White Cloud Canyon area: Copper & Iron Rockhounding in Churchill County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

White Cloud Canyon area is a mapped rockhounding spot in Churchill County, Nevada. Reported finds include copper, iron, silver, zinc. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Churchill County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Coppereid Road
Coordinates: 39.84839, -118.21450

Geology at White Cloud Canyon area

This spot sits on Alluvium, undifferentiated, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Loose deposits like these are float-collecting ground: erosion keeps moving durable rocks and minerals into gravel bars, cutbanks, and washes.

Mapped unit: Alluvium, undifferentiated
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,430 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 White Cloud Canyon area

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 42°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 17°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LOVELOCK DERBY FLD AP station (24 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.

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 White Cloud Canyon area

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 White Cloud Canyon area.

White Cloud Canyon area FAQ

Where is White Cloud Canyon area?+

White Cloud Canyon area is in Churchill County, Nevada, at 39.84839, -118.21450. Nearest road: Coppereid Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at White Cloud Canyon area?+

White Cloud Canyon area is reported to produce Copper, Iron, Silver, Zinc.

Is collecting allowed at White Cloud Canyon area?+

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 White Cloud Canyon area?+

A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses are enough for oxidized copper ground. Look for green and blue staining on weathered rock and in old dump piles.

When is the best time to visit White Cloud Canyon area?+

The most comfortable months at White Cloud Canyon area are February to June.

How do I get to White Cloud Canyon area?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.84839, -118.21450 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Coppereid Road.

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Open White Cloud Canyon area on the map

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