Rockhounding in California

97 mapped spots across 22 counties. California offers a remarkable spread, from gold-bearing rivers in the Mother Lode to jade beaches on the central coast and the agate-and-jasper hills of the Mojave. Collecting is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land outside designated wilderness.

Map showing 97 rockhounding spots in California

Top minerals found in California

Counts reflect how many spots in this list mention each mineral.

Notable areas: Big Sur jade, Mojave jaspers, blue chalcedony, gold panning, and benitoite (limited) are signature California targets.

Rockhounding by county in California

County pages are linked once we have at least 3 mapped spots for a focused guide with coordinates, mineral notes, and nearby spots.

Every rockhounding spot in California

Sorted by county. Tap coordinates to open in Google Maps, or open RockHoundR for the full map view with land overlays and weather.

SpotCountyMineralsCoordinatesAccess
Coastal TrailCoastal Trail—
  • Spherulitic Chert
37.7880, -122.5013Public
Fort Point AreaBattery East Road—37.8089, -122.4762Public
Unnamed Location (Chalcedony/Curtisite)Buchanan Street—37.7698, -122.4269Public
Crescent City BeachesNorth Pebble Beach DriveDel Norte County41.7650, -124.2309Public
Diamond CreekForest Road 18N09Del Norte County
  • Native Copper
41.9558, -123.9352Public
Keystone MineDel Norte County
  • Copper Nuggets
41.9931, -123.9628Public
Shelly Creek & Monkey Creek MinesForest Route 18N17Del Norte County41.9618, -123.8020Public
Smith River GravelsBailey RoadDel Norte County41.9018, -124.1591Public
Unnamed Location (Chromite/Uvarovite)Safari TrailEl Dorado County38.8053, -121.0393Public
Benitoite Mining CompanyLos Gatos RoadFresno County
    36.2424, -120.5973Paid / fee
    Clark ValleyFresno County36.7510, -119.3764Public
    Clark Valley (North Side)Fresno County36.7729, -119.3471Public
    Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek RoadFresno County36.0962, -120.3204Public
    Unnamed Location (Grossular garnet)Fresno County
    • Grossular Garnet
    • Vesuvianite
    36.9091, -119.3757Public
    Agate BeachCalifornia Coastal TrailHumboldt County41.1501, -124.1398Public
    Horse Mt (Chromite)Horse Mountain RoadHumboldt County40.8753, -123.7300Public
    Horse Mt (West Side)Humboldt County40.8735, -123.7432Public
    Woods MineDyerville Loop RoadHumboldt County40.2046, -123.7050Public
    Castle Butte FoothillsDenise AvenueKern County35.0493, -117.8247Public
    El Paso MountainsEP170Kern County35.4376, -117.8159Public
    Gem HillKern County34.9249, -118.2218Public
    Horse Canyon Agate BedsPine Canyon RoadKern County
    • Agate
    • Fossilized Horse Bones
    35.1943, -118.2891Public
    Little Acorn MineChaparral CourtKern County35.7167, -118.5000Public
    Pine Tree CanyonPine Tree Canyon Road (MK55)Kern County35.2309, -118.0866Public
    Unnamed Location (Wonderstone rhyolite)County Road 8059Lassen County
    • Wonderstone Rhyolite
    41.0399, -120.7806Public
    Area Near Redondo BeachSouth Bay Bike PathLos Angeles County33.8828, -118.4125Public
    Escondido CanyonAntelope Valley FreewayLos Angeles County34.4990, -118.2582Public
    Howlands Landing (Catalina Island)West End RoadLos Angeles County33.4576, -118.5167Public
    Malibu Lake AreaLake Vista TrailLos Angeles County
    • Analcite
    34.1083, -118.7495Public
    Portal Ridge AreaPine Canyon RoadLos Angeles County34.7054, -118.5200Public
    Tick CanyonLost Canyon RoadLos Angeles County34.4267, -118.3916Public
    Unnamed Location (LA County)Heffner RoadLos Angeles County34.4367, -118.2229Public
    Purcell-Griffin MineMariposa County37.6622, -120.1956Public
    Surprise ClaimMariposa County37.6583, -120.0544Public
    Unnamed Location (Jade)Mariposa County37.6463, -120.1177Public
    Unnamed Location (Mariposite)CA 132Mariposa County
    • Mariposite
    37.7132, -120.2122Public
    Eel River GravelsDos Rios RoadMendocino County
    • Jadeite
    • Nephrite
    39.7140, -123.3526Public
    Impassable RockMendocino County39.5363, -123.1216Public
    Leech Lake AreaLeech Lake RoadMendocino County39.9177, -123.0868Public
    North Fork of Eel RiverMina RoadMendocino County
    • Nephrite Jade
    • Crocidolite
    • Jadeite
    39.9355, -123.3589Public
    Unnamed Location (Actinolite prisms)Redwood HighwayMendocino County
    • Actinolite Prisms
    38.9526, -123.0973Public
    Area around Goose LakeModoc County41.9508, -120.4254Public
    Deep CreekCounty Road 25Modoc County41.5173, -120.2490Public
    Fandango PassFandango Pass RoadModoc County41.8021, -120.2068Public
    Big Sur areaLos Burros RoadMonterey County35.8938, -121.4523Public
    Limekiln Creek Beaches AreaCabrillo HighwayMonterey County36.0087, -121.5196Public
    Willow Creek areaCabrillo HighwayMonterey County35.8922, -121.4613Public
    Wolf CreekLinhall RoadNevada County39.0748, -121.0979Public
    Alabama MineAlabama Mine RoadPlacer County38.8446, -121.1575Public
    Shady Run GravelsPlacer County39.2069, -120.7425Public
    Area Near Jenson QuarrySierra AvenueRiverside County34.0257, -117.4332Public
    Old Quarry (Riverside)Sierra AvenueRiverside County
    • Axinite
    34.0167, -117.4159Public
    Rouse HillRouse Hill RoadRiverside County33.6726, -116.7724Public
