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Shady Run Gravels: Garnet & Serpentine Rockhounding in Placer County, California

Updated June 2026

Shady Run Gravels is a mapped rockhounding spot in Placer County, California. Reported finds include garnet, serpentine. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Map showing Shady Run Gravels in Placer County, California

Quick details

Access
Public area

Geology at Shady Run Gravels

This spot sits on marine rocks, undivided, unit 4 (Western Sierra Nevada), mapped as argillite, quartzite, and phyllite that formed roughly 485 to 200 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit
marine rocks, undivided, unit 4 (Western Sierra Nevada)
Age
485–200 Ma (Ordovician to Triassic)
Rock types
argillite, quartzite, and phyllite
Elevation
2,380 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.

Best time to visit Shady Run Gravels

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 57°F in winter to 88°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BLUE CANYON NYACK AP station (5 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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.

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.

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:

Found at Shady Run Gravels

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

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Shady Run Gravels.

Across the state line from Shady Run Gravels

Shady Run Gravels is close enough to the California border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Shady Run Gravels FAQ

Where is Shady Run Gravels?+
Shady Run Gravels is in Placer County, California, at 39.20692, -120.74255.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Shady Run Gravels?+
Shady Run Gravels is reported to produce Garnet, Serpentine.
Is collecting allowed at Shady Run Gravels?+
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 Shady Run Gravels?+
A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.
When is the best time to visit Shady Run Gravels?+
Shady Run Gravels is workable year-round.
How do I get to Shady Run Gravels?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 39.20692, -120.74255 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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