County, MontanaFee dig · Sapphire
Gem Mountain Sapphire MineGranite County, MontanaPublic access · Sapphire

Standout sapphire spots in Montana

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

Best counties for sapphire in Montana

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

Before you go

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

Sapphire in Montana FAQ

Where can you find sapphire in Montana?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Lewis and Clark County, Granite County, and Madison County. Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.

How many sapphire spots are mapped in Montana?+

11 spots across 6 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 sapphire in Montana?+

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. 8 of the 11 mapped spots here sit on land marked public, and 2 are fee-dig operations 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 sapphire

North Carolina17 spots

More minerals to hunt in Montana

Hunt sapphire in Montana 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.