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Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area: Amethyst & Beryl Rockhounding in Carroll County, New Hampshire

Public accessBest spot6 mineralsCarroll County, New HampshireUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
6
Elevation
600 ft
Best months
April to November

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.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
Deer Hill Road (FR 9)
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, Chatham, reached via Deer Hill Road (FR 9) from Route 113 in Stow, Maine. Free self-issued permit at the trailhead, personal use only. A short trail leads to two permitted collecting areas, and a shovel and screen work best for the amethyst.

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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area

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 10°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, N CONWAY station (13 mi away).

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.

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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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area

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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area.

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.

Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area FAQ

Where is Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area is in Carroll County, New Hampshire, at 44.20250, -70.97700. Nearest road: Deer Hill Road (FR 9).
What rocks and minerals can you find at Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area is reported to produce Amethyst, Beryl, Garnet, Columbite, Muscovite, Pyrite.
Is collecting allowed at Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
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 Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
The most comfortable months at Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area are April to November.
How do I get to Deer Hill Mineral Collecting Area?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 44.20250, -70.97700 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Deer Hill Road (FR 9).

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