Rockhounding in Idaho

114 mapped spots across 33 counties. Idaho is a star-garnet, opal, and jasper destination. The Emerald Creek garnet area, Spencer opal mines, and the Bruneau and Owyhee jasper fields are some of the most distinctive collecting in the United States.

Top minerals found in Idaho

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

Notable areas: Emerald Creek star garnets, Spencer opal, Bruneau jasper, and the Graveyard Point plume agate area are signature finds.

Rockhounding by county in Idaho

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 Idaho

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

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
Ada CountySouth Pleasant Valley Road	Ada County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper Petrified Wood Opalized Wood	43.3845, -116.2326	Public
Adams CountyNational Forest Development Road 122	Adams County	Azurite Copper Gold Malachite	44.8918, -116.6388	Public
CuprumForest Road 106	Adams County	Garnet Epidote	45.1030, -116.6730	Public
Little Goose Creek CanyonID 55	Adams County	Diamond	44.9665, -116.1828	Public
MesaApple Lane	Adams County	Opalized Wood	44.6303, -116.4591	Public
New Meadows	Adams County	Rhodonite	44.9211, -116.3107	Public
New Meadows (rhodonite area)South End Road	Adams County	Rhodonite	44.9271, -116.2809	Public
Seven Devils Mining DistrictNational Forest Development Road 493	Adams County	Epidote Red Garnet Pink Garnet Malachite Thulite Zoisite	45.1662, -116.6489	Public
Moonlight MineWest Buckskin Road	Bannock County	Bornite Chalcocite	42.8838, -112.2789	Public
Bear LakeMinnetonka Cave Road	Bear Lake County	Fossils	42.1134, -111.4459	Public
MontpelierMontpelier Canyon Road	Bear Lake County	Gypsum	42.3276, -111.2280	Public
Alder Creek	Benewah County	Chrysocolla	47.2254, -116.6040	Public
Carpenter CreekCarpenter Creek Road	Benewah County	Staurolite	47.0551, -116.4403	Public
BellevuePoison Creek Road	Blaine County	Galena Defrenoysite Magnetite Malachite Marcasite Pyrrhotite	43.4154, -114.4553	Public
CareyUS 93;US 26	Blaine County	Jasper Moss Agate	43.2387, -113.9657	Public
HaileyCroy Creek Road	Blaine County	Galena Gold Monzonite Sphalerite Uraninite	43.4993, -114.3363	Public
Hyndman Peak	Blaine County	Tourmaline	43.7366, -114.1334	Public
KetchumNational Forest Development Road 267	Blaine County	Tetrahedrite Arsenopyrite Galena Siderite Sphalerite	43.6908, -114.2939	Public
Little Wood River	Blaine County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper	43.3925, -113.9974	Public
Pole CreekPole Creek Road	Blaine County	Geodes Amethyst Quartz	43.9108, -114.7441	Public
Banner Silver MinesUsfs 384J	Boise County	Gold Silver Pyrargyrite	44.0189, -115.5327	Public
Garden ValleyBanks Lowman Road	Boise County	Aquamarine	44.0916, -115.9540	Public
Idaho CityElk Creek Road	Boise County	Quartz Garnet	43.8368, -115.8296	Public
Shafer CreekShafer Creek Road	Boise County	Feldspar	43.8309, -116.1734	Public
Bayview	Bonner County	Galena	47.9138, -116.4754	Public
Conjecture Mine	Bonner County	Rhodochrosite	47.9154, -116.4312	Public
Goat Mountain & Blackdome PeakGoat Mountain Trail	Bonner County	Kyanite	48.1981, -116.1095	Public
Priest LakeReeder Bay Road	Bonner County	Quartz Feldspar	48.6301, -116.8837	Public
Upper Priest LakeNavigation Trail	Bonner County	Gold Feldspar Quartz	48.7991, -116.9155	Public
Pack RiverUpper Pack River Road	Boundary County	Garnet Feldspar Mica	48.5113, -116.5776	Public
Tungsten Hill MinePacific Northwest Trail	Boundary County	Gold Silver Lead Molybdenum Zinc	48.8996, -116.2758	Public
Antelope Creek areaAntelope Creek Road	Butte County	Geodes Quartz Amethyst	43.6999, -113.5694	Public
Big Lost River	Butte County	Geodes Amethyst	43.7952, -112.8518	Public
FairfieldSage Avenue	Camas County	Moonstone	43.3522, -114.7856	Public
