Dismal Swamp: Smoky Quartz & Topaz Rockhounding in Elmore County, Idaho
- Minerals reported
- 2
- Elevation
- 6,660 ft
Dismal Swamp is a focused Elmore County locality for smoky quartz and topaz, both listed for the area by Idaho Department of Lands and Mindat. It is a more mineral-specimen-oriented choice than many Idaho agate fields, with quartz-family collecting tied to the Rocky Bar mining district and nearby granitic terrain. Reported finds include smoky quartz, topaz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Plan your visit
Generally open to casual rockhounding
- County
- Elmore County
- State
- Idaho
- Nearest road
- Trinity Ridge Road
- Coordinates
- 43.72904, -115.36641
Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.
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.
Access note: High-elevation backcountry access northwest of Rocky Bar. Check Boise National Forest conditions, closures, and land status before travel. BLM records active mining claims in this area. Collecting from inside an active claim needs the claim holder's permission.
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.
Geology at Dismal Swamp
This spot sits on Biotite granodiorite, mapped as biotite granodiorite that formed roughly 145 to 66 million years ago. Granitic ground like this typically carries quartz veins and pockets, and weathered crystals tend to collect in the soils and drainages below.
- Mapped unit
- Biotite granodiorite
- Age
- 145–66 Ma (Cretaceous)
- Rock types
- biotite granodiorite
- Elevation
- 6,660 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.
Today's weather
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Get the appSources & 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:
- Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Emerald Creek
- Idaho Geological Survey
- Spencer Opal Mines (fee-dig operator)
- Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules
Found at Dismal Swamp
Each name 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 Dismal Swamp.
- Boise RiverElmore County, Idaho · 16 mi awayGold
- Iron MountainCamas County, Idaho · 21 mi awayYellow Garnet, Green Garnet
- Banner Silver MinesBoise County, Idaho · 22 mi awayGold, Silver, Pyrargyrite
- Idaho CityBoise County, Idaho · 24 mi awayQuartz, Garnet
- Pole CreekBlaine County, Idaho · 33 mi awayGeode, Amethyst, Quartz
- Garden ValleyBoise County, Idaho · 39 mi awayAquamarine
- FairfieldCamas County, Idaho · 39 mi awayMoonstone
- StanleyCuster County, Idaho · 40 mi awayCorundum, Gold, Sapphire
Dismal Swamp FAQ
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