McBride Creek: Petrified Wood Rockhounding in Owyhee County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

McBride Creek is a mapped rockhounding spot in Owyhee County, Idaho. Reported finds include petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Owyhee County
State: Idaho
Coordinates: 43.27541, -116.97715

Geology at McBride Creek

This spot sits on Sucker Creek Formation, mapped as sand;silt;volcanic material;clay;gravel that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Petrified wood typically comes from volcanic ash beds like the ones associated with this ground, where buried forests were slowly replaced by silica.

Mapped unit: Sucker Creek Formation
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: sand;silt;volcanic material;clay;gravel
Elevation: 4,510 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 McBride Creek

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 19°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ROCKVILLE 5 N station (9 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 McBride Creek

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

Petrified Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of McBride Creek.

Across the state line from McBride Creek

McBride Creek 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.

McBride Creek FAQ

Where is McBride Creek?+

McBride Creek is in Owyhee County, Idaho, at 43.27541, -116.97715.

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

McBride Creek is reported to produce Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at McBride Creek?+

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 McBride Creek?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit McBride Creek?+

The most comfortable months at McBride Creek are March to November.

How do I get to McBride Creek?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.27541, -116.97715 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Idaho

See all 115 Idaho spots →

Open McBride Creek on the map

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