    Unnamed Location (Fire Agate)Bradshaw TrailRiverside County33.5080, -114.8241Public
    Aurora Mine (permission required)Mexican Lake RoadSan Benito County36.3949, -120.6741Permission
    Benitoite Gem MineSawmill Creek RoadSan Benito County
      36.3368, -120.6064Paid / fee
      Afton CanyonMojave RoadSan Bernardino County35.0391, -116.3853Public
      Amboy CraterAmboy Crater TrailSan Bernardino County34.5448, -115.7924Public
      Bristol Dry LakeSan Bernardino County
      • Celestite Concretions
      34.4622, -115.6739Public
      Eagle CragsSan Bernardino County35.4146, -117.0552Public
      Lead Pipe Spring AreaLead Pipe Spring RoadSan Bernardino County35.4665, -117.1665Public
      Midway Area (Lavic Jasper)Barstow and Mojave FreewaySan Bernardino County
      • Lavic Jasper
      35.0325, -116.4714Public
      Searles LakeSan Bernardino County
      • Borax
      • Aphthitalite
      • Halite
      • Hanksite
      35.7316, -117.3294Public
      Wingate PassWingate Pass RoadSan Bernardino County
      • Sagenite Agate
      35.7372, -117.0525Public
      Dig for GemsMagee RoadSan Diego County
        33.3898, -117.0497Paid / fee
        Himalaya Tourmaline Mine (Mesa Grande)Porter LaneSan Diego County33.0700, -116.6000Paid / fee
        Mine Dumps (San Diego Co.)Highway 76San Diego County33.2355, -116.7591Public
        Stewart MineHenderson RoadSan Diego County
        • Bismuth
        33.3813, -117.0622Public
        Unnamed Location (Allanite)Jeremy WaySan Diego County33.3864, -117.1041Public
        Unnamed Location (Apatite/Aquamarine)Rancho Heights RoadSan Diego County33.3905, -117.0693Public
        Victor MineTribal Access LaneSan Diego County33.2642, -116.9392Public
        Ware MinePalomar Divide RoadSan Diego County33.3329, -116.7675Public
        Nipomo AreaSouth Dana Foothill RoadSan Luis Obispo County35.0351, -120.4530Public
        Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast)Cabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.5952, -121.1272Public
        Ocean Beaches (Central Coast)Atascadero RoadSan Luis Obispo County
        • California Jade
        35.3833, -120.8650Public
        Paso Robles AreaUnion RoadSan Luis Obispo County
        • Jadeite
        35.6379, -120.6274Public
        San Simeon BeachesCabrillo HighwaySan Luis Obispo County35.6421, -121.1833Public
        Coyote PointSan Mateo County37.5915, -122.3204Public
        Crystal Springs ReservoirSawyer Camp TrailSan Mateo County37.5474, -122.3874Public
        Alum Rock ParkPenitencia Creek TrailSanta Clara County
        • Albandite
        • Hausmannite
        • Tephoroite
        37.3958, -121.8019Public
        Coyote CreekDunne AvenueSanta Clara County37.1500, -121.5783Public
        Guadeloupe CreekHicks RoadSanta Clara County
        • Dendritic Agate
        37.2081, -121.9013Public
        Morgan Hill CreeksWatsonville RoadSanta Clara County
        • Poppy Jasper
        37.0551, -121.6636Public
        New Almaden Area MinesBertram RoadSanta Clara County37.1760, -121.8208Public
        Agate Area (Klamath River)Yellow Dog TrailSiskiyou County42.0009, -122.4018Public
        Glass MountainSiskiyou County41.6015, -121.5044Public
        Happy Camp Jade MinesSouth Indian RoadSiskiyou County41.8766, -123.4602Public
        Hungry CreekBeaver Creek RoadSiskiyou County41.9746, -122.7542Public
        Jenny CreekCopco RoadSiskiyou County41.9769, -122.3978Public
        Jones BeachScott River RoadSiskiyou County41.6398, -123.0599Public
        Area Stream Beds (Rhodonite nodules)Canyon Creek RoadTrinity County
        • Rhodonite Nodules
        40.8632, -123.0389Public
        Coffee CreekState Route 3Trinity County41.0835, -122.7051Public
        Golden Jubilee MineBoulder Lake RoadTrinity County41.1006, -122.7836Public
        Indian Creek gravelsLong Ranch RoadTrinity County40.8660, -123.1299Public
        Trinity RiverBrowns Mountain RoadTrinity County40.6938, -122.8635Public
        Trinity River / Willow CreekHawkins Bar RoadTrinity County40.8791, -123.5271Public
        Trinity River GravelsCA 299Trinity County40.7338, -123.0554Public

        California rockhounding FAQ

        Is rockhounding legal in California?+
        Casual hand collecting is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in California, with daily and annual limits set by the managing field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal lands are off-limits. Always confirm rules with the local agency before a trip.
        What rocks and minerals can you find in California?+
        California spots in this list most commonly produce Jasper, Agate, Chalcedony, Petrified Wood, Quartz. The full list across all spots is broader.
        How many rockhounding sites are in California?+
        RockHoundR currently lists 97 rockhounding spots in California across 22 counties. Many more exist; the app keeps your private finds saved alongside the public ones.
        Can I take rocks home from California public land?+
        On most BLM and Forest Service land, recreational hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed in reasonable amounts. Vertebrate fossils, archaeological items, and posted mining-claim minerals are not. Check the field office for current limits.

        Map every California spot in the app

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