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Rockhounding Atlas

Rockhounding Spots and Locations Map

Browse mapped rockhounding spots across the United States and Canada, each with the minerals you can find, land access notes, and exact coordinates. Search a state or province below, or open the full map.

Or browse all 50 U.S. states and Canada.

Browse by country

Popular rockhounding states

All 50 states →

Jump straight into the states with the most mapped spots, or open the full U.S. index to browse all 50 by region.

How to use this rockhounding atlas

Start with a country, then drill down to a state, county, and individual spot. The United States section covers 2,800+ rockhounding sites across all 50 states, organized by region, then state, then county, so you can move from a wide area down to a single road cut or wash that is reachable from home. Expect classic pegmatite country in the Northeast, gem mines across the South, and plenty of public-land collecting throughout the West (within the limits set by the local field office, and away from off-limits parks and wilderness). Every location lists the rocks and minerals reported there, an access label, and exact coordinates you can drop straight into a GPS or phone.

If you would rather hunt by find than by place, the interactive map plots every spot on one screen with filters for mineral and land access, the mineral browser sorts locations by what you want to find, and the fee dig directory lists pay-to-dig sites (hours, prices, and keep policy vary by operator). These public pages are a curated sample of the RockHoundR app, which maps 265,000+ rockhounding spots worldwide.

What the map markers mean

Every spot is color-coded on the map so you can read access at a glance. Treat each marker as a starting point, not a final answer: rules change, mining claims get filed, and federal, state, and tribal land each follow different rules, so signs on the ground always win. A two-minute call to the local field office is cheaper than a citation.

  • Public

    Open for casual hand collecting, usually on BLM or U.S. Forest Service land. Confirm posted rules and active claims first.

  • Restricted

    Paid, permission-required, or unconfirmed access. Check the rules with the operator or managing agency before you go.

  • Best

    A standout we recommend, picked for notable mineralogy and documented access. A best spot can be public or restricted.

Is rockhounding legal?

Casual, hobby-level hand collecting of common rocks, minerals, and petrified wood is generally allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, within the daily and annual limits set by the local field office and using hand tools only. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits to collecting. Selling what you collect, using power equipment, or removing vertebrate fossils requires permits. In Canada, collecting rules are set provincially: casual collecting is generally allowed on Crown land and many beaches, but parks and reserves are off-limits. Wherever you go, confirm the current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Other ways to explore

Rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal?+
Usually, for casual collecting of common rocks and minerals on the right land. In the United States, hobby-level hand collecting is generally allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, within daily and annual limits set by the local field office and using hand tools only. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. In Canada, rules are set provincially, with collecting generally allowed on Crown land and many beaches but not in parks or reserves. Confirm locally before you dig.
Do I need permission to collect rocks?+
It depends on the land. On most BLM and Forest Service land, casual hand collecting of common rocks, minerals, and petrified wood does not require a permit or a claim, as long as you stay within published limits and use hand tools. Private land and many state or tribal areas require landowner or agency permission first, and fee dig sites require paying the operator. Each spot in this atlas carries an access label, but always confirm with the managing agency before you dig.
What can I find rockhounding?+
It varies by region: agate, jasper, and petrified wood across the West, quartz and pegmatite minerals like tourmaline and mica in the Northeast, and gem material such as emerald, ruby, and sapphire at Southern mines. Common finds also include geodes and a wide range of regional gemstones. Each spot page lists the specific rocks and minerals reported there, and you can browse by mineral to find the best locations for a particular stone.
Where can I rockhound for free?+
BLM land and U.S. National Forests in the western states offer the most free public-access rockhounding, subject to local limits. Many states also designate specific public-collecting areas, and in Canada, Crown land and many beaches are generally open. Filter for the Public area label or use the map to find open-access sites near you, and always confirm the spot's access status before you go.
How many rockhounding spots are mapped here?+
These public pages cover 2,800+ rockhounding spots across all 50 U.S. states, plus a small and growing set in Canada. The full RockHoundR app maps 265,000+ spots worldwide. Each location includes the minerals reported there, an access label, and exact coordinates.
How do I find rockhounding spots near me?+
Open the interactive map to see every spot on one screen, then filter by mineral and land access to find sites within driving range. You can also browse by region, state, and county to narrow down your area quickly. Each result shows what you can find and its land access label (such as Public area, Paid / fee dig, Permission required, or Check locally), so you know what to confirm with the managing agency before you go.
What is the difference between a public spot and a fee dig site?+
A public area is open land, usually BLM or Forest Service, where casual collecting is generally allowed for free within posted limits. A paid / fee dig site is operator-run: you pay for entry, and the operator sets the hours, prices, and what you can keep. Fee digs are listed separately in the dig-sites directory.

Take the whole atlas into the field

The RockHoundR app turns these spots into a real map you can filter, save, and use offline. Land overlays, geology, and weather built in.

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