Where to Find Shale in the United States
2 mapped shale spots across 2 U.S. states. Shale is reported at multiple rockhounding spots across the United States. The map below shows where collectors most often find it on legal public ground.
Learn about shale: properties & identification →Map showing where to find shale across the United States, with 2 mapped spots
Top states for shale
States ranked by number of shale spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused shale-in-state list.
Every shale spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Hills | Gallatin County |
| 46.0223, -111.2712 | Public |
| Belle MountainValley Road | Mercer County | 40.3360, -74.9249 | Public |
Shale rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find shale in the U.S.?+
Montana, New Jersey have the highest concentrations of shale in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many shale rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
2 mapped spots across 2 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect shale on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like shale 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 shale in the field?+
Field identification of shale 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 shale on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