Iron MountainIron Mountain Trail	Camas County	Yellow Garnet Green Garnet	43.5417, -115.0425	Public
Lane’s CreekLanes Creek Cutoff Road	Caribou County	Hematite	42.9322, -111.2862	Public
AlmoBruesch Ranch Road	Cassia County	Topaz	42.1005, -113.6526	Public
Spencer Opal MineOld Highway 91	Clark County	Fire Opal	44.3614, -112.1865	Paid / fee
General Area (Clearwater NF)	Clearwater County	Almandine Garnet	46.6277, -115.8065	Public
MussellshellMusselshell Creek Road	Clearwater County	Gold	46.3838, -115.7435	Public
North Fork Clearwater RiverPierce-Supirior Road	Clearwater County	Gold	46.7218, -115.2685	Public
Orofino Creek	Clearwater County	Gold Sapphire Epidote	46.4961, -115.8368	Public
Rhodes Creek	Clearwater County	Zircon	46.5074, -115.7633	Public
ChallisGarden Creek Road	Custer County	Red Agate Banded Opal	44.4940, -114.2999	Public
Challis (fluorite area)	Custer County	Fluorite	44.4998, -114.1904	Public
Empire MineNational Forest Development Road 496	Custer County	Purple Fluorite	43.8925, -113.6701	Public
MackayNational Forest Development Road 496	Custer County	Azurite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla Malachite Pyrite Pyrrhotite	43.8902, -113.6746	Public
Malm GulchMalm Gulch Trail	Custer County	Agate Petrified Wood	44.3383, -114.2226	Public
Poison Creek	Custer County	Common Opal	43.7171, -113.6565	Public
Salmon River (Stanley area)Salmon River Scenic Byway	Custer County	Gold Cinnabar	44.2406, -114.9018	Public
StanleyEva Falls Avenue	Custer County	Corundum Gold Sapphire	44.2234, -114.9492	Public
Wildhorse Canyon	Custer County	Quartz	43.7654, -114.1017	Public
Boise River	Elmore County	Gold	43.5000, -115.3105	Public
Dismal SwampTrinity Ridge Road	Elmore County	Smoky Quartz Topaz	43.7290, -115.3664	Public
Bear RiverMaple Grove Road	Franklin County	Psilomelane Pyrolusite	42.3273, -111.7158	Public
Crystal Butte	Fremont County	Andesine	44.2918, -111.7005	Public
EmmettPayette Riverwalk Trail	Gem County	Blue Agate Opal	43.8775, -116.5183	Public
SweetLiberty Road	Gem County	Agate	44.0335, -116.3102	Public
Clover Creek1150 South	Gooding County	Opalized Wood	43.0331, -114.9582	Public
American RiverForest Service Road 1809	Idaho County	Zircon	45.8412, -115.4153	Public
Blue Jacket MineBlue Jacket Mine Road	Idaho County	Chabazite Stilbite	45.5564, -116.4419	Public
Clearwater RiverID 13	Idaho County	Gold	46.1096, -115.9803	Public
Grouse CreekSalmon River Trail East	Idaho County	Corundum Quartz	45.4853, -115.3408	Public
OrograndeCrooked River Road	Idaho County	Copper	45.6968, -115.5585	Public
RigginsUS 95	Idaho County	Garnet	45.4652, -116.3079	Public
Ruby MeadowsNational Forest Road 364	Idaho County	Corundum Quartz	45.2313, -115.8820	Public
Salmon RiverSalmon River Trail #96	Idaho County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper Petrified Wood	45.4632, -115.7870	Public
Salmon River (near Riggins)Salmon River Trail #96	Idaho County	Gold	45.4337, -115.6656	Public
White BirdLyons Camp Road	Idaho County	Gold	45.7549, -116.3228	Public
Camas Creek2700N	Jefferson County	Topaz Fire Opal	44.0165, -112.2138	Public
Hayden LakeForest Service Road 206	Kootenai County	Lead Silver	47.8230, -116.6584	Public
Setters	Kootenai County	Opal	47.4681, -116.9883	Public
Boulder Creek	Latah County	Garnet	46.7327, -116.4173	Public
East Fork Emerald CreekNational Forest Development Road 447	Latah County	Star Garnet	47.0053, -116.3331	Public
Mica Mountain	Latah County	Green Beryl Biotite Muscovite	46.9034, -116.5667	Public
Moscow	Latah County	Opal	46.7927, -117.0395	Public
Purdue & Canyon Creeks	Latah County	Red Garnet	46.8991, -116.3554	Public
Ima MinePatterson Creek Road	Lemhi County	Tungsten Tetrahedrite Chalcopyrite Galena Scheelite Sphalerite	44.5336, -113.6923	Public
