Goshen: Beryl Rockhounding in Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Updated June 2026

Goshen is a mapped rockhounding spot in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Reported finds include beryl. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Hampshire County
State: Massachusetts
Nearest road: Berkshire Trail West
Postcode: 01032
Coordinates: 42.44991, -72.82425

Geology at Goshen

This spot sits on Goshen Formation, mapped as schist that formed roughly 420 to 395 million years ago. Metamorphic belts like this often host pegmatite dikes, the coarse-crystal bodies that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, and sheet mica.

Mapped unit: Goshen Formation
Age: 420–395 Ma (Early Devonian)
Rock types: schist
Elevation: 1,270 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 Goshen

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 80°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WORTHINGTON station (7 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 Goshen

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

Beryl Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Goshen.

Across the state line from Goshen

Goshen 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.

Goshen FAQ

Where is Goshen?+

Goshen is in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, at 42.44991, -72.82425. Nearest road: Berkshire Trail West.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Goshen?+

Goshen is reported to produce Beryl.

Is collecting allowed at Goshen?+

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 Goshen?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Goshen?+

The most comfortable months at Goshen are April to November.

How do I get to Goshen?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.44991, -72.82425 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Berkshire Trail West.

More rockhounding in Massachusetts

See all 45 Massachusetts spots →

Open Goshen on the map

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