Wendover: Bischofite & Carnallite Rockhounding in Elko County, Nevada

Updated July 2026

Wendover is a mapped rockhounding spot in Elko County, Nevada. Reported finds include bischofite, carnallite, halite, kainite, kieserite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Elko County
State: Nevada
Postcode: 98993
Coordinates: 40.70683, -114.05755

Geology at Wendover

This spot sits on Playa, lake bed, and flood plain deposits, 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: Playa, lake bed, and flood plain deposits
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,230 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 Wendover

Best months: March to June. Typical highs run 93°F in midsummer and 35°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 20°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WENDOVER AP AWOS station (1 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 Wendover

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 Wendover.

Across the state line from Wendover

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

Wendover FAQ

Where is Wendover?+

Wendover is in Elko County, Nevada, at 40.70683, -114.05755.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Wendover?+

Wendover is reported to produce Bischofite, Carnallite, Halite, Kainite, Kieserite, Polyhalite, Sylvite.

Is collecting allowed at Wendover?+

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 Wendover?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, safety glasses, and a collecting bag cover the basics here. Add a spray bottle: wet rock shows color and pattern that dry rock hides.

When is the best time to visit Wendover?+

The most comfortable months at Wendover are March to June.

How do I get to Wendover?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.70683, -114.05755 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 119 Nevada spots →

Open Wendover on the map

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