Bathtub Mountain: Staurolite Rockhounding in Shoshone County, Idaho

Updated June 2026

Bathtub Mountain is a mapped rockhounding spot in Shoshone County, Idaho. Reported finds include staurolite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Shoshone County
State: Idaho
Coordinates: 47.07955, -115.56960

Geology at Bathtub Mountain

This spot sits on Wallace Formation, upper members, schist and phyllite, undivided, mapped as schist, phyllite, argillite, siltite, and quartzite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Metamorphic rock like this is where garnet, staurolite, and kyanite typically grow as the rock recrystallizes under heat and pressure.

Mapped unit: Wallace Formation, upper members, schist and phyllite, undivided
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: schist, phyllite, argillite, siltite, and quartzite
Elevation: 6,180 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 Bathtub Mountain

Best months: May to September. Typical highs run 74°F in midsummer and 20°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 6°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HAUGAN 1 W station (22 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 Bathtub Mountain

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

Staurolite Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Bathtub Mountain.

Across the state line from Bathtub Mountain

Bathtub Mountain 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.

Bathtub Mountain FAQ

Where is Bathtub Mountain?+

Bathtub Mountain is in Shoshone County, Idaho, at 47.07955, -115.56960.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bathtub Mountain?+

Bathtub Mountain is reported to produce Staurolite.

Is collecting allowed at Bathtub Mountain?+

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 Bathtub Mountain?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Bathtub Mountain?+

The most comfortable months at Bathtub Mountain are May to September.

How do I get to Bathtub Mountain?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.07955, -115.56960 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Idaho

See all 115 Idaho spots →

Open Bathtub Mountain on the map

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