Little High Rock Canyon: Obsidian Rockhounding in Humboldt County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Little High Rock Canyon is a mapped rockhounding spot in Humboldt County, Nevada. Reported finds include obsidian. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Permission required
County: Humboldt County
State: Nevada
Coordinates: 41.28913, -119.29305

Geology at Little High Rock Canyon

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: 4,890 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 Little High Rock Canyon

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 88°F in midsummer and 38°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 21°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, LEONARD CREEK RCH - DENIO 33S station (34 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

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 Little High Rock Canyon

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

Obsidian Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Little High Rock Canyon.

Across the state line from Little High Rock Canyon

Little High Rock Canyon 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.

Little High Rock Canyon FAQ

Where is Little High Rock Canyon?+

Little High Rock Canyon is in Humboldt County, Nevada, at 41.28913, -119.29305.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Little High Rock Canyon?+

Little High Rock Canyon is reported to produce Obsidian.

Is collecting allowed at Little High Rock Canyon?+

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 Little High Rock Canyon?+

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 Little High Rock Canyon?+

The most comfortable months at Little High Rock Canyon are March to November.

How do I get to Little High Rock Canyon?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.28913, -119.29305 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

More rockhounding in Nevada

See all 119 Nevada spots →

Open Little High Rock Canyon on the map

Use the RockHoundR app for live land overlays, weather, geology, directions, and saved finds.