Wildhorse Canyon: Quartz Rockhounding in Custer County, Idaho

Quick details

Access

Public area

County

Custer County

State

Idaho

Coordinates

43.76539, -114.10169

Geology at Wildhorse Canyon

This spot sits on Gneiss complex of Wildhorse Creek, Pioneer Mountains metamorphic core complex, mapped as gneiss that formed roughly 2500 to 1600 million years ago. Metamorphic terrain like this typically carries quartz veins and sweats, and weathered crystals tend to end up in the soils and streams below.

Mapped unit

Gneiss complex of Wildhorse Creek, Pioneer Mountains metamorphic core complex

Age

2500–1600 Ma (Paleoproterozoic)

Rock types

gneiss

Elevation

8,150 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.

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 Wildhorse Canyon

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

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