Vaughn: Silicified Wood Rockhounding in Cascade County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Vaughn is a mapped rockhounding spot in Cascade County, Montana. Reported finds include silicified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Cascade County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Sunnyside Avenue
Postcode: 59487
Coordinates: 47.56909, -111.55113

Geology at Vaughn

This spot sits on Alluvium, mapped as gravel, sand, and silt that formed within roughly the last 2 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: 2 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: gravel, sand, and silt
Elevation: 3,350 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 Vaughn

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 85°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, GREAT FALLS AP station (10 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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

BLM Montana, Recreational mineral collecting
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Vaughn

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

Silicified Wood Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Vaughn.

Vaughn FAQ

Where is Vaughn?+

Vaughn is in Cascade County, Montana, at 47.56909, -111.55113. Nearest road: Sunnyside Avenue.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Vaughn?+

Vaughn is reported to produce Silicified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Vaughn?+

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 Vaughn?+

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 Vaughn?+

The most comfortable months at Vaughn are March to November.

How do I get to Vaughn?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 47.56909, -111.55113 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Sunnyside Avenue.

More rockhounding in Montana

See all 106 Montana spots →

Open Vaughn on the map

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