Fish Lake: Apache Tears Rockhounding in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Fish Lake is a mapped rockhounding spot in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Reported finds include apache tears. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Esmeralda County
State: Nevada
Coordinates: 37.74182, -118.05424

Geology at Fish Lake

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: 4,790 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 Fish Lake

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 47°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DYER 5S station (10 mi away).

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 Fish Lake

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Apache Tears

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Fish Lake.

Fish Lake FAQ

Where is Fish Lake?+

Fish Lake is in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at 37.74182, -118.05424.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Fish Lake?+

Fish Lake is reported to produce Apache Tears.

Is collecting allowed at Fish Lake?+

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 Fish Lake?+

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 Fish Lake?+

The most comfortable months at Fish Lake are September to June.

How do I get to Fish Lake?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.74182, -118.05424 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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Open Fish Lake on the map

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