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Conway: Feldspar & Smoky Quartz Rockhounding in Carroll County, New Hampshire

Public accessBest spot3 mineralsCarroll County, New HampshireUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
3
Elevation
660 ft
Best months
April to November

Moat Mountain is one of only a handful of White Mountain National Forest sites where the public may dig for minerals, and it is the classic New Hampshire locality for smoky quartz and green amazonite feldspar weathered out of the Conway granite. Amethyst and rare champagne-colored topaz also turn up in the pegmatite pockets. The Forest Service maintains a marked trailhead with a free self-issued collecting permit. Reported finds include feldspar, smoky quartz, topaz. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Postcode
03818
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

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.

Access note: White Mountain National Forest, Conway. Free self-issued mineral permit at the Moat Mountain Mineral Site trailhead off West Side Road, for personal, non-commercial collecting up to one 5-gallon bucket or 50 pounds. Reaching the digging is about a 1-mile hike with a stream crossing.

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.

Best time to visit Conway

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 9°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, N CONWAY station (4 mi away).

Geology at Conway

This spot sits on Conway Granite, mapped as granite that formed roughly 175 to 145 million years ago. Granitic ground like this typically carries quartz veins and pockets, and weathered crystals tend to collect in the soils and drainages below.

Mapped unit
Conway Granite
Age
175–145 Ma (Middle Jurassic to Late Jurassic)
Rock types
granite
Elevation
660 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.

Today's weather

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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.

Found at Conway

Each name 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 Conway.

Across the state line from Conway

Conway is close enough to the New Hampshire border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Conway FAQ

Where is Conway?+
Conway is in Carroll County, New Hampshire, at 44.00426, -71.16218.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Conway?+
Conway is reported to produce Feldspar, Smoky Quartz, Topaz.
Is collecting allowed at Conway?+
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 Conway?+
A rock hammer, a small pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses cover most crystal ground. A screen helps in loose pocket soil, and newspaper protects points on the way out.
When is the best time to visit Conway?+
The most comfortable months at Conway are April to November.
How do I get to Conway?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 44.00426, -71.16218 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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