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Red Wing: Lake Superior Agate Rockhounding in Goodhue County, Minnesota

Public accessBest spot1 mineralGoodhue County, MinnesotaUpdated July 2026
Mineral reported
1
Elevation
700 ft
Best months
April to October

Red Wing anchors the southeastern reach of Minnesota's Lake Superior agate range: glaciers and the Mississippi River spread agate-bearing gravel far south of the stone's North Shore origin. Collectors work the gravelly bars, banks, and river-mouth deposits along the Mississippi for banded agate, and the region's Paleozoic bluffs add fossil interest. The stones here are the same billion-year-old rift agates found up north, redeposited by ice and water. Reported finds include lake superior agate. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
Hay Creek Trail
Postcode
55066
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: Collect on public river accesses and exposed gravel bars along the Mississippi; sandbars below the ordinary high-water mark are state-owned public land. Obtain permission before entering private riverfront or gravel pits. Surface collecting only.

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 Red Wing

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 82°F in midsummer and 23°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 6°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, RED WING DAM 3 station (5 mi away).

Geology at Red Wing

This spot sits on Middle and Upper Cambrian, mapped as sandstone, siltstone, and shale that formed roughly 510 to 485 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
Middle and Upper Cambrian
Age
510–485 Ma (Middle Cambrian to Furongian)
Rock types
sandstone, siltstone, and shale
Elevation
700 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 Red Wing

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 Red Wing.

  • Lake PepinWabasha County, Minnesota · 21 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • WabashaWabasha County, Minnesota · 27 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • St. PaulRamsey County, Minnesota · 35 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • Quarry IslandDakota County, Minnesota · 38 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • RochesterOlmsted County, Minnesota · 38 mi awayLake Superior Agate, Chalcedony, Fossil
  • StillwaterWashington County, Minnesota · 39 mi awayTripoli
  • Olmsted CountyOlmsted County, Minnesota · 39 mi awayGold
  • Rochester (area 2)Olmsted County, Minnesota · 40 mi awayLake Superior Agate, Fossil

Across the state line from Red Wing

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

  • Diamond BluffPierce County, Wisconsin · 8 mi awayDiamond
  • Plum CreekPierce County, Wisconsin · 21 mi awayDiamond, Gold
  • Nelson Public Boat LandingBuffalo County, Wisconsin · 25 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • DurandPepin County, Wisconsin · 32 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • Hubbard's LandingPepin County, Wisconsin · 34 mi awayLake Superior Agate
  • Chippewa River Boat LandingDunn County, Wisconsin · 40 mi awayLake Superior Agate

Red Wing FAQ

Where is Red Wing?+
Red Wing is in Goodhue County, Minnesota, at 44.54451, -92.56636. Nearest road: Hay Creek Trail.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Red Wing?+
Red Wing is reported to produce Lake Superior Agate.
Is collecting allowed at Red Wing?+
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 Red Wing?+
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 Red Wing?+
The most comfortable months at Red Wing are April to October.
How do I get to Red Wing?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 44.54451, -92.56636 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Hay Creek Trail.

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