Lahontan Reservoir: Agate & Chalcedony Rockhounding in Churchill County, Nevada

Updated July 2026

Lahontan Reservoir is a mapped rockhounding spot in Churchill County, Nevada. Reported finds include agate, chalcedony, jasper, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Churchill County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Karen Road
Coordinates: 39.44757, -119.04931

Geology at Lahontan Reservoir

This spot sits on Alluvium, undifferentiated, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 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, undifferentiated
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,180 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 Lahontan Reservoir

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 96°F in midsummer and 47°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 25°F. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LAHONTAN DAM station (2 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.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

BLM Nevada — Recreation
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Royal Peacock Opal Mine (fee-dig operator)
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Lahontan Reservoir

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 Lahontan Reservoir.

Lahontan Reservoir FAQ

Where is Lahontan Reservoir?+

Lahontan Reservoir is in Churchill County, Nevada, at 39.44757, -119.04931. Nearest road: Karen Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Lahontan Reservoir?+

Lahontan Reservoir is reported to produce Agate, Chalcedony, Jasper, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Lahontan Reservoir?+

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 Lahontan Reservoir?+

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 Lahontan Reservoir?+

The most comfortable months at Lahontan Reservoir are September to June. Summer heat here is intense, so carry more water than you think you need and work the early morning.

How do I get to Lahontan Reservoir?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.44757, -119.04931 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Karen Road.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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Open Lahontan Reservoir on the map

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