Rockhounding near San Luis Obispo, CA
27 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of San Luis Obispo, most inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.
Covering parts of California.
Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of San Luis Obispo, California
Closest rockhounding spots to San Luis Obispo
The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.
- Ocean Beaches (Central Coast)San Luis Obispo County, California14 mi · 17 min driveCalifornia Jade
- Nipomo AreaSan Luis Obispo County, California21 mi · 26 min driveMoss Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- Paso Robles AreaSan Luis Obispo County, California25 mi · 31 min driveJadeite
- Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast)San Luis Obispo County, California34 mi · 43 min driveJade
- San Simeon BeachesSan Luis Obispo County, California39 mi · 48 min driveMoonstone
- Jacolitos CanyonFresno County, California59 mi · 1 hr 14 min driveJasper, Petrified Wood, Fossilized Coral
Most-reported finds near San Luis Obispo
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.
- Jasper3
- Serpentine3
- Agate2
- Banded Agate2
- Bloodstone2
- Chalcedony2
- Epidote2
- Jade2
- Moss Agate2
- Nephrite Jade2
- Petrified Wood2
- Rhodonite2
Hunting something specific near San Luis Obispo?
These materials have enough dedicated spots around San Luis Obispo to earn their own page, with distances and a separate map.
Every spot within 150 miles of San Luis Obispo
Sorted by distance from San Luis Obispo. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Beaches (Central Coast)Atascadero Road | San Luis Obispo County | 35.3833, -120.8650 | Public | |
| Nipomo AreaSouth Dana Foothill Road | San Luis Obispo County | 35.0351, -120.4530 | Public | |
| Paso Robles AreaUnion Road | San Luis Obispo County | 35.6379, -120.6274 | Public | |
| Ocean beach area (Big Sur coast)Cabrillo Highway | San Luis Obispo County | 35.5952, -121.1272 | Permission | |
| San Simeon BeachesCabrillo Highway | San Luis Obispo County | 35.6421, -121.1833 | Public | |
| Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek Road | Fresno County | 36.0962, -120.3204 | Public | |
| Big Sur areaLos Burros Road | Monterey County | 35.8938, -121.4523 | Permission | |
| Willow Creek areaCabrillo Highway | Monterey County | 35.8922, -121.4613 | Public | |
| Benitoite Mining CompanyLos Gatos Road | Fresno County | 36.2424, -120.5973 | Paid / fee | |
| Limekiln Creek Beaches AreaCabrillo Highway | Monterey County | 36.0087, -121.5196 | Permission | |
| Benitoite Gem MineSawmill Creek Road | San Benito County | 36.3368, -120.6064 | Paid / fee | |
| Aurora Mine (permission required)Mexican Lake Road | San Benito County | 36.3949, -120.6741 | Permission | |
| Clark Valley | Fresno County | 36.7510, -119.3764 | Public | |
| Little Acorn MineChaparral Court | Kern County | 35.7167, -118.5000 | Public | |
| Clark Valley (North Side) | Fresno County | 36.7729, -119.3471 | Public | |
| Portal Ridge AreaPine Canyon Road | Los Angeles County | 34.7054, -118.5200 | Public | |
| Unnamed Location (Grossular garnet) | Fresno County | 36.9091, -119.3757 | Public | |
| Horse Canyon Agate BedsPine Canyon Road | Kern County |
| 35.1943, -118.2891 | Public |
| Morgan Hill CreeksWatsonville Road | Santa Clara County | 37.0551, -121.6636 | Public | |
| Malibu Lake AreaLake Vista Trail | Los Angeles County | 34.1083, -118.7495 | Permission | |
| Coyote CreekDunne Avenue | Santa Clara County | 37.1500, -121.5783 | Permission | |
| Gem Hill | Kern County | 34.9249, -118.2218 | Public | |
| Tick CanyonLost Canyon Road | Los Angeles County | 34.4267, -118.3916 | Public | |
| Pine Tree CanyonPine Tree Canyon Road (MK55) | Kern County | 35.2309, -118.0866 | Public | |
| New Almaden Area MinesBertram Road | Santa Clara County |
| 37.1760, -121.8208 | Public |
San Luis Obispo rockhounding FAQ
Where can I go rockhounding near San Luis Obispo?+
There are 27 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of San Luis Obispo, California. The closest is Ocean Beaches (Central Coast) in San Luis Obispo County, roughly 14 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
What rocks and minerals can you find near San Luis Obispo?+
Spots within driving distance of San Luis Obispo most commonly produce jasper, serpentine, agate, banded agate, bloodstone, chalcedony.
Is rockhounding legal near San Luis Obispo?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How far do most rockhounders drive from San Luis Obispo?+
Most weekend trips from San Luis Obispo fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.
More state coverage
The spots above span 1 state. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.
Pack San Luis Obispo's rockhounding map in your pocket
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