Best spot

Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais: Yooperlite & Lake Superior Agate Rockhounding in Alger County, Michigan

Updated August 2026

Grand Marais is the most famous place in Michigan to hunt Yooperlites, sodalite-bearing syenite stones that glow bright orange under ultraviolet light. Woodland Park provides free public Lake Superior beach to search after dark, where the shoreline below the high-water mark is public land. Lake Superior agates and jasper turn up in the same gravel by day. Reported finds include yooperlite, lake superior agate, jasper, quartz, granite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

A Yooperlite glowing orange under ultraviolet light, found on the Lake Superior shore near Grand Marais

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Alger County
State: Michigan
Coordinates: 46.67330, -85.99110

Geology at Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais

This spot sits on Jacobsville Sandstone, mapped as sandstone that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 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: Jacobsville Sandstone
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: sandstone
Elevation: 660 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 Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 74°F in midsummer and 24°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GRAND MARAIS 2 E 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Michigan DNR — Rockhounding rules
Michigan Geological Survey
Isle Royale National Park — Rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais

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 Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais.

Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais FAQ

Where is Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais is in Alger County, Michigan, at 46.67330, -85.99110.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais is reported to produce Yooperlite, Lake Superior Agate, Jasper, Quartz, Granite, Banded Iron Formation, Gneiss, Rhyolite, Basalt.

Is collecting allowed at Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

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 Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

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 Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

The most comfortable months at Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais are April to October.

How do I get to Woodland Park Beach, Grand Marais?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.67330, -85.99110 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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