Coyote Creek: Siderite Rockhounding in Santa Clara County, California

Updated July 2026

Coyote Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Santa Clara County, California. Reported finds include siderite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Santa Clara County
State: California
Nearest road: Dunne Avenue
Postcode: 94046
Coordinates: 37.15000, -121.57834

Geology at Coyote Creek

This spot sits on ground mapped as Alluvium, undivided that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium, undivided
Age: 3 Ma to present (Quaternary)
Elevation: 670 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 Coyote Creek

Conditions here are workable year-round, with typical highs from 59°F in winter to 85°F in summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GILROY station (10 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Coyote Creek

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

Siderite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Coyote Creek.

Coyote Creek FAQ

Where is Coyote Creek?+

Coyote Creek is in Santa Clara County, California, at 37.15000, -121.57834. Nearest road: Dunne Avenue.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Coyote Creek?+

Coyote Creek is reported to produce Siderite.

Is collecting allowed at Coyote Creek?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Coyote Creek?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Coyote Creek?+

Coyote Creek is workable year-round.

How do I get to Coyote Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.15000, -121.57834 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Dunne Avenue.

More rockhounding in California

See all 97 California spots →

Open Coyote Creek on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.