Guttenburg: Jasper Rockhounding in Clayton County, Iowa

Updated June 2026

Guttenburg is a mapped rockhounding spot in Clayton County, Iowa. Reported finds include jasper. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Clayton County
State: Iowa
Nearest road: South River Park Drive
Postcode: 52052
Coordinates: 42.77228, -91.09405

Geology at Guttenburg

This spot sits on ground mapped as St. Peter Sandstone & Prairie du Chien Group that formed roughly 485 to 470 million years ago. Tough silica like agate, jasper, and chert typically weathers out of beds like these and collects as float in drainages and on deflation surfaces.

Mapped unit: St. Peter Sandstone & Prairie du Chien Group
Age: 485–470 Ma (Early Ordovician)
Elevation: 650 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 Guttenburg

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 84°F in midsummer and 28°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GUTTENBERG L&D 10 station (1 mi away).

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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Guttenburg

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

Jasper Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Guttenburg.

Across the state line from Guttenburg

Guttenburg is close enough to the Iowa border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Guttenburg FAQ

Where is Guttenburg?+

Guttenburg is in Clayton County, Iowa, at 42.77228, -91.09405. Nearest road: South River Park Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Guttenburg?+

Guttenburg is reported to produce Jasper.

Is collecting allowed at Guttenburg?+

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 Guttenburg?+

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 Guttenburg?+

The most comfortable months at Guttenburg are March to November.

How do I get to Guttenburg?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.77228, -91.09405 in Google Maps. The nearest road is South River Park Drive.

More rockhounding in Iowa

See all 49 Iowa spots →

Open Guttenburg on the map

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