Pine Ridge: Quartz Concretions & Agate Rockhounding in Sheridan County, Nebraska

Updated July 2026

Pine Ridge is a mapped rockhounding spot in Sheridan County, Nebraska. Reported finds include quartz concretions, agate, petrified wood, fossils. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Sheridan County
State: Nebraska
Nearest road: Elder Drive
Postcode: 69360
Coordinates: 42.99388, -102.56269

Geology at Pine Ridge

This spot sits on White River Group, mapped as clay that formed roughly 34 to 23 million years ago. Reworked sediments like these can carry fossils eroded from older beds upstream, typically as rolled bone fragments, teeth, and shell material.

Mapped unit: White River Group
Age: 34–23 Ma (Early Oligocene to Late Oligocene)
Rock types: clay
Elevation: 3,280 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 Pine Ridge

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 12°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, PINE RIDGE AP station (3 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Permission required before collecting

Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization.

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 Pine Ridge

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 Pine Ridge.

Across the state line from Pine Ridge

Pine Ridge 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.

Pine Ridge FAQ

Where is Pine Ridge?+

Pine Ridge is in Sheridan County, Nebraska, at 42.99388, -102.56269. Nearest road: Elder Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Pine Ridge?+

Pine Ridge is reported to produce Quartz Concretions, Agate, Petrified Wood, Fossils.

Is collecting allowed at Pine Ridge?+

Permission required before collecting. Requires landowner or agency permission before any collecting. Do not enter without explicit authorization. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Pine Ridge?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Pine Ridge?+

The most comfortable months at Pine Ridge are March to November.

How do I get to Pine Ridge?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 42.99388, -102.56269 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Elder Drive.

More rockhounding in Nebraska

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Open Pine Ridge on the map

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