Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine: Gold Prospecting in Lewis and Clark County, Montana

Updated June 2026

Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine is a mapped rockhounding spot in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Reported finds include gold, sapphire. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Lewis and Clark County
State: Montana
Nearest road: Castles Road
Coordinates: 46.66457, -111.81112

Geology at Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine

This spot sits on Gravel, mapped as gravel that formed within roughly the last 2 million years. Stream-worked gravels like these are where placer gold tends to concentrate, settling toward bedrock, inside gravel bars, and behind boulders.

Mapped unit: Gravel
Age: 2 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: gravel
Elevation: 3,740 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 Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine

Best months: March to October. Typical highs run 87°F in midsummer and 33°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, HELENA AP ASOS station (9 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

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 Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine

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 Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine.

Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine FAQ

Where is Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine is in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, at 46.66457, -111.81112. Nearest road: Castles Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine is reported to produce Gold, Sapphire.

Is collecting allowed at Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

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 Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

A gold pan, a classifier screen, a small shovel, and a snuffer bottle cover the basics. Motorized equipment and sluices fall under separate rules in most states, so start with hand tools.

When is the best time to visit Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

The most comfortable months at Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine are March to October.

How do I get to Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.66457, -111.81112 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Castles Road.

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Open Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine on the map

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