Tungsten Hill Mine: Gold Prospecting in Boundary County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

Tungsten Hill Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Boundary County, Idaho. Reported finds include gold, silver, lead, molybdenum, zinc. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Boundary County
State: Idaho
Nearest road: Pacific Northwest Trail
Coordinates: 48.89964, -116.27579

Geology at Tungsten Hill Mine

This spot sits on ground mapped as Mafic intrusive rocks, undivided that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 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: Mafic intrusive rocks, undivided
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Elevation: 5,100 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 Tungsten Hill Mine

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 74°F in midsummer and 24°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 9°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PORTHILL station (12 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: April 1, 2026

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — Emerald Creek
Idaho Geological Survey
Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Tungsten Hill Mine

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 Tungsten Hill Mine.

Across the state line from Tungsten Hill Mine

Tungsten Hill Mine is close enough to the Idaho border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Tungsten Hill Mine FAQ

Where is Tungsten Hill Mine?+

Tungsten Hill Mine is in Boundary County, Idaho, at 48.89964, -116.27579. Nearest road: Pacific Northwest Trail.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Tungsten Hill Mine?+

Tungsten Hill Mine is reported to produce Gold, Silver, Lead, Molybdenum, Zinc.

Is collecting allowed at Tungsten Hill Mine?+

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 Tungsten Hill Mine?+

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 Tungsten Hill Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Tungsten Hill Mine are April to October.

How do I get to Tungsten Hill Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 48.89964, -116.27579 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Pacific Northwest Trail.

More rockhounding in Idaho

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Open Tungsten Hill Mine on the map

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