Best spot

Bayard: Agate & Petrified Wood Rockhounding in Morrill County, Nebraska

Updated July 2026

Bayard sits in the North Platte valley under Chimney Rock and the Wildcat Hills, where terrace and river gravels yield agate, chalcedony, and petrified wood eroded from the Tertiary beds of the western Panhandle. Good scenery and good gravel in the same trip. Reported finds include agate, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Bayard photos

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

1 photo

Chimney Rock rising above the North Platte valley near Bayard, Morrill County, Nebraska

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Morrill County
State: Nebraska
Nearest road: US 26
Postcode: 69334
Coordinates: 41.73236, -103.31874

Geology at Bayard

This spot sits on White River Group, mapped as clay that formed roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. Petrified wood typically travels as tough float, and worked gravels like these are exactly where weathered pieces tend to collect.

Mapped unit: White River Group
Age: 34–23 Ma (Early Oligocene to Late Oligocene)
Rock types: clay
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 Bayard

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 41°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, BRIDGEPORT 18WSW station (12 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.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Bayard

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 Bayard.

Across the state line from Bayard

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

Jay EmGoshen County, Wyoming · 74 mi awayAgate, Malachite, Onyx

Bayard FAQ

Where is Bayard?+

Bayard is in Morrill County, Nebraska, at 41.73236, -103.31874. Nearest road: US 26.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bayard?+

Bayard is reported to produce Agate, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Bayard?+

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 Bayard?+

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 Bayard?+

The most comfortable months at Bayard are February to June.

How do I get to Bayard?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.73236, -103.31874 in Google Maps. The nearest road is US 26.

More rockhounding in Nebraska

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