South Baldface Mountain — Rockhounding in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Updated July 2026
The pegmatite ledges high on South Baldface Mountain carry smoky quartz, feldspar and biotite in the Conway granite, and the site is historically important as the source of a rare phenakite and topaz find first described in 1923. The collecting ledges lie above a false timberline on national forest land. Reaching them is a strenuous alpine hike rather than a roadside stop. Reported finds include smoky quartz, topaz, phenakite, feldspar. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.
South Baldface Mountain photos
Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.
Map showing South Baldface Mountain in Carroll County, New Hampshire
Quick details
- Access
- Public area
- County
- Carroll County
- State
- New Hampshire
- Nearest road
- Baldface Circle Trail
- Coordinates
- 44.21030, -71.05170
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 South Baldface Mountain
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 South Baldface Mountain.
- Deer Hill Mineral Collecting AreaTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 4 mi awayAmethyst, Beryl, Garnet
- Hurricane MountainCarroll County, New Hampshire · 10 mi awayAmethyst, Smoky Quartz
- RedstoneTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 13 mi awayAmethyst, Apatite, Quartz
- ConwayTop pick in New HampshireCarroll County, New Hampshire · 15 mi awayFeldspar, Smoky Quartz, Topaz
- Mount JasperCoös County, New Hampshire · 20 mi awayJasper
- Grafton CountyGrafton County, New Hampshire · 28 mi awayJasper
- Victor HeadCoös County, New Hampshire · 35 mi awayAlbite, Amethyst, Beryl
- Province LakeCarroll County, New Hampshire · 36 mi awayBlue Beryl, Feldspar
Across the state line from South Baldface Mountain
South Baldface Mountain 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 (White Mountain National Forest)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 4 mi awayAmethyst, Beryl, Feldspar
- Deer Hill MineralOxford County, Maine · 4 mi awayAmethyst, Quartz, Feldspar
- Lord Hill MineralOxford County, Maine · 5 mi awayFeldspar, Quartz, Topaz
- Lord Hill (White Mountain National Forest)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 5 mi awayTopaz, Phenakite, Smoky Quartz
- Bumpus QuarryOxford County, Maine · 15 mi awayAlbite, Almandine Garnet, Autunite
- Harvard Quarry (Noyes Mountain)Top pick in MaineOxford County, Maine · 21 mi awayGreen Tourmaline, Schorl, Beryl
