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Stage Fort Park: Amazonite & Smoky Quartz Rockhounding in Essex County, Massachusetts

Public accessBest spot3 mineralsEssex County, MassachusettsUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
3
Elevation
0 ft
Best months
March to November

Gloucester sits on the same Cape Ann granite as neighboring Rockport, and its miarolitic pockets and pegmatites yield blue-green amazonite (microcline), smoky quartz, and well-formed feldspar. Stage Fort Park protects a stretch of granite ledge and cobble shore where loose specimens weather out of the rock. The 60-acre city park gives free, easy public access to the Cape Ann granite without entering the private working quarries. Reported finds include amazonite, smoky quartz, microcline. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
Hough Avenue
Postcode
01930
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Access note: Stage Fort Park is a free public city park with granite ledges, tide pools, and a cobble beach. Collect only loose float on the shore and talus and do not hammer or pry the bedrock ledges. Pocket amazonite is largely a quarry phenomenon and most Cape Ann quarries are private or water-filled, so treat the park as a place to find granite cobbles and occasional feldspar rather than to dig pockets.

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.

Best time to visit Stage Fort Park

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BEVERLY station (8 mi away).

Geology at Stage Fort Park

This spot sits on ground mapped as water. Quartz crystals typically weather out of veins and pockets and end up in nearby soils and creek beds.

Mapped unit
water
Elevation
0 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.

Today's weather

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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.

Found at Stage Fort Park

Each name 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 Stage Fort Park.

Across the state line from Stage Fort Park

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

Stage Fort Park FAQ

Where is Stage Fort Park?+
Stage Fort Park is in Essex County, Massachusetts, at 42.60450, -70.67200. Nearest road: Hough Avenue.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Stage Fort Park?+
Stage Fort Park is reported to produce Amazonite, Smoky Quartz, Microcline.
Is collecting allowed at Stage Fort Park?+
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 Stage Fort Park?+
A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.
When is the best time to visit Stage Fort Park?+
The most comfortable months at Stage Fort Park are March to November.
How do I get to Stage Fort Park?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 42.60450, -70.67200 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Hough Avenue.

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