Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area: Amethyst & Beryl Rockhounding in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Updated July 2026
Deer Hill is one of the White Mountain National Forest's designated mineral sites and is best known for amethyst, which weathers loose into the sandy soil and can be recovered with a screen. Beryl, garnet, columbite, pyrite and muscovite also occur in the pegmatite. A free Forest Service permit covers collecting at two marked areas along the trail. Reported finds include amethyst, beryl, garnet, columbite, muscovite, and more. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Carroll County
- State
- New Hampshire
- Nearest road
- Deer Hill Road (FR 9)
- Coordinates
- 44.20250, -70.97700
Geology at Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
This spot sits on alkali feldspar granite (muscovite accessory mineral), mapped as granite that formed roughly 360 to 300 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
- alkali feldspar granite (muscovite accessory mineral)
- Age
- 360–300 Ma (Carboniferous)
- Rock types
- granite
- Elevation
- 600 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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
Best months: April to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 30°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 10°F.
Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, N CONWAY station (13 mi away).
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.
Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.
Found at Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area.
- South Baldface MountainTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 4 mi awaySmoky Quartz, Topaz, Phenakite
- Hurricane MountainCarroll County, New Hampshire · 10 mi awayAmethyst, Smoky Quartz
- RedstoneTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 14 mi awayAmethyst, Apatite, Quartz
- ConwayTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 16 mi awayFeldspar, Smoky Quartz, Topaz
- Mount JasperCoös County, New Hampshire · 22 mi awayJasper
- Grafton CountyGrafton County, New Hampshire · 32 mi awayJasper
- Province LakeCarroll County, New Hampshire · 35 mi awayBlue Beryl, Feldspar
- Victor HeadCoös County, New Hampshire · 37 mi awayAlbite, Amethyst, Beryl
Across the state line from Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area
Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area 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.
- Lord Hill (White Mountain National Forest)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 2 mi awayTopaz, Phenakite, Smoky Quartz
- Lord Hill MineralOxford County, Maine · 2 mi awayFeldspar, Quartz, Topaz
- Deer Hill MineralOxford County, Maine · 2 mi awayAmethyst, Quartz, Feldspar
- Deer Hill (White Mountain National Forest)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 2 mi awayAmethyst, Beryl, Feldspar
- Bumpus QuarryOxford County, Maine · 12 mi awayAlbite, Almandine Garnet, Autunite
- Harvard Quarry (Noyes Mountain)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 18 mi awayGreen Tourmaline, Schorl, Beryl
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