Setters: Opal Rockhounding in Kootenai County, Idaho

Updated July 2026

Setters is a mapped rockhounding spot in Kootenai County, Idaho. Reported finds include opal. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Kootenai County
State: Idaho
Postcode: 83876
Coordinates: 47.46805, -116.98826

Geology at Setters

This spot sits on Grande Ronde Basalt, magnetostratigraphic unit N2, mapped as basalt that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Volcanic ground like this is where agate, jasper, and other chalcedony typically form, filling old gas pockets and fracture seams in the flow rock.

Mapped unit: Grande Ronde Basalt, magnetostratigraphic unit N2
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: basalt
Elevation: 2,370 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 Setters

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 26°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PLUMMER 3 WSW station (11 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

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

Found at Setters

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

Opal Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Setters.

Across the state line from Setters

Setters 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.

Setters FAQ

Where is Setters?+

Setters is in Kootenai County, Idaho, at 47.46805, -116.98826.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Setters?+

Setters is reported to produce Opal.

Is collecting allowed at Setters?+

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 Setters?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Setters?+

The most comfortable months at Setters are March to November.

How do I get to Setters?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.46805, -116.98826 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Idaho

See all 115 Idaho spots →

Open Setters on the map

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