Veterans Memorial Highway: Agate & Petrified Wood Rockhounding in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Veterans Memorial Highway is a mapped rockhounding spot in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Reported finds include agate, petrified wood, chalcedony. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Esmeralda County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Veterans Memorial Highway
Coordinates: 38.02507, -117.78484

Geology at Veterans Memorial Highway

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: 4,960 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 Veterans Memorial Highway

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 94°F in midsummer and 44°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 16°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SILVERPEAK station (22 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 Veterans Memorial Highway

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 Veterans Memorial Highway.

Veterans Memorial Highway FAQ

Where is Veterans Memorial Highway?+

Veterans Memorial Highway is in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at 38.02507, -117.78484. Nearest road: Veterans Memorial Highway.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Veterans Memorial Highway?+

Veterans Memorial Highway is reported to produce Agate, Petrified Wood, Chalcedony.

Is collecting allowed at Veterans Memorial Highway?+

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 Veterans Memorial Highway?+

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 Veterans Memorial Highway?+

The most comfortable months at Veterans Memorial Highway are February to June.

How do I get to Veterans Memorial Highway?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 38.02507, -117.78484 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Veterans Memorial Highway.

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