Paso Robles Area: Jadeite Rockhounding in San Luis Obispo County, California

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

San Luis Obispo County

State

California

Nearest road

Union Road

Postcode

93446

Coordinates

35.63795, -120.62739

Geology at Paso Robles Area

This spot sits on Paso Robles Formation, mapped as sandstone that formed within roughly the last 5 million years. Sedimentary rock like this erodes unevenly, so the most productive collecting is typically along fresh cuts, badland slopes, and active drainages.

Mapped unit

Paso Robles Formation

Age

5 Ma to present (Pliocene to Pleistocene)

Rock types

sandstone

Elevation

790 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 Paso Robles Area

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 61°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 35°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PASO ROBLES MUNI AP station (2 mi away).

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: April 1, 2026

• BLM California, Recreational mineral collecting
• California Geological Survey
• CDFW, Suction Dredge Mining Permit Program
• Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Paso Robles Area

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

• Jadeite