Best spot

Garnet Hill: Garnet Rockhounding in White Pine County, Nevada

Updated June 2026

Garnet Hill is Nevada's clearest public rockhounding benchmark: BLM identifies it as the Ely District's designated rockhounding area, and Mindat ties the locality to almandine garnet in flow-banded rhyolite with lithophysae. The site stands out because its garnets are part of a documented volcanic setting, not an unnamed gravel patch, and access is organized around casual public collecting. Reported finds include garnet. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Garnet Hill photos

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

2 photos

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: White Pine County
State: Nevada
Nearest road: Pole Line Road
Postcode: 89319
Coordinates: 39.28606, -114.95323

Geology at Garnet Hill

This spot sits on Carbonate Shelf Sequence - Siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and dolomite, mapped as siltstone, sandstone, and limestone that formed roughly 300 to 275 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this dissolves and weathers readily, so fresh road cuts, quarries, and creek exposures are typically the most productive ground.

Mapped unit: Carbonate Shelf Sequence - Siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and dolomite
Age: 300–275 Ma (Cisuralian)
Rock types: siltstone, sandstone, and limestone
Elevation: 7,030 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 Garnet Hill

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 83°F in midsummer and 37°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 8°F. At about 7,030 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, RUTH station (2 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 Garnet Hill

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

Garnet Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Garnet Hill.

Across the state line from Garnet Hill

Garnet Hill 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.

Garnet Hill FAQ

Where is Garnet Hill?+

Garnet Hill is in White Pine County, Nevada, at 39.28606, -114.95323. Nearest road: Pole Line Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Garnet Hill?+

Garnet Hill is reported to produce Garnet.

Is collecting allowed at Garnet Hill?+

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 Garnet Hill?+

A rock hammer, a sieve, and a small shovel work well for garnet-type minerals, which concentrate as resistant grains in soils and creek gravels.

When is the best time to visit Garnet Hill?+

The most comfortable months at Garnet Hill are March to November. At about 7,030 ft, snow can block access from late fall well into spring, so check conditions outside of summer.

How do I get to Garnet Hill?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 39.28606, -114.95323 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Pole Line Road.

More rockhounding in Nevada

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