On surface around Rich Hill: Gold Prospecting in Yavapai County, Arizona

Public accessBest spot1 mineralYavapai County, ArizonaUpdated October 2026

Mineral reported: 1
Elevation: 5,180 ft
Best months: September to June

Rich Hill is Arizona's benchmark coarse-gold placer, documented by USGS as part of the Weaver district and by later geochemical work for nugget-rich placer units. Its importance is not just production history: the locality is specifically known for surface and shallow placer gold concentrated around Rich Hill, Antelope Creek, and Weaver Creek. Reported finds include gold nugget. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: Yavapai County
State: Arizona
Coordinates: 34.17280, -112.71044

Get directions View on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: Historic placer district with a mix of public land, private land, and active claims. Confirm land status before detecting or drywashing; do not enter mine workings.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit On surface around Rich Hill

54°J

57°F

64°M

71°A

80°M

90°J

93°J

91°A

85°S

75°O

62°N

53°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 54°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 23°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WICKENBURG station (13 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at On surface around Rich Hill

This spot sits on granitic rocks, mapped as granite, granodiorite, and tonalite that formed roughly 1800 to 1600 million years ago. Gold in granitic terrain like this is typically tied to quartz veins along contacts and shear zones, with placer color in the streams that drain them.

Mapped unit: granitic rocks
Age: 1800–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)
Rock types: granite, granodiorite, and tonalite
Elevation: 5,180 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

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The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for On surface around Rich Hill.

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Arizona, Recreational Mineral Collecting
Arizona Geological Survey
Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at On surface around Rich Hill

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Gold Nugget Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of On surface around Rich Hill.

Area of old Stanton mining campYavapai County, Arizona · 2 mi awayFluorite, Garnet, Gold
Area of old Octave mining campYavapai County, Arizona · 2 mi awayGold
On top of steep hillYavapai County, Arizona · 3 mi awayFluorite, Garnet, Pyrite
Congress MineYavapai County, Arizona · 8 mi awayGold, Pyrite
Date Creek areaYavapai County, Arizona · 20 mi awayAgate, Garnet, Jasper
All along both sides of road from Morristown to Castle Hot SpringsYavapai County, Arizona · 20 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Chert
San Domingo WashMaricopa County, Arizona · 20 mi awayGold
In pegmatite outcrops on area roadsidesYavapai County, Arizona · 24 mi awayMica, Garnet, Hornblende

On surface around Rich Hill FAQ

Where is On surface around Rich Hill?+

On surface around Rich Hill is in Yavapai County, Arizona, at 34.17280, -112.71044.

What rocks and minerals can you find at On surface around Rich Hill?+

On surface around Rich Hill is reported to produce Gold Nugget.

Is collecting allowed at On surface around Rich Hill?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to On surface around Rich Hill?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit On surface around Rich Hill?+

The most comfortable months at On surface around Rich Hill are September to June.

How do I get to On surface around Rich Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 34.17280, -112.71044 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.