Medicine Lodge River: Agate & Jasper Rockhounding in Barber County, Kansas

Updated June 2026

Medicine Lodge River is a mapped rockhounding spot in Barber County, Kansas. Reported finds include agate, jasper, agatized wood, chert, chalcedony, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Barber County
State: Kansas
Nearest road: Bethel Road
Postcode: 67070
Coordinates: 37.04913, -98.47999

Geology at Medicine Lodge River

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as sand, silt, and clay that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Petrified wood typically travels as tough float, and worked gravels like these are exactly where weathered pieces tend to collect.

Mapped unit: Alluvium
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: sand, silt, and clay
Elevation: 1,320 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 Medicine Lodge River

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 47°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KIOWA station (2 mi away).

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.

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

Found at Medicine Lodge River

Each chip 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 Medicine Lodge River.

Across the state line from Medicine Lodge River

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

Medicine Lodge River FAQ

Where is Medicine Lodge River?+

Medicine Lodge River is in Barber County, Kansas, at 37.04913, -98.47999. Nearest road: Bethel Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Medicine Lodge River?+

Medicine Lodge River is reported to produce Agate, Jasper, Agatized Wood, Chert, Chalcedony, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Medicine Lodge River?+

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 Medicine Lodge River?+

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 Medicine Lodge River?+

The most comfortable months at Medicine Lodge River are September to June.

How do I get to Medicine Lodge River?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.04913, -98.47999 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Bethel Road.

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