Gore Mountain: Almandine & Garnet Rockhounding in Warren County, New York

Public accessBest spot2 mineralsWarren County, New YorkUpdated July 2026

Minerals reported: 2
Elevation: 2,440 ft
Best months: April to October

Gore Mountain is the classic Adirondack almandine garnet locality, source of the enormous dark-red garnet porphyroblasts that made Warren County world-famous and supplied the abrasive industry for a century. The metamorphic host rock yields well-formed garnet crystals larger than most sites can offer. Reported finds include almandine, garnet. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: Warren County
State: New York
Nearest road: Barton Mines Road
Postcode: 12853
Coordinates: 43.68120, -74.05890

Get directions View 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: Historic garnet ground on Gore Mountain, Warren County. Much of the district is tied to the Barton operation, so verify which pits allow public collecting and any tour or fee requirement before digging.

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 Gore Mountain

23°J

25°F

33°M

46°A

60°M

68°J

72°J

71°A

64°S

51°O

39°N

28°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: April to October. Typical highs run 72°F in midsummer and 23°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 3°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, INDIAN LAKE 2SW station (12 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Geology at Gore Mountain

This spot sits on Gabbroic or noritic metanorthosite, mapped as metaanorthosite that formed roughly 1600 to 1000 million years ago. Garnet and similar hard minerals typically weather out of rock like this and concentrate as resistant grains in nearby soils and creek gravels.

Mapped unit: Gabbroic or noritic metanorthosite
Age: 1600–1000 Ma (Mesoproterozoic)
Rock types: metaanorthosite
Elevation: 2,440 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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The app shows live weather, recent rain, and a daily rockhounding score for Gore Mountain.

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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.

New York State Museum, Geological Survey
NYS DEC land use rules
Herkimer Diamond Mines
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Gore Mountain

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 Gore Mountain.

Oven Mt.Warren County, New York · 5 mi awayGarnet
E of MinervaEssex County, New York · 9 mi awayIdocrase, Microcline, Scapolite
Humphrey MountainHamilton County, New York · 9 mi awayAlmandine, Garnet
Crehore MineEssex County, New York · 11 mi awayGarnet, Hornblende
Sacandaga RiverHamilton County, New York · 17 mi awayLabradorite
Brant LakeWarren County, New York · 17 mi awayApatite, Calcite, Diopside
Lake HarrisEssex County, New York · 21 mi awayAlbite, Amphibole, Apatite
Opalescent RiverEssex County, New York · 23 mi awayLabradorite

Across the state line from Gore Mountain

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

ProctorRutland County, Vermont · 50 mi awayMarble
Round HillRutland County, Vermont · 57 mi awayGreen Aventurine
Devil's DenRutland County, Vermont · 63 mi awaySmoky Quartz, Quartz, Pyrite
Mad RiverWashington County, Vermont · 66 mi awayGold
White RiverOrange County, Vermont · 69 mi awayGold
Camp Plymouth State ParkWindsor County, Vermont · 69 mi awayGold

Gore Mountain FAQ

Where is Gore Mountain?+

Gore Mountain is in Warren County, New York, at 43.68120, -74.05890. Nearest road: Barton Mines Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gore Mountain?+

Gore Mountain is reported to produce Almandine, Garnet.

Is collecting allowed at Gore Mountain?+

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 Gore Mountain?+

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 Gore Mountain?+

The most comfortable months at Gore Mountain are April to October.

How do I get to Gore Mountain?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.68120, -74.05890 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Barton Mines Road.