LeesburgNational Forest Development Road 242	Lemhi County	Gold Petrified Wood	45.2216, -114.1166	Public
Meyers CoverWest Fork Camas Creek Road	Lemhi County	Banded Agate	44.8214, -114.4959	Public
Panther Creek	Lemhi County	Opal	45.0953, -114.2304	Public
Parker MountainNational Forest Development Road 68	Lemhi County	Agate Chalcedony	44.6068, -114.5458	Public
Salmon River (near Leesburg)Salmon River Road	Lemhi County	Gold	45.3867, -114.2677	Public
Shoshone	Lincoln County	Opalized Wood	42.9518, -114.4622	Public
AgathaBed Rock Road	Nez Perce County	Opal Opalized Wood	46.5278, -116.5754	Public
Clearwater RiverUS 12;US 95	Nez Perce County	Agate Jasper Chert Fibrolite	46.4335, -116.9515	Public
LewistonEaton Road	Nez Perce County	Agate Aquamarine Garnet Gold Quartz	46.4532, -116.9446	Public
Bruneau Canyon	Owyhee County	Bruneau Canyon Jasper	42.7768, -115.7173	Public
Bruneau DesertBalanced Rock Road	Owyhee County	Agate Chalcedony Jasper	42.5729, -115.1896	Public
Homedale	Owyhee County	Agate Plume Agate	43.5532, -117.0249	Public
Homedale (area)Texas Basin Road	Owyhee County	Agate Petrified Wood	43.2587, -117.0090	Public
Little Squaw Creek	Owyhee County	Fire Opal	43.3917, -116.8485	Public
McBride Creek	Owyhee County	Petrified Wood	43.2754, -116.9772	Public
Mountain Home3rd Street	Owyhee County	Cinnabar Gold	43.0147, -116.7339	Public
Silver CityJordan Street	Owyhee County	Corundum Purple Garnet Red Garnet	43.0144, -116.7301	Public
Succor CreekEast Selway Drive	Owyhee County	Red Agate Green Agate	43.6251, -116.9486	Public
Avery	Shoshone County	Kyanite Staurolite	47.1507, -115.7736	Public
Bathtub Mountain	Shoshone County	Staurolite	47.0796, -115.5696	Public
BurkeBurke-Canyon Creek Road	Shoshone County	Quartz	47.5167, -115.8249	Public
Deadwood Gulch	Shoshone County	Garnet Gold	47.5376, -116.1510	Public
Emerald and Ruby CreeksNational Forest Development Road 447	Shoshone County	Garnet	47.0653, -116.3263	Public
Emerald CreekNational Forest Development Road 447	Shoshone County	Almandine Garnet	47.0651, -116.3265	Public
KingstonTrail of the Coeur d'Alenes	Shoshone County	Arsenopyrite Gold Pyrite Stibnite	47.5565, -116.2431	Public
PrichardCrescent Drive	Shoshone County	Gold	47.6555, -115.9811	Public
Shoshone CountyBig Creek Road	Shoshone County	Gold Lead Silver	47.5022, -116.0711	Public
General Area (near Jackpot, NV border)	Twin Falls County	Geodes	42.0346, -114.6455	Public
Bear ValleyBear Valley Trail	Valley County	Monazite Uranium	44.4276, -115.2747	Public
CascadeOne Eleven Way	Valley County	Agate Petrified Wood	44.4714, -115.9928	Public
DonnellyWallace Lane	Valley County	Blue Topaz	44.7445, -116.0584	Public
StibniteStibnite Road	Valley County	Arsenopyrite Gold Pyrite Stibnite	44.8979, -115.3381	Public
Yellow PineStibnite Road	Valley County	Opal	44.9646, -115.4788	Public
Grouse Creek	Washington County	Banded Agate Iris Agate Chalcedony	44.3758, -117.1738	Public
Hog Creek	Washington County	Thundereggs Amethyst	44.3094, -117.0885	Public
Sturgill Creek	Washington County	Manganese	44.6640, -117.0464	Public

Idaho rockhounding FAQ

Is rockhounding legal in Idaho?+

Casual hand collecting is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Idaho, 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 Idaho?+

Idaho spots in this list most commonly produce Gold, Agate, Quartz, Garnet, Petrified Wood. The full list across all spots is broader.

How many rockhounding sites are in Idaho?+

RockHoundR currently lists 114 rockhounding spots in Idaho across 33 counties. Many more exist; the app keeps your private finds saved alongside the public ones.

Can I take rocks home from Idaho 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 Idaho spot in the app

Open the RockHoundR app to see Idaho on a real map with public land overlays, weather, geology, and your saved finds.