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Fish Lake Valley: Cinnabar & Opalite Rockhounding in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Fish Lake Valley is notable for hot-spring mercury mineralization rather than ordinary desert float, with Mindat records describing opalized and silicified rhyolite-hosted rock carrying cinnabar and opal. The locality is a good Nevada example of silica-rich alteration, but mercury minerals and old workings make conservative collecting and hand-sample handling important. Reported finds include cinnabar, opalite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Fish Lake Valley photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

4 photos

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Esmeralda County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Cemetery Road
Coordinates: 37.79619, -118.00903

Geology at Fish Lake Valley

This spot sits on Alluvium, undifferentiated, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed within roughly the last 3 million years. Gravels like these concentrate whatever survives the river: agate, jasper, and other tough silica typically show up as rounded, waxy stones.

Mapped unit: Alluvium, undifferentiated
Age: 3 Ma to present (Pleistocene to Holocene)
Rock types: coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation: 4,730 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 Valley

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 48°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 18°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, DYER 5S station (13 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 Fish Lake Valley

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 Fish Lake Valley.

Fish Lake Valley FAQ

Where is Fish Lake Valley?+

Fish Lake Valley is in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at 37.79619, -118.00903. Nearest road: Cemetery Road.

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

Fish Lake Valley is reported to produce Cinnabar, Opalite.

Is collecting allowed at Fish Lake Valley?+

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 Valley?+

Most agate and jasper is surface float: bring a spray bottle, a pick or small shovel, and a sturdy bag. Wet stones show their banding and translucence.

When is the best time to visit Fish Lake Valley?+

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

How do I get to Fish Lake Valley?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 37.79619, -118.00903 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Cemetery Road.

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